The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-13
THURSDAY. OCTOBER IS, 1885
A PLEA OF GUILTY.

The question Of honest elections having
been raised in the Ninth District, we re-
marked several days ago that If Judge
Rhea should be elected 20 Congress and
General Walker should contest his seat,
the Republicans in Congress would be
sure IN this case. as they have done IN
previous contests, to introduce the Nir-
ginia election law as prima facie evidence
of fraud.
The Bristol Tribune reproduces our re-
marks and prints in reply colmun OF
Language in which it seeks at one and
the same time "a justify the Virginia cleo
ton law and 70 convince its readers that
The Times is opposed 10 Virginia's best
interests and in league with her most
implcable foes"
The argument Of the Tribune is about
as forceful in the one attempt as in the
other. Why is It that % Virginia news
paper cannot enter into a discussion with
The Times without continually uotting
out the absurd charge chat this paper
IS opposed 10 Virglnias best interests?
The Times Is a Virginia institution, own
ed and conducted by those who have
lived here all their life long. It's home
IA here. It's friends are here, its patrons
are here. its associations are here. all
SIS interests are here in the land Of the
old Dominion, yet because It happens TO
have an opinion Of its. own, and because
It has audacity to differ with the policy
of the party, because II dares 10 say
that in some sections OF Vir inia cleo
lions are frsuduientiy conducted under a
law that gives the opportunity. and de-
signedly 30, of committing fraud, the
party organs attempt 10 break the force
of this papers influence b. telling its
readers that The Times Is IN league with
virgina's enemies.
We care nothing for that sort Of twad-
die. 1t does rot in the least disturb our
eQuanimlty, but we are sorry for those
who write St. II grleves US that our
brethren of the Virginia press. with whom
our perscnal relations are so pleasant,
should stoop 10 such things for political
effect
What has the personality of The Times
to do with the case anyway? The Times
is not an issue in Virginia politics 1t
might be the worst enemy that Virginia
ever had. and yet that would not alter
the .act that elections in some part Of
Virginia are not fairly conducted and
that the Virginia election law is q dis
honest law.
The contention Of the Bristol Tribune
is that It is altogether possible TO hold
an honest election under the existing law
Quite So but it Is made very possible TO
commit fraud under the law The law
for example. provides that whenever IL
Is possible 10 do So the persons APP
pointed judges Of election shall be chosen
from persons known TO belong 20 different
political parties but that no election
shall be deemed invalid when the judges
90 not belong 10 different political parties
In other words. lawful election may be
held with al. the judges belonging to the
same political party. the party in power
These judges are then provided with
twice as many official ballots as there are
voters registered at the precinct for
which the ballots are intended And "ail
ballots remaining unused at the close of
the polls are carefully destroyed before
the ballot box is opened" Here YOU are.
therefore, with three judges of the same
political faith. with a double quantity of
ballots IN hand, with the opportunity to
STUFF the box, and with the authority
OF law 10 destroy all evidence OF their
guilt. Republicans as well as Democrats
know the frailiy OF human nature. ospe-
cially OF politicians. and II were impossible
20 make a Republican believe that with
such opportunities as this Democratic
Judges would resist the temptation 70
commit fraud when It was to their in
terest 10 do So That was the argument
fused against Epes in the Fourth District
and Young in the Second District and II
Is the argument that will be used against
Judge Rhea II he shall be elected and
his seat be contested.
Bat what says our Bristol contemporary
A reply 70 all this? We quote;
vii! The Times wilifully ignore th'
facts OF history Does u not know tna'
the most complex political problem OF the
age survived AppoInattox. AID that q