The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-09

scrupulOus men the opp 1rtunlty 10 take
away, in remediless manner, some OF
the dearest rights If their fellow men.
Il would suggest, ~ wholesome
checks on the abuses aud expressions
aud threatening danger from great COR.
p0ratiOns and combines certain unmis.
taxable additions T. the criminal code
OF our State, and also that the officers Of
such corporations be held TO "a strict ac-
countability for the faithful discharge
OF their duties. and for honorable aud
Jealous care OF the interest intrusted 70
them.
Il would suggest that you enact laws
for the violation Of which penalties be
prescribed, covering in clear terms those
things which no corporation shall be
permitted TO do In the State II Nir-
ginia Among these criminal acts |
would place the use II money 10y con-
tributiOn or otherwise In elections, or
primaries false returns u taxable val
ues the publishing of false financial
statements by officers or directors; H.
legal combinations 20 cypress weak
competitor and drive hun from rival
ing business. These strike ma as being
practical suggestions. and II they VAL
not entirely solve the sO-called trust
question, they Will at least put whole.
some restraints upon them. VI one
thing | feel sure. That unless some
such safeguards are erected to check
and regulate the power and ihhience
Of these grasping combines the people
will soon become their manacled slaves
Should the private and political rights
Of the people be destroyed, their hold.
ings cOnfiscated, and all tho wealth
and power Of the government cOncen-
trated in few hands and every off e
controlled at their dictatiOn, then, in
deed, Will the hope Of our Republic
have expired.
AGAINST BUYING VOTES.
THE injury and evil arising from
the assertion and publication Of the
charge Of buying votes and controlling
elections in the State by the use ci
money and corporate influence is grow
ing 20 an alarming extent Especially
is this the case in regard to county and
municipal elections IL must be- ad-
mitted that every effort If the law max
Jog power should be exerted to prevent
SUCH uu CIVIL kluAR NnRAAN w W.
example To her sister States In deyislng
plans for purifying aud keeping clean
the elective system. Ii seems .
me that a law that prevails
In some States, requiring ltemiz d
statements Of election expenses, should
be eEaoted Of all candidates for office
in this State. Politics. which should
be the noblest study Of noble minds,
can be nothing more than an ignOble
scramble between corruption funds. I'M
less the illegal use Of money in cleo
tions is punished by disgrace and I'M
prisonment
THE accuracy and fairness Of our
election returns should be above sus-
picions After the votes are deposited
the citizens should have unskaken con.
fidence in the truth and accuracy Of the
returns Such returns should be. like
Caesars wife. above suspicion. IL l.
largely in your power - acc mpllsh
this by the selection Of the men you
put in charge Of the law and OF the
conduct Of the elections | doubt very
much il 1t is in the ingenuity Of mau
to devise a plan for a secret ball I
which. in the hands Of INSCRIPTIONS
men, may not be subject 20 abuse ato
deception. 1t largely rests IN the i'll
dividual character Of the separate
Judges Of elections. and any complaint
or indictment against the accuracy anc
fairness Of the election returns Is b
complaint against the integrity anc
honesty Il the cit zcus in charge OF tn
same Hete again you can provide foi
the taking OF the testimony and cah
grant by your enactments ample opplr-
tunity for yindlcltiOn or conviction
SENATORIAL PRIMARY.
"While | am aware the question Of
electing United States Senators by al.
rect vote Of the people Is, primarily. q
national one, and that the most salts
factory means q obtaining this would
be through amendment t0 the FEEDER 81
Constitution. still experience htt
shown, and the belief Is firmly fixed IL
the minds Of the people, that there l.
but little if any hope for a change
through Congressional action, and re-
lief. If il comes. must come through
State Legislatures. That there are
large majority Of the people ot virgin
la in favor Of some mode whereby thoy
can give expression Of their choice on
this important Office as they 40 IN the
case of all others Of their representa-
tiyes. both State aud national. Is 50
manifest tn 1t do not suppose It will
be controverted. and as the election
Of a United States Senator Is so Until
mately interviewer with our State Of
fairs | feel that it is not improper for
me to call the attention Of the Legisla-
ture to this question.
1T is certainly more in keeping with
our republican institutions that t1r
people choose directly their representa-
tiyes. Then, too if the election Of Sen
ator were removed from the Legisle.
ture the presentatives would be chosen
more especially because Of their known
views on matters Il State interest and
importance, and not as there is danger
of unde. our present system, because
of their reference for certain candidates
for the United States Senate, thus sub
ordinating and preventing an expires.
sion Of the people on matters OF i'm
portance to their material interest which
may come up for legislative action
"While am glad TO say that Vlr-
oinia in the past has been free from
some Of the legislative scandals that
have attended the election Of United
States Senators in recent years in some
Of our sister States still we must real
ize that there is some danger Of such
occurrences, since like causes produce
like results.
1.-THE reasons are so manifold and
convincing, and it is so evidently the
desire Of our people, that | earnestly
recommend that the Legislature pass
general primary law, whereby the pee
1le can vote directly on their choice
for United States Senator, and have
the same safeguards aud assurances
that they have in other general elect
ions that their wishes will be properly
recorded
Il feel sure that the wisdom Of the
Legislature can devise law that will
give entire satisfaction to all our .peo.
Die. No doubt the experience OF our
sister States that have resorted 20 this
,oathOd vvill he of value in framing the