Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-12-07

! some such safeguards are erected to
check and regulate the power and in
| fiuence OF these grasring combines the
people Will soon become their mana
clcd slaves. Should the private and
political rights OF the people be de-
stroyed. their holdings confiscared. and
an the wealth ana power OF the gov
erninent concentrated in u few hands.
and every office controlled at their die
tsation, then indeed, will the hope CT
our republic have expired.
BUYING VOTES. 0
THE injury and evil arising from
the assertion and pu'bli> alton of the
ing elections in the State by the use
of money and corporate influence is
growing to an alarming extent. Espc-
cially is this the case in regard 10
COUNTY, and municipal elections. X
must be admitted that every effort Ct
the law making power should be cx-
erted to prevent such an evil Wiz
gima should set an example to her
sister States in devising plans for pu-
rifyihg and keeping clean the elective
citizenship is a high. ard should be
held as a sacred one. vet it is fire.
uuerty charged chat Votes are bouSl {
and sofa en- election days as ordinary
commodities are bought and sold IN
the common markets. Where is The
safety to our Institutions if this alleg-
ed evil is permitted TO obtain? Til.
severest penalty ought TO be imposed.
and the greatest precau1ion should be
taken to prevent such crimes. The
party who would offer the bride should
be punished. and in case of of salts
factor! prcof, should be disqualified
from voting or holding office, ana
When a corporation violates the IAN
hy furnishing money to dabauch vo,-
ers. they should be deprived o their
harters and their officers dealt with
cllninally. IL such evils should OBJ
tain. it would soon be impossible for
worthy men of moderate means to
hope 70 successfully aspire to elective
positions. 1t seems to me that a law
That prevails in some States. requiring
itelnazed statements Of election eN-
ltnses. sliloul! be eNacted Of all ca moi
dates for office in this state. Politics,
which should be the noblest study o.:
noble minds can be nothing more
than an ignoblc scramble between
corruption funds. unless the illegal
use OF money in elections is purlishe..
by disgrace and Imprisonment
ELECTION RETURNS.
The accuracy and fairness Of our
election returns should be above sus-
picion. iAfter the votes are deposited
the ciuizens should have unsnaken
confidence in the truth and accuracy
Of the returns. Such returns should
be Ike Caesars wife, above suspi-
cion.' 1t is largely in your power Il,
accomplish this by the selection of the
men You put in charge OF the law. ard
cDubt if ii is in the ingenuity Of man
10 devise d plan for Il secret ballot
Which. in the hands of unscrurulcEs
men, may not be subject to abuse and
deception. Ii largely rests in the in
dividual character Of the separate,
Judges o. elections. ana any complaint
or Indictment against the integrity
and fairness of the election returns is
a complaint against the integrity
and honesty Of the citizens in charge
Of the same. Here again YOU can pro-
vide for the taking OF testimony and
can grant by Your enactnrents. ample
opportunity for vindication or cpnvic-
tion. -
Many unjust complaints on this
score arise from political aninlositics.
But it is only just to his good name,
TO give the Judge who performs this
thankless task an opportunity to un-
nlistakably virdieate himself, and to
stop the cry and clanror of the de-
tractors of himself and his Stare.
Hence i man laying a charge of this
kind should De given full and ample
opportunity to sustain it.
SENATORIAL PRIMARY
wv hlle I am aware the question Of
eled1ins United States Senators by di-
rect vote CT the people. is, primarily
u national one. and that the most un-
satisfactory means OF obtaining this
Federal Constitution: still experience
has shown, and the belief is firmly ,ix-
ed in the minds OF the people. that
there is but little if any hope for a
change trough congressional action
and relief. if it comes. must come
through line State legislatures That
there are q large majority of the poo
Pie OF Virginia in fayo: OF some m ode
whereby they can give expression of
their choice on this important Office as
t1t,x ir,t Il,
representatives. both State and nation
al. is 50 manifest that I do not suppose
1t Will be contrdverted, ana as the
election Of a United States Senator is
50 intimately interviewer With our
State affairs i feel that it is not i'm
proper for me to call the attention OF
the Legislature 10 this question:
II do not feel that il Unnecessary, if
indeed. it would be proper for ME 70
set forth at length why such a change
IS desired, ana Why it should be adopl
ed.
1t is certainly more sn keeping win
our republican Inscriptions that the
people choose directly their represen-
tatlEes. Then. too. if the election of
senator We're removed from the leg.is-
'lature the representatives would be
chosen more especially because of their
known views on matters tsf State in
tere:st and importance. and not as TIN crs
is cetnger OF, under cur present sys-
tenn, because of their preference FOR
certain candidates for the United States
Senate. thus suDorltnating and pre-
venting an expression OF the people on
matters of Importance to their material
interest Which may come up for leg
islative action.
While I am g!al 70 say that Vir-
st,ia I'm the past has been free from
some Of the legislative sandals that
have attended the election of United
States Senators in recent years III SOM.
Of cur sister States. still! we must real