Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-02-10
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1899
"LEGi7MATE EXPENSES.

in elections. He admitted the
truth OF all we said as to the de
inoralizing influence of "campaigu
funds" when Improperly used, but
contended that we put it too
stronghold very little, if any,
money was spent in this country
except for "legitimale expenses"
If this gentleman is correct. we
are in sad need of u new lcxico-
grapber. We want a new and
broader definition of the word
"legitimate The accepted mean.
ing of the word, and that which
is given in our dictionaries, is all
wrong, if this gentlcman's state.
ment is correct.
Let's see? In last two cam
paigns in the Ninth district, for
instance, at low estimate. 80.
600 was spent. For what! The
speakers in the campaign, on both
sides, had right to compensation
for their services, aud this was ole.
climate" Was this $4,000 used
Ill this way! If so, the few speak
ers, there were must have been
valued extremely high.
Was this large sum spent in
printing! This would have been
"legitlmate." Our books show
that we received not euough to
pay for one issue of our paper.
Our brethren of the press must
have gotten an extremely large
amount for their services.
Or course, everybody. knows
where the money went. 1t is use
less to discuss tins phase of the
question. The "legitmatc" phase
of the question would be amusing
If 1T were not so serious.
If it is "legitlmate'. to buy and
sell votes, or to use money TO sin-
huence" votes, then why the law
on the statute books against it,
According to the law the pcnitcn-
tlary stares in the face the buyer
and seller Of votes, as well as rh,
man who hampers with the ballot
DoX. The only trouble about the
law is that it is not enforced. Both
parties to the neiarious business
are equally guilty, and hence one
dare not inform on the other. The
law makers may have had this in
view when the law was framed.
The law should be changed. max.
ing only one party liable to arrest
and Imprisonment, and then it
would be more effective. AS il
is, men combine-league together
to buy votes and corrupt the bal.
lot box, with impugnity-and
church people, too, IN some in
stances.
There ought to be n check put
upon this enormous evil. Even
from business standpoint, it
should be done. Under the ores
ent rulnous custom, any Office cos $
almost as much-and some times
more-than it is worth. 1t is I'M.
business-like, to say the least.
We modestly make this suegcs
ton: Let there be IA meeting OF
the candidates for office, and each
one assessed an amount necessary
to defray Legitimate" expenses
such as printing, expenses OF
speakers employed, if any, and LET
this amount be placed in the hands
OIL a committee, who shall pay il
OUT only upon a certified, itemized
statement, and receipt taken. and
the whole statement made out and
published III the papers. And LET
1t be understood, upon solemn
pledge, that not one dollar shall
be used for illegitimate purposes
as set forth in the law. Would
not this be fair to all--the rich and
the poor alike?
Ii some step could be taken look
Ing to, even checking just a little
this awful evil, a brighter da>
would dawn upon us.
Better, By far, is the gun and bay
onet policy of some states, than the
policy nreyailinn i'm othnrn