Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-11-01
HOW TO MEET IT.

If we are to judge by recent declarations
and indications, the conspirators and plot
tiers who outraged free suffrage in this dis
trict two years ago are preparing to do the
same this year, under the leadership Of
w. f. Rhea. They are now, as they
were then, in complete control OF the
election machinery of the district, and
are backed by those who are in absolute
control of the election machinery of the
State. So, we may expect them to not
only repeat what they did i'll 1898, but,
encouraged by the safeguards furnished
them by the ample provisions of the Wal
ton Law, they will commit every fraud
they believe the people will submit to.
In most of the States, in all those of
the North, East and West, the courts are
invested with authority to punish those
who commit frauds ON the ballot box.
But in this State the courts have either
lacked authority Or disposition to bring
any of the ballot thieves and ballot-box
suffers to the bar of Judgment. The only
man who has been tried for an Oftense of
that kind, was Judge who stuffed the bal
lot. box full at Slnither's precinct, in Hen
rico county, whose guilt was thoroughly es'
tablshed, and upon whom trivial sem
tence was inflicted, of a few minutes in Jail
and a fine of few dollars. The culprit was
at the next session of the Virginia Legislat-
ure made subordinate officer Of the State
Senate, which position he has held at
each succeeding session of the Legislature
The ballot thief was rewarded by Demo-
cratic Legislature for his crime and the
honor perpetuated to him.
When it was announced in 1898 that
great frauds had been committed in this
district, and General Walker tried, through
the courts, to unearth some Of them, even
the Supreme Court of Appeals held, upon
his application for a mandamus, that
though the registration books were public
records General Walker had no right
to have copies made of those books. The
law has been so fixed that the courts can
do but little, even if they wish to do it,
to protect the citizens in the exercise Of
suffrage.
The Republicans of this district see these
facts staring them in the face. They re-
call the number of frauds committed by
Rhea's tools, and also the fact that the
Republican candidate, when contesting
fog our rights, was shot by an assassin,
that the assassin was acquitted of all
blame by a partisan jury fixed for the
purpose; and was afterwards rewarded
for his act by being appointed private
secretary of w. F. Rhea-who holds a
seat in Congress by fraud.
Is there no remedy left the people?
Must they be compelled to submit to the
outrages Of political freebooters and bal
lot thieves? 1t seems that there can be
no satisfactory appeals to the State courts;
and the honest men in the Democratic
party are too indifferent or timid to lift
their voices against tie machine. There
seems to be but one remedy left the Re-
publicaDs of the Ninth Congressional Dis
trict, and that is to let the INSCRIPTIONS
ballot manipulators understand the limit
has been reached; and that the sacred
rights of the citizens shall be no longer
trifed with. Let the dishonest election
officers understand that if Republicans
can find no legal remedy for the outrages
of the past, they will assert their noun
tain manhood, and see that Republicans
have not only the right to vote but to
have their votes honestly counted. Let
the ballot thief know that he will not be
permitted to trample upon the most sa-
cred right that belongs to American free
men. Republicans of the Ninth District,
be careful, be vigiant, but be brave!