Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-06-15

the sesndslous robberies in Heurico
county. Similar conditions are said TO
exist in other portions OF the state
But, to the TIMEs srticle. Ia its issue
OF the oh instant, under the caption |
Of Political Methods and Popular
Choice" it says:
Since 1867 il has bsen PECULIARLY be.
lieved that though the white m en- m US,
stsnd together in the Democratic par
~ TO pro eect themselvep, thsi' proper
ty and their lives, yet within the party
each man believed that he had q ss-
cred right to vote for the candidate OF
his choice. A, various times there
have come murmurs from defested
candidates shat even within the party
which was org ,nized for the Democrst-
ic white voters OF Virgins. there was
Gloss corporation known So the
riDs,' which was organized and oper
sted for she members or the ring. Any
| attempt 10 exploit this fact or TO point
out its obvious dangers has universally
been met by the supporters of tina.
close corporation, either by denying
the existence of . ring, or, il further
pressed, by insinustipg, that such
charges were proofs of disloyalsv &C
the principles OF Democracy"
Truly are the sins OF TIE ward heel.
ers and Negro-hsters being visited up.
on the better class of white people
who tolerated them, even while the
guilty beDeheisries OF the robberies
''winked the other eye" And again:
"The people rs q whole took but lit
tie interest in such controversies, for
the exiaterce Of the state of al airs ur-
der discussion, either did NOS afecs
them or Was disbel;evsd n'irely; but
mark the change DOW that the shoe
has begun to pinch. From many parts
Of tbs States comes cries OF trickery CT
open I aud. On the stump. the chief
question under debate, between.the
leading candidates, is whether this or
that county committee has acted with
even ssmblsnce Of fair mesa"
It continues:
"Is wRs thought and hoped that the
infamous rowdyism and unisirness by
which the popular will was suppressed
ct Shumsker's and Howard's Grove
precincts would have no parallel, and
yet the reports from Norfolk county
and Newport News show that the ac-
tions there out Heroded Herod. The
columus o; the daily papers have been
filed with the accounts OF those pro-
lceedings, which appear to have been
organised with the distinct purpose of
dsst keeping the voters ignorant as to
the times and places Of meeting, and
second, Of preventing the voters who
happened ~ bs present from having
rh a. ~oA4-1aI
cast for certain candid ate."
Oh, yes, Mr.. TINES, we know all
about it. Popular elections have be
come farees. The forces which are
now robbiug you, robbed rs. We
howled about It. and it affords US un-
limited pleasure to see and hear you
do she same thing
We know Il is not the proper thing
to do, but a. we notice you with enc
leg in that bear trsp, . position which
we once occ upied, and from which you
refused to extricste rs, suggesting on
ly that we cut our leg (vote) of to get
out of the difficulty; we feel like
yelling ourselves hosrse bsfore we can
have any sympathy for your uniortu
nate predicament.
1t 10 retribution, cir, God has so de
creed it. The TINES becomes prophet
10 when &c says:
mo party can survive under such
state OF sffairs-and with the fall Of
the party will come the fall of the lead
ers who inaugurated these methods"
1t continues:
1.-THE welfare of the State, this good
name Of the Democracy, and, above
all, common honesty and fair dealing
between man and man demand that
the people make short end Of such
outrsges on decency and such traves-
ties on elections"
This is what We said when they were
robbing US. We are of the same opin-
i,n now.
"The studied attempt to defeat the
| will OF the people, whether by shifting
the unit ar d minority rule to suit the
locality, or by'packing mass. meetings,
will only arouse the people the mor' !.
The committeeman and officeho'ders
who did these things are not the first
politicians who forgot the sou-cs Z
their brief authr rity, and they will not
be the last whom the psople have ove--
whelmed. Every iudication points to
Q popular deluge this year"
We know yau are speaking, Mr..
TIMEs, with no thought OF US; still sv.
cry word you have uttered applies
with equal force to our present condi.
ton. You have the Constitution of
the United States and the Holy BIBLE,
which should prove the sheet anchors
for the republic.
Both are being ignored Thanks be
to God, however, the truthfuIr ess of
the scriptursl declaration is being
demonstrated in all that you have said
With what measure ye mete, it shall
be measured to you again"