The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1902-11-12
RINGING PROTEST
Against the Indecency of Our
Elections.


upon the streets of any city or
or town in the state for several
weeks preceding the election of
Nov. 4th, or during that day, could
avoid a feeling of shame and hu.
initiation at the open and wilful
violations of the election laws CON-
mitted by a horde of SO called
American citizens, who in defiance
of decency and law, and without
any regard to party OF politics,
were conducting series of sieges
ann hold ups, and making the very
existence of the various candidates
miserable in the extreme.
LIE these crimes were confined to
the "foater," there might not be
SO much to fear from it. But APP
parently decent citizens, both resi-.
dents of the state, have been en-.
gagged in this shameful and most
criminal business. In fact, it is
the boast of many voters that be.
fore they cast their ballot, they
always "bleed" all the candidates
on both tickets. and brag about
their crimes afterwards. All such
persons should suffer the penalty
prescribed for their crimes. Why
should the Courts take cognizance
of mere offenses against property
rights. and allow to go without
heed these crimes against our gov
eminent?
The statutes of West Virginia
are ample to protect the public
from this class of criminals.
Section 8 of Chapter 5 Code of
West Virginia contains the follow
ing provision:
IF any person, directly or indi-
rectly accept or take any gift, re-
ward or profit. or any promise,
bond, covenant, engagement or Sc
curity of any kind for reward or
profit, under an agreement express
or implied, or with the intent, that
at any election, he will vote for a
particular candidate; or that he will
give his vote in any particular
manner or upon any particular side
of any question to be decided at
such election, shall
be confined in the penitentiary not
less than one nor more than three
years; or at the discretion of the
court, he may be fined not less than
one hundred nor more than five
hundred dollars, and be confined in
the county Jail not less than three
nor more than twelve months"
Why should the wholesale viola.
ton of this statute go unpunishedp
Our elections should be lawfully
conducted or abolished. How
many voters are there today in this
state running loose, who ought to
be serving term in the peniten
tiary for the open violation of the
above statutep Unless the self.re.
specting people take hold of this
matter very soon our elections will
be SO corrupt as to preclude any
decent citizen from allowing his
name to go upon the ballot sheet.
There is an ample remedy. We
now quote from the same section
Chap 5 of Code, last paragraph,
which is as follows:
ANY person called as a witness
in relation to any offense specified
in this chapter shall be compelled
to testify against any person other
than himself, Notwithstanding he
may be implicated in the offense,
but in case he does SO testify in
in relation to such offense fully, no
prosecution for the offense shall
thereafter be maintained against
him"
Why not now take hold of this
matter? We will have very i'm
portant election two years from
this fall. Let the people who re-
spect the law get together, form a
league, effect permanent organi.
cation, for the purpose of purify.
ing the ballot. Cause every candi-
date. every member of the county
committee of both parties to come
before special grand jury and &c.
cure indictments against these law
breakers, and send them where
they belong, to the penitentiary.
1t this course is taken in this state
now, we will have decent election
two years hence. If not, the cor
ruptionists will be more bold, if
that is possible, than at the late
election.
If West Virginia will take the
lead in this matter, other states
will follow, and a vigorous effort
will work a reformation which is
is sorely needed in West Virginia
elections.