Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-04
ELECTION LAp TEST &
SUGGESTED CONTEST NOT BASED
ON ANY PROPOSED ACTION.
ONE. MAN DOES ALL TALKING.
And He is without omcia1 standi '
In His Party-sowdeasand Asae,vv


WASHINGTON, D. c.. October 81
Especial -Recent publications that VIZ
GINA Republicans" propose to contest
the legality of the new election laws IN
that State, are not based upon any pro-
posed action by the regular 1actloh u
the Virginia Republicans The idea OF
carrying the question of the cqnstllu-
tionality of the election laws before the
lower house Of Congress was advocated
here during the past week by solitary
Republican of Virginia, without any ON
cial standing whatever in his party. he
has talked the matter over freely. a.
being his opinion of what should be don
blu. he has not pretended to advance al
organized system of attack on Tue
new election laws. National Committee
man Bowden and State Chairman Park
of this kind. and, in fact, are making i.v
suggestions whatsoever toward confess
of any kind. Some of the prominent Re-
publicans of the regular faction IN VIZ
different times within the last rev
months, have privately expressed tnslr
opposition to a contest Of any kina pens
made, and declare that they think inc
stand. This idea is believed to express IS
the sentiment Of Messrs. BoWoen anu
Agnew. and is also likely to have tne
sanction of President Roosevelt nlnSe.i :.
Republican party cannot be built up IN
the South SO long as the negro is a
factor down there, and he IS PerIe3cuY
contented that the negro has neen cum,
mated In Virginia, North Carolina. SCUM
Carolina, and other Southern States. me
probability is strong that If any attempt
is made to unseat Virginia Democrats IN
the next House by reason OF the pres 81.
self would discourage any moVeIlell.
along that line with the Republican leau-
ers in the House
HOUSE DOESN'T PASS ON Laws
Another strong reason against any az.
tempt Of this sort being made Is tlat
the House has never attempted IN recsnt
years to pass upon any quesLon ,aI, W
to the legality OF the eleG,,on isa
Of tho tight of a member to his Is seat sea 10 70
the matter of fraud. and to his fitness 1o OF
his position, and other thlngs ,o o I
that Kind. The LEGALITY OF stat th iaT Io m
Of Representa- tives as q question LOT the
Supreme Court This new scheme. he%
ever. contemplates a contest oeiore Inc
House of Represents five5 o. rhe adve
Gates of this new idea, claim that t me s.
Eouse has the right Of deciding whe e
or not a State has republican lGl ~
Of eoyernmefa 4 !, is w very n9,ed der With care
and precaution, and little e'coura genell
will he given the promoters OF TINS dah
gerous idea. Even members OF Congress ,
who have no legal education at an kn il.Ns
thai the lower House of Representatives.
;s NOT the place for decision as 10 the
constitu tionalty of any State law. IL ~
quite natural to suppose that IN case 1ne
next House is Republican. virginia Re-
nntiican nominees will make conte .,.s
from A. number of districts, and tnat IN Ine
shaved .unconstitutionality OF the G1I-
einis eleotion laws will be more or Tess
q figure in the shouting and nuI y
to he done. but Observation-Disclosures Repuo
licans will not pay the sllgntest as.e III
ton to this phase OLA contest. anu "a di =
cases will be decided purely upon 'ne
ero,,nd Of fraud or fitness, or botn:
TALK FROM NEGRO FACTION. ).
From the beginning of the tax 20, o.
contest of the Virginia electioh t a. >
most of the expressions IN 1avo1 o. q
nnntest have come from the old WISE
faction largely made up Of the negroes
If Virginia who have lost their sunrage.
The den-Agnew faction is giving no
recopnition to any definite plan Tor Z; a
Contest and the probability is tnat ~
~; not do so. Nearly all V1rg1nlans
1,ho come to Washington talk IN some
forn, ar other about the new electloH
iere and nearly all of them nave an
nr;n;on of what ought to be done and
WI ought not to be done. Individual
sxnressions of opinion. however, 40 not
Constitute an organization, and what any
enc nerson says does not indicate any
orpanized movement Representative VI
snV body of the Virginia Republicans.