Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-04-24

otherwise than repugnant to all lovers Oh
fair play and honest elections. On It's
present groundwork common fairness
would suggest several important and
necessary amendments. Not more than
two members of the electoral boards
shonld be Of the same party, and the
others should be appointed or elected on
the recommendation of the opposing
party s organization.
political boards which are required by
law to represent opposing parties are too
apt to be bipartisan only in theory where
the same party organization controls all
the appointments. There should be at
least two registrars, one from each Of the
two largest political parties. One OF the
three judges of election aud one OF the
clerks should be appointed on the recon-
mendatiJn of the opposing organization.
Instead Of maintaining the secrecy OF the
ballot with extreme and jealous care, Op-
portunity should be given by way OF sam-
ple ballots and otherwise whereby the
voters NAV become thoroughly acquainted
with it before entering the booth. mat
would be no violation Of the secrecy OF tile
ballot in The proper meaning Of that word.
In short, an election law should pro
vide wavs and means whereby each duly
qualified electCr NAV cast one vote, and
only one, without difficulty or embarrass'
ment; an honest count and correct re-
turn.
7th. And the committee says again,
finally: "Whereas un er the present law,
neither the cOnteetee's certificate nor any
other certificate from Virginia can be
free from grave doubt and susplcion;'
and then the committee concludes by APP
pealing to the Constitutional Convention
and General Assembly to adopt Constr
tuition and an Election Code which VIII
"irsme a fair and free vote and such an
open and honest count that in the future
no man will presume to question the
validity of the certificate.
The latter appeal has been repudiated
by the political bodies referred to. The
"Constituioral Convention" has just de-
feated proposition to require minority
member of the Electoral Boards. Aud
among those voting in the negative there
on appear several members who have de-
nounccd the corrupt practices under
the law and who advocated said conven-
ton i'm order to eliminate said corrupt
practices" etc. And this is only one Of
many evidences Of insincerity and un-
bridled partisanry in our politics. The
General Assembiy's response thereto is
easily understood, when it is recalled that
the Electoral Boards involved in the So
called methods of strategy (?) as declared,
have been commended, encouraged aud
approved by their reelection and bade
"go and save the party by strategy in
politics" again. 1t will be remembered
that the undersigned in 1900, as District
Chairman, made an earnest, but futile,
effort to secure the appointment by the
Electoral Boards Of the Ninth District of
competent and reputable Republican
Judges and clerks to be recommended by
the Republican organization, as the said
Election Committee has decided should
always he done. That tender on my part,
r maae'i1 good faith, Was ueateL with alb
solutc contempt Throughout the distric
the Virginia election law, and the "strat
egy in politics" (palent to be applied die
+ the work denounced as "possible" here
] inbefore in the said report.
And yet Judge Rhea is declared "dul.
e elected -
Now frankly, without intending to b
D unjust, offensive or personal towards SAT-
r committee Or the contestee, the premise
considered, how WAS it possible to "dul
. elect? Verify the whole matter
e shrouded in mystery.
e Hear the committee!
k The election law is guilty; the electors
l. boards are condemned; the judges an
clerks ale besmirched; the marker"
ii admitted therein as having been intende
IT to cheat; the General Assembly is un
h bIushingly partisan; no watcher is allowed
2. no detection is possible; the ballot is
d menace TO the right of suffrage! The il
equafties, the opportunities for scheme
3: and corrupt practices; the invitations
y fraud; the schemes to conceal, the secrt
l. meetings are known and admitted, an
Il condemned. And yet-"duly elected,
al is declared
e The whole thing is farcel The Vii
II GINA Republicans are enslaved and on
n ragged under "form Of law" The Eve
ie MN" in politics control The "consent {
+ the governed is myth; and the vi
t, ginia Republicans are deserted and h'
e. inflated by the decision of COngression'
sr Committee that admits and exposes III
IN wrongs asserted and complained of. o
er one side there is an ELECTION law venom
D. Gus in its conception and execution;
legislature willing for "a mess of pOttage
', te reward the "vermin", as Judge Rober
le son declared them to be, and "COnst
g e tutional Convention that has devised
% plan of suffrage that means dishone
<, manipulation in its inception, and OIL th
u other side desertion and abandonmer
a INTO the clutches Of party that has show
~ its utter lack of principle or conscience
le politics.
But finally, it Is submitted, if the cor
- - testee was "duly elected" then the strio
le ures on the said law, etc, are wrongi
y the latter are justified tEen he could nc
u have been "duly elected"
=, If What is the remedy7 Where is ou
e protection?
o Very RESPECTFULLY,
|, STUART F. LINDSEY.
p That Beautiful Gloss