The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-01
THURSDAY. OCTOBER l, 1908.
THE PURE ELECTIONS LAW.

THE PURE ELECTIONS LAW
Tho Democratic Committee Of Henrico
county. after thoroughly sitting tho evil
dence in the case against w. h. brauel'
charged with violations OF the Barksoa'e
nure elections law In the recent primary
contest in that county, decided that Mr.
Kramer was guilty under specifications ono
and three Of the charges filed, and, there-
fore resolved "That the certificate OF
election as nominee of the Democratic
party for the office Of treasurer OF lien
rifo county be. and is hereby, aen'ea 70
said w. H. Brauer."
The two specifications under which MIR.
Brauer was found guilty are as follows:
That on the - day of July, 1903, sald
w. II. Brauer paid to l.. y. Green,
voter in said county, at Baker PreclnS''
the sum Of SO for his services IN WORK,
inp for said Brauer's nomination IN said
urinary; and that again, on the - DAY
NJ August. 1903, ut Mrs. Bells store, IN
Fulton, said Brauer gave SAID Greeh -
to be spent in treating voters to influence
them to support said Brauer at SAID PIT
mary. -, -,
4
mary said Brauer visited the saloon OF
washington Bottoms, at Thirtieth and +
Streets, near Hardns Shop Precinct. and
treated to drinks and cigars several Vot-
ers at said precinct intending thereby to
influence their votes.
Tho law in this case is as plain as
language could make 1t. 1t provinces:
..That no candidate for Congress- or for
either house of the General Assembly OF
Virginia, or any State, county, district or
municipal office, shall expend, pay, prom
Use. loan or become pecuniarily liable In
any way for any money or valuaL.e thing
to influence voters In his behalf, or per-
NIT the same 10 be used, with his knowl-
edge and consent, by his friends or adher-
ents in any election, primary or nominal
Ing convention"
The committee decided that In the
Brauer-Todd- Hechler contest the law had
been violated by Mr.. Brauer, and, there
fore, declared his nomination void. The
committee did not make this law and IS
not responsible for it, but 1t Is responsible
for the execution OF 1t. and 1t has dis
charged its duty courageously. There
could not have been any possible misun-
Outstanding of the law during the late
contest IN Henrico county. Time And
again 1t was printed, and printed con-
spicuously in the columns Of this paper
and otherwise, its leading features pointed
out and its spirit emphasized. and all
candidates and all persons concerned were
given fair warning. A short while before
the election 1t was reported that money
would be unlawfully used In the contest,
whereupon The Times-D Dispatch again
sounded the note of warning and put all
persons concerned on notice that II they
violated the law they must expect to
incur the penalty thereof.
This law was enacted for purpose,
and 1t was rurposey made as drastic and
exacting as possible. The use OF money
n, election contests In Virginia, In pri-
mary elections especially. had degener-
nted into an abuse, and had become SO
common and SO pernicious as to demand
4 radical reform. To say nothing OF the
corrupt and demoralizing influence OF the
gystem it put the poor man at serious
disadvantage, and practically excluded
him from entering the contest against a
rich opponent Money was used to defeat
and pervert the will of the people. and
there was general demand on the part
of the honest voters of the State for
statute which would prohibit the use of
money for other than tho necessary and
legitimate expenses OF printing, renting
halls and so on. The statute was designed
to prevent the use OF any money in any
way. directly or indirectly, In large sums
or small sums, to influence any mans
vote one way or the other. The law must
be everything or nothing; It. must be
rig!dly enforced or it will fall into ridi-
Guile and contempt and become dead
letter.
Objection has been raised to this meas
vre that 1t will operate against honest
candidates to tho advantage of those who
have no scruples about evadng 1t.
Therefore, 1t is especially important thai
the law shall be rgidly enforced. II 80
and If Its enforcement is backed up b,
the best and dominating sentiment of th'
State, II will DO blessing to the people
1t will stop the corrupt use OF money II
elections, 1t will encourage honest mel
10 run for office, even though they b
too poor to spend money in the contest
It will put all candidates, 80 far as Thu
consideration Is concerned, upon the sam
footing; It will give the poor man tn
same chance as the rich man TO max
an honest contest for office But II an,
violation be winked at. whether that VIC
Iston be fragrant or trivial. whether
be Intentional or unintentional, the fore
and value Of the law will be destroyed
and our last condition will be worse tha
tha arst Hattar haya law thl