The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-15
URGED NOT TO
SPENDMONEY
Hon. j. T. Ellyson Calls At
tention to Bdrksddle Law.
WRITES PARTY MANAGERS
Circular Letter Appeals to Candidates
Not TO Violate Existing Statutes IN
the Primaries-May Have
Good Effect,

Hon. J. Taylor l:llyson, chairman of the
Democratic state Committee has issued
circular letter to the candidates and
party managers throughout the state.
calling attention to the Barksdale pure
elections law. and urging all to abide by
Its provisions religiously.
The letter Is designed to give full and
fair notice of the existence Of the law,
and TO seek to prevent Its violation. In
the circular Mr.. Eliyson quotes freely
from the statute, and reproduccs some OF
its most salient features.
The law is a most important one. and II
Is believed II executed ii will go long
way toward purifying elections ana prl-
marles In the state.
Extracts from the statute read as fol-
lows:
An act to promote pure elections, pFi-
rnarlcs and conventions. and to prevent
corrupt practices or bribery In same: 10
limit the expenses Of candidates. to pre-
ecr.be the duties OF candidates. and pro-
vIding penalties and remedies for viola
lions of this act. and declaring VOID I'M
der certain conditions elections IN which
the provisions of this act or any OF thetn'
have been violated
APPLIES TO ALL.
Section 3. Every person who shall be
n candidate before any caucus or con-
vcntion. or at any primary election or at
any election for any State. county. CITY,
township. district or municipal ONCE, or
for Senator or member OF the House OF
Delegates of Virginia or for Senator or
Representative in the Congress OF the
United States. shall, within thirty DAYS
after the election. caucus. convention or
primary election held to fill such once
or place, make out and file with the
officer or board empowered by i" 10
issue certificates Of election to such once
or place. and duplicate thereof with the
clerk OF the County or Corporation Court
for any county or city In which such can
didate resides, a statement In writing.
which statement and duplicate shali be
subscribed and sworn TO by such candl-
date before an officer authorized 70 al
minister oaths, setting forth in detail all
sums OF money contributed disbursed.
expended or promised by him. and to the
best OF his knowledge and belief by any
persons or person in his behalf. wholly
or In part endeavorirg to secure his
nomination or election 10 such Office or
place; and also all sums OF money con-
tributed dlsbursed, expended or prom
ised BY him In support and IN connection
with the nomination or election OF any
other persons at such election. primary
or nominating convention. and showing
the dates when, the persons to whom ana
the purposes for which all sums were
paid. expended or promised. Such state
i1nent shall also set forth that the same
is as fun and explicit as affiart is able
10 make It: and he shall also, before some
officer qualified TO administer oaths, take.
subscribe TO and lle with said statement
the following oath:
DRASTIC OATH.
do soemniy swear that the statement
herewith filed embraces all money spent
L. hoh With my l.
edge and consent. by my adherents and
friends: that I have neither directly nor
indirectly arranged, encouraged nor con-
,ived at the spending Of any money other
than as shown in my said statement: that
have not repaid any money so spent or
claimed to have been so sepnt, and that
will not do SO. and that have not Vio-
lated any Of the provisions OF this act
in letter or In spirit. SO help me. God.
Section 4 No officer or board author
tied BY law to issue commissions or GER
tincates OF election shall Issue any such
certificate or commission to any such
person until such statement and oath shall
have been so made, verified and filed
by such person with said officer.
Section 5. Any person falling to COM
ply with the above provisions by failing
10 l!e said statement and oath In the
manner and form above prescribed shall
bc label to fine not exceeding 5000, to
ne recovered III al a'',o' W ,''io''
brought in the name OF the State by the
Acknowledgement or by the Common
wealth's Attorney OF the county or city
OF the candidates residence, or by any
person suing In the name OF the Com
Inonwealth, the amount OF said fine to be
fixed within the above limit by the jury,
and to be paid into the school FUND OF
said county.
Section 6. No person shall enter upon
the duties of any elective Office until he
ehall have filed the statement, oath and
duplicate provided for In this act. nor
shall he receive any salary or any ennln-
ment for any period prior to the filing
OF the same.