Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-08-06
Entered at the Newport News, Va,
PostoiIlcc MS sccond,clnss matter.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 1905.
AS TO THE eARksDALE LAW.

The Indictment of Mr.. a. b. vii.
liams. editor of the Richmond News
Leader, Oh the charge of violating the
Bu1'ksdale pure election law, is calIs-
ing widespread discussion of that
law, and We again see marslacd
forth all the arguments used for and
against the measure nj the time Of
its passage. The esteemed Frcdcricks;-
burg Free Lance comes to us with a
plea in which one secs Il yelled ref
. crencc to one of the amendments Of
fered to the Darkstlac law which
would put il entirely out Of commission
Our contemporary says:
No man who knows Mr. Williams
believes he Intentionally violated the
letter or spirit OF this section. and if
there has been technical violation
as would seem probable, in view of
the breadth of the language used, we
cannot see how. taking MIR Williams
statement in connection with the I'M
fortunate affair as strictly true any
moral obloquy can rest upon him
thercfrom. There is Il vast difference
between the employment Of money for
corrupt purposes. for instance. for the
purchase of votes. and for compensate
ing any active worker, who is not i'll
flucncCd himself by the compensation
he receives, to give his time and Scrv-
ices Ia the interests Of his candidate,
at least from the moral point Of view.
The people want pure elections and
they do not want Il construction placed
upon ii which will make il absurd, but
rather one that will make il meet the
demands of the people for real purity
in politics.
OF course, no one believes that Mr.
Williams Intentionally violated the
law. If he had done so he would
have selected :, less clumsy manner
of doing so than through check. Mr..
Williams misfortune. however, does
not mean that the law is bad or that
ii should be amended by the insertion
of the word "corruptly" Mr.. VIII
lianis has made no such plea as some
of his friends are bringing forward.
and he is man enough 10 stand by the
measure which hc favored ana urged
when it was before the legislature.
The fact that he is ono Of the first
victims of The law in his city has not
changed his attitude toward The sta.
tute, and he is as much in favor If
its provisions and Of their enforce
ment as he ever was.
There is no way by which an OK.
cepiion can be made in behalf of Tie
editor which wond not lot down the
bars To every election crook in The
State. Mr. Williams must recognize
this fact, ana We do not believe thai,
nc endorses tho follown. scntimcn.
expressed by the charlottesville Pro
gress:
we remember that when The nc,
was under discussion in the senate.
one Of the member MIR. Wickllam. wc
pclleVc, cndeayorcd TO amend The bill
by Inserting Tho word 'corrnptiy.' so as
10 make II real 'cprruptly cxpcnd nav
etc; but the amendment was rejected
IL ought, We think. to have boon
adopted. Mr.. Williams a dav or two
since signed his name to am editorial
statement, giving the facts. and stat.
ing that he sent his check To the man
q LOT legitimate work done for Col. An.
derson. IT was done openly and above
board, and Mr.. Williams has frankly
( given to the public the transaction il,
lis mlnutest details. The impression
I is That If he is indicted and tried In,
minimum fine of 500 Will be imposed
& as it Is evident to everybody that Mr.
z Williams did not intend a wilfuI viola
ton Of the law. We shall await III,
outcome of Editor Williams situation
with ilndisgniscd interest. ana we hon.
X that as a result OF the comment which