Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-07-29
Entered at tho Newport News, Va.
PostOfllce as second-class matter.
SATURDAY, JULY %. 1905.
AS TO THE BARksDALE LAW.

The action of .hc Richmond grand
jury in indicting The editor OF The
Nows-Lcadcr ami four other :ncn
dale pure election law has caused
widespread discussion Of the meas
ure. 1t has led the Washington Posi-
TO express The opinion that the hest
way to rid the statute books Of AN
absurd and impractical law is to on.
force IT. and the BarkStlalc election
law certainly comes within this cate
CORY. Ii is wrong, in the first place.
because If ii is respected il mcau,
that only rich men can run for CfIlcr
There are proper and legitimate cX-
penses in every campaign. In the case
of bitter contest, these items agrrc
gate a considerable sum, and if u can
didatc cannot call upon his friends he
might as we'll give way to the asI IT.
ant who is wealthy enough 10 pay all
of the bills without assistance. Sure.
~ the Virginia peopc, who are demo
cratic In the broadcast and best sense,
al
the natural ambition Of every poor
man. Even men Of more than modcr-
ate means must find themselves sorc,
handicapped. We doubt very mMc-
whether Senator Martin and Governor
Montague have been able to bear m
aided all the tremendous cost of their
long-fought and exciting struggle.
Both of them have maintained cXpoE.
sive bureaus. with considerable tlt ri
+ cal force. and they have circ.il II II
vast amount Of literature, tha pint.
ing and mailing Of which mllst have
hecn serious drain upon their pocket
books. Have they met all OF these
expenses ont Of their private purses
or have they accepted financial aid?
Ii the latter, they are as amcnable
10 the law rs the Richmond editor"
In order hat there may he no mis-.
understanding OF the issue involved
we reproduce that provision of the
law Which the grand jury thinks has
been violated by the Richmond editor.
II is as follows:
No candidate for congress, or Tor
either house of the General Aasscm-
bly, of Virginia, or any State, county,
district or municipal Office, shall cx-
pend, pay, promise, loan or become
pccuniarly liable in any way, for an,
money or other valuable thing TO in
tiuencc voters in his behalf, or permit
the same TO be used, with his knowI-
edge and consent, by his friends or
adherenis in any election. primary o.
nominating convention; provided,
however, That 10 expenditure made
ny any candidate or his adhcrcnts
and friends Tor the purpose of print
ili2 or advertising in some newspapers
or IN securing suitable halls for pub
nc speaking III 4 reasonable price,
shall be deemed Illegal"
so far as We can see there is meth.
ing in the provision to handican a
lalr and honorable aspirant for any
ONCE in the gift OF the Virginia PEG.
pie. No provision is made for bands
TO "hccn M the crowds. but aside
from that insignificant item every
legitimate means Of influencing voters
10 excepted from The operation of the
laW, ana we dissent from the view
adopted by our Washington contc,h
porary. Instead OF throwing n DIM.
per upon the aspirations of the po,.
iran It, gives him renewed confidence
to enter wha! hitherto has been an
z UNEQUAL contest against . man of
Y wealth. for he knows that il the la,
Is enforced filthy lucre will not he
the determining. factor in the contest
One of the best ways to demon