The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-05
Corporations Interest in Legisla.
ton.

saafF llOll. a.ta#
There never was a vote bought u
an honestly conducted election held UT
dor the Australian or secret ballot sEs-
IAN hat the buyer knew was delivered.
There never was intimidation attempt
cd I'll such an election that the person
attempting it knew certainly 1t had been
successful.
II is upon these two aHioms that ad-
yocates of the secret ballot may base
their helief, And all the sentimental rea-
sons advanced by The Lynchburg News
and The Petersburg IndeS-Appeal lot
.,nrn 10 the antiuuated vtva-Noce sys-
tenn will not be able to shake IT, We
do not recall having seen our Petersburg
a,,ann orary further astray than wheh
q calmly asserted day or two ago that
bribery could be more successfully pfae-
,,ced under the secret system OF voting
Than under the viva-voce method. we Tee!
sure the statement was made with mad
yertence, and that moments retlectIoh
w;,, show The Index-Appeal that II MADE
a mistake.
II is utterly impossible for the man
who bargains for vote TO tell whether
the vote was delivered when the voter
went into the booth, unless there be col
lusion with the judges OF election. And
this is difficult if not Impossible. Blu.
when. under the viva-voce system. the
briher buys John Smiths vote, he or his
aren, can stand at the polls and hear
John call out the ticket he Is voting.
And John cannot collect any money on
that vote unless his ticket TALES pre-
c!sely with the one for which his vote
was purchased. OF course. the same ap-
plies 10 elections in which Intimidation
is attempted hA- employers OF large bodies
OF men. =" -
Remarkable as was the statement OF
our Petersburg contemporary that brin-
ery could be more easily practiccd uh-
der the secret ballot than the vvh-voce
system, it was probably not so surprising
a, the further statement that corpora
tons now have not the interest IN leg's
,atlon they formerly had to warrant thei'
activity in politics"
or course, our contemporary 10 sincere
In its belief. Such a statement could no
have been made with clenr apprecla
ZION OF facts. II the editor OF The Index
Appeal would like to have q correct zoe
of lust how deeply the corporations
Virginia are interested In legislation !
his state let him como to Rchmon
next winter and spend sixty days at u
Capitol, and sixty evenings AROUND u
hotel lobbies, mingllng with the mempe
ogthe General Assembly. and meeting ~
group OF suave gentlemen who. he'th'
toiling nor spinning. apparently. spend
Richmond every winter that the leglsl
ture is In session.
And 81 our sadly ben!ghted contempt
AIRY should still doubt that the gre
corporate interests OF this country a
interested In legislation let him run ov
to washington during session OF co
ersss Last winter would have been
good time for such an educational tr
YIad he been around the Capitol for
single week after the reading Of
Presidents message. which recommend
mat s. law be passed giving to yove'
mental body the right to regulate freis
rates, he would never again doubt
interest the corporations have In i
!slat,on. He would have no dimcuty
meeting the attorneys for nifty great c
pora;ions operating in many sections
the country. high-sasaried men, emplo'
Ia spend their winters In Washlngt
and watch legislation, that Is, wa
members OF Congress. A good lime 10
stranger seeking information on
subject Of interest in legislation fell
corporations would be the last two We
OF q Congressional session, when
Congress- is considering the possotl'ce
preparation bin. which carries annu
large sums to be paid trahspofta
lines for carrying the malls
II is Uncomfortable that any inteal
man could thus spend a few W
watching State or national les'sls
without being convinced that tho y
Hf IL. xyhich cn,noratio have In lex