The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-27
repeal or modify II in any essential rtc.
vision thereof. B
Tic , Grand Iury's Report.

g5F i TIC GldlN JuAy
The grand Jury Which investigated the
recent primary election has done laoor-
ious ana conscientious work, and seems
to have ''prohed TO the bottom" The
members Of the jury, individually ann
collectively, are entitled 70 the thanks OF
tho community for the good service ref.
dered. we speak In general way. ana
have no all,islol, TO any specific act OF the
1ury, az IL would not be proper at thir
STAGE. of course, to make any comments
on The indictments. An Indictment Is
not a conviction. The cases have yet to
be trlod In court. but the fact that In
dictments have been made shows that our
pure elections laws are living forcs in
Richmond.
But there Is ono part OF the report OF
the grand Jury which wo cannot under-
stand. The report suys
1.-The charge delivered By you to the
grand Jury empanclled for the duty OF,
Investigating the recent primary cleo
ton was so comprehensive and explicit
that tho Jurors have deemed It proper
to take the widest latitude IN the IN
yestigation. They find that more striil-
gent measures should be employed to
safeguard the ballot. The manner OF mp
pointing officers Of the election precincts
is not guarded sufficiently By the cleo.
toral board, who, after all, are the rem
custodians OF tho ballot, innsmuch ms they
appoint the officers who receive the votes,
and should, therefore. exercise the strict
est care In tho selection of these oils.
GERS Our investigation shows that the
are made on tho recon-.
ment,ation OF my citizen. and that tbs
board Is governed thereby
1--WE are Of opinion TINT the board
should be governed by the reconlmendia
tions Of tho City Central Committee who
are elected by the people to SEQ that the
elections are fairly and honestly con-
Quoted, and should be required to share
the responsibility.
If this refers to tho appointment Of
judges OF primary elections. It has no
application, as such Judges are not APP
pointed by the electoral board, but BY
the City Central Committee. It is true.
that for several years the City Commit
tee has, MS far ms practicable. employed
In the primary elections the Judges ap-
pointed by the electoral board for the
regular election but this was purely arni--s
trary on the part of the committee, and
the electoral board has no authority In.
the premises. ono way or the other. The
election Is party affair, with
which tho electoral board has nothing
to do.
1t may be that the jury meant to say
that In selecting judges for regular cleo
lions tho electoral board should be gov
erncd by the recommendations OF the City
Democratic Committee. But that would
not do in law, for the board is not, In the
of law. partisan body.
The members of other political parties
would have just grounds of protest
against a regulation which virtually gave
to a partisan committee the power of APP
pointing election judges fdh regular cleo
lions.
We are in hearty sympathy with the
of the jury that the
electoral board should exercise the strict
est care In the selection OF election off,
GERS" But experience has demonstrated
that Il .'QlVlucu TcS)OHSluliltS Soheio'J
to public policy. The Constitution, which
created the electoral boards, puts the
responsibility upon them, and upon them
alone, OF appointing Judges clerks and
registrars OF election These boards
should be composed of discreet, honest
and patriotic men. and rs they are re-
sponsible, they should also be held &C
countable to the court which appoints
them for tho faithful discharge of their
duties. In making their appointments
they should not be governed by the rec
concentrations of the Democratic Com
mittec or any other partisan body They
should exercise the strictest care" to
ascertain that the election officers TO be
selected by them are capable. honest and
falr-mnded, for thus only can there be
any guarantee of fair and honest cleo
tons.
v====-=====
Penalty to Fit the Crime.