Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-09-27
The Election Law.

There mas Deen goou uedi VI oPoo.
ulation as to the new election law and
its effect upon the man who sells his
vote and him who buys. The follow
ing comment was made by Judge John
W. Mason, at Morgantown, last March
on the subject and will be of interest :
at will be perceived that the Of
fenses under this law are for a voter
receiving. agreeing to receive, or con-
tracing, either before, during or after
an election, for any money, gift or
other valuable consideration, or any
office, place or employment. for him.
self or any other person, for voting or
agreeing to vote, for any particular
person or persons; or proposition or
question. Such persons shall be guilty
of misdemeanor and on conviction
shall be disfranchised for the first Of
fepse not more than ten years, and
for life for a second offense. The
same punishment may be inflicted on
a voter who under like circumstances
and for the same consideration refrains
from voting at any election, or not
voting, or ageeing to refrain from vot.
ing for any particular person or per.
sons, or proposition or questions. 1t
will be observed that this law applies
only to the person who is bribed, and
not the briber, and hence the briber
may be compelled to testify against the
person whose vote he has bought.
1.-THE second clause of this section
is important, and is intended to break
up a very disreputable practice. 1t
is made an ofense for any voter to
ask for or solicit money from any can.
didate before any primary or general
election. If a voter solicits money
from any candidate before an election,
he does so for an improper purpose,
and no better law was ever passed by
any legislative body than this act,
making such demand (lor that is what
it really is) a misdemeanor, punishable
by fine, confinement in Jail. 1t will
not be difficult to enforce this provi.
sion, if candidates are required to ap-
pear before the grand jury after ever
primary and general elections and af-
ter they become candidates. call
attention to this law now because it
has been recently enacted. 1 desire
that all voters may have knowledge of
what the law is, and have timely
warning that this Court will endeavor
to enforce it"
The law reads as follows:
"If any voter, directly or indirect.
ly, by himself or through any other
person receives, or agrees or contracts
for, before, during or after the cleo.
ton, any money, gift, loan, or other
valuable consideration, Office, place of
employment, for himself or any other
person, for voting or agreeing to vote.
or for RETAINING or agreeing to refrain
from voting at any election, or for
not voting or agreeing to vote, or re-
framing or agreeing to refrain from
voting, for any particular person or
persons or proposition or question at
any election, shall be guilty Of INSIDE
meanor, and on conviction thereof
shall be disfranchised for not more
than ten years. for the first ofense,
and for second offense he shall be dis
franchised during life. Any voter ask
ing or soliciting money from any candi.
date, before any primary or general
election, shall be guilty of INSIDE
meanor, and upon conviction shall be
fne1 not less than $25 nor more than
$50, and upon failure to pay said fine
shall be confined in the county Jail
MI 10 axoaod oivtu 1ovo