Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1906-09-21
The Election Law.

uclS has DScil u Sooi uooi vi SI'SS-
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 will be of interest:
"It will be preceived that the offenses
under this law are for a voter receiving
agreeing to receive, or contracting eiths
er before, during, or after an election,
fol any money, gift or other valuable
consideration, or any office, place or
employment, for himself or any other
person, for voting for or agreeing to
vote, for any particular person or per-
sons; or proposition or question. Such
persons shall be guilty of misdemean-
or and on conviction shall be disfran-
chised for the first offense not more
than ten years, and for life for second
ofiense. The same punishment may
be inflicted on voter who under like
circumstances and for the same coli
sderation refrains or agrees to refrain
from voting at any election, or not vot-
ing, or agreeing to refrain from voting
for any particular person or persons, or
proposition or questions. 1t will be
observed that this law applies only to
the person who is bribed, and not the
the briber, and hence the briber may
be compelled to testify against the per-
son whose vote he has bought
1.-The second clause of this section is
important, and is intended to break up
very dsreputable practice. 1t is
made an oflense for any voter to ask
for or solicit money from any candi
date before any primary or general elec-
ton. If a voter solicits money from a
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 de-
mand for that is what it really Isl a
isdemeanor, punishable by fine, and
in default of payment of the fine, con-
finement in Jail. 1t will not be diff
cult to enforce this provision, if candi-
dates are required to appear before the
grand jury after ever primary and gen
eral elections and after they become
candidates. | call attention TO this
law now because it has been recently
enacted. | 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 rea Is as 70 llows:
:'lf any voter, directly or indirectly,
by himself or though any other person
receives, or agrees or contracts for, be-
fore, during or after the election, any
m oney; gift, loan, or other valuable
consideration, Office, place of employ
ment, for himself or any other person,
for voting or agreeing to vote, or for re-
framing or agreeing to refrain from vot-
ing at any election, or for not voting or
agreeing 10 vote, CT retaining or agree
ing to refrain from voting, for any
particular person or persons or propo-
sition or question at any election, shall
be guilty of misdemeanor, and on
conviction thereof shall be disfrachised
for not more than ten years, for tn
first offense, and for second otlense he
shall be DISTINGUISHED during life. Any
voter asking or soliciting money from
any candidate, before any primary or
general election, shall be guilty of
misdemeanor, and upon conviction
shall be fined not less than S25 nor
more than $50, and upon failure to pay
ty Jail not to exceed sixty days"