Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-07-04
THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1907.
SHAME UPON U.s.

that our leading citizens take so little |
interest in elections that they must be |
harangued and urged on every occasion
to go to the polls. And that is inva-
riably the case in Richmond, unless the |
contest is exciting" 1t is an old |
story with the newspapers. A week or
so before the election the party leaders |
drop in to say that the business men are
taking no interest, and should be arous-
ed. 1t is always the business men,"
Other citizens seem to be ready to do
their duty at the polls, but if the party
leaders and the candidates are right.
the business men" are usually too
busy to vote
That cry is again heard. A primary
election is to be held in Richmond on
Friday next to nominate candidates for
the Legislature; but we are informed
that the business men are appathetic.
and seem to be not the least bit con-
cerned as to the result.
1t is reflection upon our citizenship.
1t IS the duty of all citizens to take an
interest in every election. But aside
from patriotic duty, it is Of serious con-
sequence to the business interests of
Richmond that we have the best men to
represent US in the Legislature-me of
character, men of intelligence, men
who will represent the whole city, and
not one class of citizens or some peculiar
interest. Business men cannot afford
to be Indifferent to this matter. They
have too much at stake. For their own
welfare, if for no higher motive, they
should go as a body to the polls and
elect the best men in the race. They
can do it if they will. If they neglect
their duty the chques will win.-Rich-
mond Times-Dispatch.
Does our Richmond contemporary
ever stop to consider what has brought
this shame" upon the people of its
city? Has it sought to discover the
source of the original and present
trouble with the electorate of Richmond
and the eastern part of the State, gen
orally?
The vice was primarily created by the
election methods that were used under
the dishonest election laws that were
made by the Virginia Democracy some
twenty-five years ago. Those methods
and laws so Disguised thousands of hon.
est men that they absented themselves
from the polls on election day as a silent
way of expressing their disapproval of
the frauds that were being committed
by dishonest election officials who were
selected for such purpose.
This condition of disgust and indiffer-
ence had grown so enormously, and was
still growing, that Democratic machine
politicians became alarmed about the
future power of their party in the
State. Then, under the specious plea
that fraudulent elections were DESTROY
ing the moral tone of the people, as
pretended motive, they proclaimed
their intention of removing the evils by
the making of a new constitution and
suffrage laws. With these changes it
was said that the necessity for frauds
would be removed, and that they would |
purify and put new life into the elector-
ate. Responding to this suggested
scheme, certain politicians succeeded in
calling, through partisan legislative en-
Qcfmant cOnofif,,f;oroI
When that convention assembled it
soon became evident that it was thor
oughly imbued with craftsmanship and
that its chief aim was to place the State
indefinitely under the control of the
Democratic party, rather than to purify
the electorate and get rid of fraudulent
elections. A year, or more, was en-
ployed in so framing the suffrage and
election clauses in the new constitution
as to effectuate the Interior designs of
the partisans. When this had been ac-
complished the handiwork of the con-
vention Immediately began to bear
vicious fruit. Many thousands of poor
men, who were unable to register under {
the property qualification clause, de- !
clined to become victims of the inouisi- '
ton established by the provisions of '
the understanding clause" and never a
offered for registration. Thousands of 4
other good men, who were illiterates.
were Inundated and degraded by being
refused registration when they applied. s
This nefarious work was faithfully per- u