Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-11-19
ACCUSATIONS IN TINE FIFTH

800 NNS HoiiV VI JduleS EinOtC Mat
thews, an inmate of an insane ASYLUM.
appeared on the ballot in the late Com
grt ssioual election, and the intimation
II not the direct charge, of the Repub-
leans that it was q trick of the Demo-
Gratis to confuse the voter, is very
serious matter, and it should be cleared
up. The Democrats of the district owe
1t to themselves to repel this insinua-
ton OF sharp practice, and they should
not allow the charge to pass unnoticed.
1t Is intimated also that the ballot
used IN one of the counties bore 8 fam
lily resemblance to the infamous Scott
county ballot that figured in the Rhea
investigation. If this charge is ground
less, the Democrats can easily prove it
by publishing a fac-simile of the ballot
used in the county in question. The
Journal would be glad to act as the me-
dunn of publication, and formally ex-
tends the use of its columns.
The charge that an adjudged lunatic's
name appeared on the ticket seems to
be admitted; but there is no evidence
that the Democrats had anything to do
with Matthews candidacy. His letter
to the Secretary of the Commonwealth
would. on its face, Indicate that Mat
thews OF his own volition decided to be-
come candidate. Even in case he was
put up to it by other persons, it would
be hard to prove. Matthews is not COM
petent to testify; and if he was inspired
the conspirators will lay low. Despite
these difficulties, however, the Demo-
Gratis of the district should not allow
the matter to rest where it is. The ac-
cusatlon of gerrymandering, in trans
terring Floyd county, with its big Re-
publican majority, to another district
the Democrats can scarcely deny. That
act, however, is on u higher and more
detensible plane than a resort to cheap
tricks to confuse voters who still re-
main in the district. Richmond Even
ing Journal.
AT another place we discuss the oues-
ton of having lunatic's name printed
on the ballots as a candidate for Con-
gress in the Fifth District. We have
seen no denial of the charge that dis
honest ballots. resembling the infamous
Scott County Ballot" were used in
that district at the late election. There
fore, we shall say nothing about these
TWO matters mentioned in the above
editorial from the Richmond Journal.
But we will take issue with the Journal
In its conclusion that the transferring
OF Floyd county from the Fifth bv an
Act Of the General Assembly was ION a
higher and more defensible plane than
resort to cheap tricks to confuse vot-
ers who still remain in the district"
The transferring of Floyd county
from the Fifth to the Sixth District was
even more indefensible and vicious than
the cheap tricks referred to. They were
invented and used by obscure and ire
sponsible persons, though the Demo-
cratic candidate is willing to become the
beneficiary of these dishonest tricks
The redistricting of the Fifth District
by the removal of Floyd county there
from was done by an Act of the General
Assembly, and for no other purpose.
as avowed at the time, than to take
the district from the Republicans.
The Act was violation of Sec. SIS of
the Constitution of Virginia. The
members of the General Assembly, who
voted for this Act, and the Governor of
Virginia, when he signed the bill. knew
that the Constitution says that the Con-
gresslonal districts shall be composed
of contiguous and compact territory
containing, as nearly as practicable. an
equal number of inhabitants Thew
thus violated the Constitution thew had
sworn to support, for each and every
feature of the above quoted provision
was ignored. Does the Richmond Jour
nal think this was higher and more
defensible plane than the one on which
the authors of the cheap tricks stood?
--Sse-