Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-04-25
FOR HONEST ELECTIONS
Legislative Act to Prevent Corrupt
Practice.
in EFFECT AFTER MAY 25TH
Heavy Penalties Provided For Bribery
and Other Violations of New
Election Law.

80 S'At Val q otSolon aus vi 1JUGt
whSck are just out the chapter OF most
interest to the general public Is prob
ably that to prevent corrupt prdctices
in elections.
The act takes effect ninety days az
Ter its passage so it VIII be On oper-
alton May 25, and will govern such
primaries and conventions as may be
held after that date as wen as the
general election in November. There
do so much OF 1T that only few of its
salient features can be noticed now
ha4er on it will doubtless be published
separately and put in general circula-
tSDn. In the meantime it should be
carefully studied by candidates and all
members of party organizations so
that they may learn at once what
they may do and what <hey must re-
frain from doing under penalty of fine
and imprisonment.
Among TIE things forbidden are
promises TO procure for the voter any
private CIR pub ic employment. Solicit
ing subscriptions from candidates for
churches, charitable or religious or
EXAMINATIONS is also made a mtsde-
meanor Contributing money knowing
that ii is to be used for bribery or to-
pay for past bribery subjects the con
tributor is liable to hes Wy penalties
Money may, however, still be contri
buted Tor proper purposes which ar
defined to be the following, or such
as may be py reasonable construction
included in them:
First-Fcr the personal travelling ex
pcnses of the candidate.
Second-For the reasonable rent o
hall or room TOR the delivery of
speeches relative to principles OF can
didates in any pending election.
Third-For the payment of reason
able compensatons to public speakers
and musicians at public meetings and
their necessary travelling expenses.
Fourth-Printing and distribution of
list of candidates or Sanlp'e tickets, |
speeches or addresses by pamph' cts,
or circulars relative to
candidates or political issues or prin- !
ciples, cards, hand bills, posters or |
Fafsh.-Fcr corying and classifying |
pol lists.
Ssxth-For making canvasses of vot-
ers
Seventh-For expressase or freight |
or char ge for other like purpose, ano
sor postage, telegraph, telephone, or
other public messenger service.
Eighth-For reasonable clerk hire |
at the headquarters of offices OF cam
pafgn committees, or at the Office of !
the candidate.
Repeating or voting in the name of |
another person subjects net only the |
one doing so but all who counsel aid |
or abet him TO imprisonment. CondrN- |
buttons to elections ON the part OF all |
corporations is forbidden under pen
atty of a fine not to exceed one thou
sand dollars. And the payment OF the |
EXPENSES of voters going to a con-
yention, primary or election for the |
purpose of influencing their votes IS
punishable by a fine not exceeding !
one hundred dollars, alhs~~
The aggregate amount OF money !
that anv candidate can expend OF
promise TO expend in any elections
depends upon the number OF votes
cast on the office for which ne Is
.,,rr,ng Al the last preceding regular |
election. If such vote was hVe tho|
sand or less he may eXpend TWO nun
AIRED and fifty dollars. He may ca
Dend two additional dollars Tor eacn
bundred votes between five tAousanu
and twenty-five thousand, and aho'ne'
dopar for every hundred votes Pc
4waen TWENTY-FIVE thousand and hity
thousand. when the fifty Thousand
mark is reached he is limited TOT an
additional voters to the rate OF hlty
cents hundred. A candidate expend-
ing more than the prescribed sum be-
comes liable to a fine of not less than
two or more than five hundred dol
lars.
Within thirty days after the cleo
ton each candidate is required to he
in duplicate-wth the officer issuing
election certificate for the office for
which he is running and with the
clerk of the county court Of the coun.
ny in which he resides-a statement
under oath setting forth in detail all
sums of money contributed, discussed,
expended or promised by him to the
best Of his knowledge and belief, by
any other person or persons in his be
half, VIII Il; or in pact, II endeavoring
tn capuro IN. I'm, an,r t,rsa -,