The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-09-08
GRAND Jury GHARGElI.
lcentlnned from 90 Is

expressed shey are replaced by oth-I
ers
We are now in the midst OF all
Iuadrennial campaign whose purposes
1t is to ascertain and determine whIchiI
policies and what candidates Will bee,t;I
subsarye the public veal. On taissI
question, of course, there IS differ
ence of opinion, a division Of belief.
but when the public win is ascertain
ed and the successful candidates an
ncunced. We cease to be partisans an sla
acquisce as American citizens an#I
submit to the win OF the majority,
''rhe statute Of this state seeks tai
protect the electorate from imposltIonaI
OF any kind OF character, to protsct4I
the legal voter.in the preparation ON
his ballot, in its reception and depos,Stl
in the ballot box. and in Its subse-
quen. disposition by the election CONF
missions. and Others who are author
lied by law to insure its due care andlI
preservation. 1t requires each ball.
lot to be counted as prepared by eaeinI
voter or by his direction. that 1t ma@|
give expression to his will and hiaI
win only. 1t Dronounces severe pen-.|
allies and punishments against theeI
illegal and fraudulent voter, as wellIE
as against him who by fraudulenttI
means causes or seeks to give an ex-.
preston to any ballot differing in anwI
respect from that intended by th@I
voter From these provisions Will
appear the legislative intent to keepI
intact and free from extraneous in
reference the will of the voter ass
expressed by his ballot. and thus ton
preserve to him the right to declare
in his own way his preference iom
the principles he desires to obtain inn
governmental affairs and for the per-.
sons who shall be charged with thep
duty of obeying his will when so ex-.
pressed and determined by majorItw
Of all the votes so cast.
Not only does this statute THUS
protect him in the exercise of his
right, but It also provides penalties
and punishments against him whm
seeks to make 1t a matter Of trade
and traffic, sale to the highest MD.
der. That conduct on the part OF thep
voter or on the part of the purchasem
merits and should receive the mosat
severe censure and criticism Of eyerw
true American.
Nor is this crime. for crime tits.
against the electorate limited to any
particular class of voters though NOR.
haps more prevalent in some classes
than in others. 1t exists where lit
may at times be least suspected. Mott
infrequently men, who would be in.
dlgnant II denomInated criminals.
say 1t is matter OF indifference tuo
them who are elected to office ON
what party succeeds at the polls, and1
that therefore they will not take the
time necessary to vote unless they are9
paid for their services. That is mont
an uncommon remark, but in its lasSt
ANALYSIS It means this and this only,
that they have their price withOutt
which they VIII Tail to exercise one.
of the greatest privileges Of am
American citizen, or that with thee
price in hand they are willing to sein
their birthright for mess of pottsge.
No condemnation Is too severe when
applied to any voter who so lightly,
prizes so high a privilege"
Judge Lynch then dwelt at consd-,
cradle length on the license laws andl
especially on the necessity of en-
forcing them, pointing out that att
some saloons there were two anneyess
ono where lewd and lasc!vloua
women are found, and the other,
where gambling is engaged in. He
charged the grand jury to return IL
dictments for illicit selling, for Thee
harboring OF lewd women and iorr
gambling.
The Ash and coal mining laws wcree
also explained in detail to the grandH
Jury and emphasis placed on the ne
cessity OF melting out punishment for
infpctions of these laws.
Murders and other crimes wcree1
called to the attention of the graqdH
jury also.
The common error of BLAMING
judges because violators go unpunkh-
ed was exploded, as judges can nott
punish until after the violators hayeaE
been indicted by the grand jury, trIed1t
nv npfit iurv oDd danIaro,l mile,