The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-02
LET THE GRAND jury ACT

The report from Norfolk that there
mas been no action yet on the part of
The Grand Jury in reference to the
allegations OF fraud in the recent pri-
mary does not, We hope mean that no
action will be taken The sub COM
mittee has done good work: 1T has
uncovered frauds which call for GRIM
maj investigation, If any frauds In an
election could do so. Its labors have
Drought to Light what many believed
IN the beginning-that irregularities
and the corrupt practices were not con-
lined to one side in the recent con-
test. But has 1t not discovered enough
tor all party purposes3 On this sub
ject our esteemed contemporary, the
Alexandria Gazette says that the sub
committee are wasting time in con-
tinuing their sessions. Enough has al
ready been learned to prove that the
primary was fraud from start to
finish; that cheating was carried or, by
both sides either of which was as
bad. as the otber and a little worse.
The primary was a disgrace in the eyes
sof an. hdaesfmen, and should at once
be declared null and void and new
election ordered. Legal proceedings
should follow this decision.
We feel very much inclined to agree
with the Gazatte In this. When enough
has been discovered fully to justify the
State committee In declaring the pri-
mary void and ordering another or a
convention, IL there be not time for
another-this being the case, there
seems little further of moment for the
sub committee to do except to report
to the State COMMITTEES; but when the
committees labors are ended or, IL
they are to be continued, before they
are ended, that of the grand jury
should begin. Flagrant crimes against
the election laws of{,the State such as
are shown to have been committed in
the secoiid District primary. have made
that primary a discreditable farce. a
reproacheto the 'wholeAprimary system,
and scandal to the district In which
1T was held The men who are guilty
OF this should be speedily brought to
justice. 1t is the province OF the grand
Jury to inquire into who they are, to
summon witnesses and compel testi-
mony, and to find in accordance with
the facts and the law, and to report
their. findings. It is the clear duty Of
the COMMUNICATING attorneys of any
counties or cites in which the indict-
.ments may be found to prosecute
those indictments. 1t Is also COM
pctent for citizens committees to re-
tain counsel to assist in the prosecu-
tons, If they desire to do so. just as
1t was competent for them to retain
counsel to. aid in the Investigation, OF
course, the consent of the Common
wealths attorneys will have to be
asked before counsel could be asso-
ciated with them, but this is some
thing which would scarcely be re-
fused.
If the primary system is to be saved
prompt movement to bring to penal
Justice the perpetrators of the corrupt
and fraudulent practices that now
plainly appear to have been fragrant
in the recent election. The DISTRICT
is now undcria cloud, and it will re-
main under cloud until the public
sentiment OF that District not only
investigates by means Of party ma
chinery, the election frauds, but until
the grand Juries of that District do
their duty and the criminal machinery
of the law IS set in motion against the
guilty parties n
For the good name Of the Second
District, we trust that there will be
mo unreasonable delay In the grand
Jury acting.