The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-06
LYSCHBURt. WET. -


Judge Christians decision favor OF tne IL
uuor interests in the contest between the vets
and "drys' over the local option election held in
Lynchhnrg last December, portends i'll for the
State of Virginia
We have the highest respect Ter the judges on
the virginia bench. and hold Judge Christian as
d Jurfst of fairness and equity. but We believe
This decision will carry with it establishment
equal only to the regret with which it will be re-
ceiyed throughout the State,
Whether Lynchburg was to license the saloon
after having prospered magnifcently vita
out this menace 10 civilization the Issue in
the December election, Whether the electorate
OF the State of Virginia was TO be debauched and
the work Of those maste. minds in the Constitu-
tional Convention to be hurled TO the trash
heap and the registration books of this Common
wealth polluted with the scum of the earth. unfit
to enjoy the privilege of suffrage the Issue in
the CONTEST Just closed II was to be hoped by eV
cry voter in Virginia that the case win be taken
TO the Supreme Court CT Appeals for decision,
but this will not be done
What Judge Christians decision spells in bold
letters upon the heavens canopying Virginia is
that pure electorate in the Old Dominion is TO
be had at some dearer cost than enforcement OF
the State Constitution.
To the eonfoundng Of vets" and "drys" alike,
Iynehburg was discovered to have voted the sa-
loon back by a majority of s., Investigation
disclosed the fact that 400 creatures dignihed by
the term men" and who would not have been
tolerated within mile OF voting booth except
during local option election had cast ballots.
which swung the tide in liquors. favor. 1t was
shown that these possessed no single qualih-
cation to vote under the State Constitution other
than being Of the male species They could not
write their own names, Their applications for
registration written on a typewriter and
the questions answered py other than themselves.
The Constitution requires that written ap-
plication from persons wishing to qualify for
record on the registration books must be
made in the handwriting of the wouId-be
voter without assistance of any sort. 1t
was shown after the local option election
that the registrars iii Lynchburg had made
no attempt to enforce this section of the
Constitution wherein is contained provi-
sion for the purity of the electorate in
Virginia aud the safety of the white race
In the Old Dominion, In addition to
this ii was proven that Federal officers had serv-
ed as judges in the local option election, when
the Constitution expressly declares against this
and that number of baIloters voted in precincts
in which they did not live
These were the grounds upon which the tenn
peranee advocates contested the electon-an
election on the eve Of which they were sanguina
OF success. Fraud in the shape of voting cemete
Ties purchasing votes AMI the like was not alleg-
ed. The decision of Judge Christian seems to be
based the fact that no fraud in the election
was proven In att conscience, what greater OF
more deplorable fraud could have been charged
than that Of debauching the electorate? AS for
purchasing votes ana casting ballots for persons
not in the city on the day Of election, none was
alleged but how insignificant and puerile are
such things when compared with the pollution
of the entire voting body?
The Constitution of Virginia was framed for
enforcement II is a modern document Conai.
tations are made for the purposes of vesting In
constituted authorities the power to compel ODE
dienee TO the Law OF the land and to relieve the
individual of the necessity of personally protect
ing himself his home and the honor OF his Com.
monwealth So long as this is done the citizen
has rghtfnl complaint to make Waen the
Constitution is ignored, personal responsibility
aevolyes upon each and every man. and we ret-
crate that Judge Christians decision In the
l.ynchburg case portends i'll for the State
Of virginia IL calls for the speedy enact
ment OF legislation suggested By Representative
Carter Glass for the punishment as felon, Of those
who corrupt and debauca The registration looks
of the State
VIRGINIA WINS.