The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-04
A FIRE. nAlIor AND A FAIR COUNT.

A FREE BALLOT AND A FAIR COUNT.
Recent events Ia Virginia lead inevitably TO
The conclusion that tue preservation g: The In
terrify u ,he hallqt is lhe issue Of the hour oe-
fore which every other question paies into
.on1faratIvc iusieulaoapce. for without an
honest ballot apd a fair count it is impossioie
10 settle tie grave questions 81 STATE policy
h5eh must engage tue attention Of the eieetor-
ste ia tHv near future
Tbs greet central idea Of tae makers of o'r
Fundamental taa was the safeguarding OF the
aHos. tae DISTINGUISHING as far IS possible Of
ese ignorant aad yenaE making Che right Of
sugrage oil such consequence in the eyes Of its
gossessor 1har BE- would treasure it himself and
strive TO keea the voting lists clean. The work
s. TIE Constitutional Convention was measara-
a,y successful In great part Of Virginia THE
.leeisons held since the adoption of The new
constitution will stand the most searching i'm
essttzation puy aese conditions arose Alarm
a At the continued iuroads Of the temperance
aroes en- territory heretofore wet Northern
sua Western phssbey interests are believed to
aaxe contributed large sums to "smsh" funds
- perpetuate tho liquor traffic by carrying
iecttous In Virginia cities. hundreds Of men
save been uulawtully added TO the electorate,
ea6r Of whose votes are relied for future
use b. thoee who were instrumental IN over
jding the plain provisions of the law.
Bot the liquor traffic has not alone been re-
ponsinle Tor political corruption in the state.
he close fight in the Ninth Virginia District
,stweeu the Republican and Democratic parties
IN the choice OF q representative III Congress
aas brought about a condition In the Southwest
hat il nothing short of alarming
Months ago The Richmond rfpintan expos
sd in plain statement from it's Bristol CORES
aondeut. the conditions which prevailed at the
ast election. The publication in language
t3at none could misunderstood. It had wide
circulation in the Ninth District Of Virginia /,
'lleeed practically open corruption of hundreds
81 voters To us it seemed that it AT least call
d for searching grand Jury Investigation il
very county affected Such Investigations have
not been begun aud the only steps thus far in
aieated have been outlined by Circuit Judge
skeen, who says he VIII conduct such All exam
nation Immediately after the November elsc
Son We congratulate the Judge upon his de
termination, but if the electorate Of his distric
as debaucbed last November. as he hmsel
aas strongly intimated we no good reason
for "a delay in turning on the searehught O
truth.
The Norfolk situation TOO. has added great,
- the problem Of an absolutely honest election
IN Virginia But There are good men on guaft
there VINO have made mp their minds that Nor
folk ana Norfolk county must be reformed. VI
wish them abundant success. They are tn
littla leayen which. We trust will heaven III
whole lump. making Of their community prld
rather than ii source Of embarrassment to tn
state III serving tie problem Or The ballot
II seems to us that there is not that real an
nreeiaton Of the evils attendant upon the cor
ruption &C the ballot that must prevail ia orde
that the people may be sufficiently aroused II
cnd them There are foes that Americi
need fear except the briber and the bribed
Every such crime against the suffrage is an in
sidious assault upon the life Of the State tsel
-dehling tie souls Of the men participating
therein ard sappine the very spirit of our nsti
tutioua Let us BE absolutely honest with TN
situation The man who tempts his poverty
stricken neiehbor 10 sell his vote is Gcuedic
Arnold the ultimate end Of whosa act viii b
the destruction Of popular liberty, His plac
is the penitentiary, The man who sells him
SER is unworthy Of the ballot and should b
deprived If it-olse he bring ruin upon our in
sNtutions
Then Jet every true virgnian stand euart
over the sacred heritage Of the ballot Preserv
IT in its purity Show your colors vhereve
Won are. II matters not what your politics ina
he. II IS rot a question today Of who may b
elected but how shall they Do elected? Their,
Is re protactor for popular rights 6pt an homes
ballot and a fair count Virginia should tan
for il. preach for II, pray for it. work for it ant
febt for it, should that be necessary.
WHO MAY VOTE IN THE PRIMARY