The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-01
BY BLACK VOTES
CHRISTIANITY IS
NOW THREATENED
Unholy Alliance of Vets and
Republicans Endangers
Stanton
NEXT LEGISLATURE
MUST TAKE ACTION
Splendid Organization for
Civilization is Working
Well and Will Win
Election

sTAUNTON, VA, July 3l.-The
Christian civilization OF Staunton IS
threatened by the venality of illiterate.
ana seInl-1iitterate negro voters, who
nave been placed upon the voting list
through the activity of interruptions
Republican politicians in league with
wet campaign managers. This vote,
from which the carefully drawn pro-
visions or the State constitution have
failed to protect the people of Vir-
gina. IL the mainstay the only hope
OF the vets in Staunton In to-mor-
row contest, when they hope to vote
on the saloon again.
The negro vote. as II IS ten tfnIgs
larger than the majority by which
stanton was carried dry two years
ago. with less than a hundred negro
voters then on the registration list,
holds the balance of power In Staun-
ton to-day. and by just that number Of
colored men as resist the blandish-
ments of the wet forces viii the city
be carried dry. That there are those
of the colored population who are
standing firm with all the influence
of their white and black political
leaders brought to bear upon them is
the hopeful sign of the situation. and
/ iortty. That the civilization of the
city should ba tlEeataned, however.
by an incubus of venal voters III a
| disgrace to Virginia. an evil the
| remedying OF which rests squarely
upon the next legislature.
Black Whitening Hand.
| 1t is well nigh unthinkable almost
unbelievable, that a situation should
arise wherein the wishes and aspira-
-
gence of community may be thwart-
! ed by combination such as has
brought the saloon evil back into
! being in many Virginia cities. Talk
! about negro domination, It's black,
whitening, biistering hand has never
/ been more sorely felt than II has been
in Virginia the past two years when.
/ willing tools in the hands OF whisk ey
| leaders, the black vote has set the
| hands of civilization hack several
| years In a number OF towns
| Virginia demands protection. The
| bum black or white. whose vote liz
for sale; the corruptionist. who buys
! his fellows, must feel the strong arm
| of outraged justice. The next Leg
| islature must provide disfranchise-
ment for both parties to the prosti-
tuition of the ballot. He who buys or
sells a vote Is a foe to American
liberty, more to be dreaded than all
the forces OF any possible foreign
enemy. and Virginia will show itself
weak indee IL 1t does not throttle
| the evil.
Splendid Organization.
Christianity and civilization will win
to- morrow In Staunton because OF the
magnificent organization OF the tenn
tperance forces. and the splendid con-
secration and concentration OF their
leaders. who have been tireless in
their activity. leaving no stone UNI
turned that victory might crown thei,
cause. But other communities have
not been SO blessed with energetic
temperance leadership and the grog.
geries have won and the forces OF
evil have sent up a mighty hurrat
that the temperance craze" Is sub
siding
AS matter OF fact, there has beer
no subsistence of temperance senti.
ment. but a tidal wave of politica
corruption made possible by the In.
| vasion- of whiskey money and tn,
flooding OF the voting list by flliteratt
lvoters has carried the day
| Virginia must wake up to her need:
and that right soon. or the fou,
scenes of reconstruction rule and OF
elections held under the underwood
Constitution Will be again enacted
and political corruption run rampant
Throughout the Commonwealth