The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-23
DEBAUcHERs Of BALLOTS
SHOULD co TO PRISON
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
1T is a pretty difficult thing &c
do" said he. ito I'LL out the neces.
sary application for registration. II
was made so purposely to make the
Acknowledgement of the negro perma-
nent and TO so purify elections thai
when the STATE Of Virginia raised ita
voice 1t should be for reputable meA
and wise issues"
Laws Are Deficd.
rs the law obeyed? Is the consti-
tuition of the State regarded? / say
No. They are defied by the liquor In
terests of the Commonwealth"
1T Is one of the most remarkable
things that has ever been brought
to my attention that after we have
spent half million OF dollars to put
a new system In force that here, nine
years after the constitution has been
proclaimed, x Is not penal offense
to violate the law as regards the reg
istration of voters. I can only ex-
plain II on the theory that the men
who had the power didn't want to en-
act such law"
Those in places or power, said tnt
speaker, must have wanted the situa-
ton to remain as 1t was, and have no.
put 1t into force because they did MOI
desire to punish the practice, but pre-
ferred that evil politicians ana selfisr
interests, such as the liquor trafnc
might pay these taxes and Thus de-
bauch the suffrage. That Is precisely
what has been done and will continue
10 be done until regard Is had by the
general assembly for this constitutional
mandate. And / desire to warn this
audience now that we shall never have
Statewide prohibition fin Virginia un-
less law shall be enacted TO stop
this evil practice"
An Indictment Of the Party.
Now doubtless somebody Will say
that this is an Indictment Of the Dem
ocratic party. That is precisely what II
1t; and | want it distinctly understood
that do not intend ever to fail TO crit
ictse the Democrat party or any other
party when IL needs to he criticised
/ hope / may always be frank enough
and strong enough to put right above
party. Therefore. ! say here to-night
that 1t Is no credit t. my party tnat II
has for nine years deliberately neg
Iected to safeguard the ballot by pro-
noaucing punishment against people
who prostitute the ballot. And | say
Furthermore, that 1t is Just as irnpor
tant to the cause of Statewide proni-
bitfon to elect general assembly that
will make efficient election laws az II
Ia to eject a general assembly that wiz
pass an enabling act. Your enabling
act will not he worth the paper II is
printed on, unless the ballot box Is nrst
effectuaiiy guarded,
Lyncilburg LISTS Padded.
"Then we have more strange doc
Irtne Recently We had an election
in my town of Lynchourg,' said ne,
and they literally loaded down the
registration lists with people contrary
TO law. They registered men who
couldn't even make their mark They
even registered men in the third
person---not even requiring them to
be present.
Seven OF the eight registrars con-
fesscd that they hadn't paid par
ticle of attention to any OF the re-
quirements OF the law. | say II that
doctrine is 10 prevail pandemonium
and chaos Will be let loose in Viz
gtnia. / say If the court decid
as held by counsel for the liquor peo-
pie. that the registrar is the sole
arbiter and judge OF the qualifications
of those offering TO vote and that
there is no appeal from his decision.
il is the most terrible indictment
against the Democratic party. II that
is the law the people OF Virginia
should take scourges in their hands
and drive out every legislator In the
State OF Virginia. II that's the law
we have a mighty poor set OF law
makers
Suppose the registrar fills the reg
istration books--that ends il. He Is
the sole arbiter. They are a set OF
genuises in Lynchburg-those regis
trars. All they need to do is to look
a man in the face 10 tell that he is
auaiified to vote and son1etiahes they
don't even need to see him.
III the registrars are TO be the sole
arbiters the question Of who the next
senators frcm Virginia are 10 be Is
settled now.
... Want ibe Right Sorf.
But you'll get your enabling act
next winter. We have heard that
some kind gentlemen are going to
give II to you next winter, There is
no doubt about that. But We want
the right sort Of an enabling act.
There are enabling acts and enabling
acts"
Reverting TO the registration. guess
ton he said! who wants to commit
his rights To registrars who ply their
vocations from the headstones In the
cemetery and who escape the conse-
auences by bubble, We have come
up through painful experience TO this
hour. People who debauch the ballot
should be sent TO the peni,entiary
Registrars who violate the law should
be put In jail"
Mr. Glass. closed with a brilliant
period in which he repeated portion
of hts memorable address delivered to
the members of his party in the con-
stitutional convention nine years ago.
closing amid tremendous applause
with the cry ito the dykes, TO the
dykes
Hon. John G. Wooley closed the
evenings program with splendid
address on the civil law.