The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-20
VOTE SELLING IS
CONFESSED BY %

found In Dickinson The work Is
stin going on In Diekenxou.
I'm the meantime Il question had
been raised az to tho matter of i'm
munity, and oue Of the men brought
before me had refused TO testify and
was fined for contempt. He appealed,
and the case was taken to the SUI
prernc Court Of Virginia, which slls-
tanned my position. This opinion was
handed down in July. II having been
written by Judge Keith | have wait
ed untii now in ORDER to get the de-
clsicn of the Supreme Court before
proce eding with the eases, Now that
il has sustained me I propose TO pro
cnad.
In Dickinson county about so Of
the cases have been settled Ten
mon have confessed, FIVE cases were
disr4issed. three men we're acquitted
and the remainder have been con
victed and have been fined from 500
to s125 each.
Prefer Baycrs' Testimony.
II have followed the policy Of
having the buyers rather than the
sellers secure immunity by testfNing
Not for the reason that 7 have more
seller. for have not. but for the
very practical reason that can get
better results In the first place, a
jury Is more likely to convict GA the
tstimony OF the buyer. lie knows he
paid out the money and IL far more
likely to know the names OF the
men he bought than any individual
seller might know for instance.
might set the names OF ten sellers
from one buyer at the cost of grant
trg immunity TO one man. The seller
would probably know of only one
huxer Then when the seller sees
The buyers feiug compelled 10 give
up the names of the men bought
they will be afraid TO take chances
in the future.
AT the same time. / have announ-
ced that | will deal as leniently as
possible with all who come in Vo!un-
tarily aud confess. and thus save the
State the expense OF COMPLETING them
They Will be given minimum me,
which is S1o0, and Will be allowed
six months to pay the costs IN the
case. the fine being suspended In the
meantime. After they have paid the
costs | give them twelve months more
tn pay their fine If they cannot pay
il then. bat can show me they have
been square and decent ! give them
twelve months more, Then II they
cannot pay and have heen- SQUARE ana
decent I will join with them IN peu-
ton to the governor Tor remission
of the fine Ii they put the state TO
the expense of prosecuting them, they
Will have to pay their fines or go to
Jail In our State the jury fixes the
punishment, the penalty for the OF
Tense being one month to one year III
jail or 500 TO $1,000 fine and dis
franchisement. OF course. X the gov
ernor desires 10 pardon man ne
thus restores him to citizenship
Lock Upon Franchise rs Asset
"rhe evil has been growing to such
an extent that Is is sapping the vital
itv out Of our institutions. These vote
sellers are not ignorant negroes. YOU
must remember, but Americans OF as
pure stock as yon can hnd IN TINS
land They are coming 10 look on the
franchise as a commercial asset on
which they can realize every year
They are coming 10 think OF their
vote as something they own and when
they are at liberty 10 sell to the hish-
est bidder 1t Is destroying their whoie
idea OF their civic responsibility, taeS
are bartering their birthrtght to a
share in the control of their govern
ment for miserable mess OF pottage
and helping to make the control OF
their county, State and nation mere
matter Of money
This condition does not apply 10
this part OF the State more than II
does to any other. or 10 Virginia more
than 1t does any other State. II Is
idle to DENY that ,uch a condition
exists and folly to shut cur eyes to II.
IL those who have the money can buy
the control OF a State as they can the
control OF coal mine or a railroad.
we as a people might a. we'll shut up
ae0g, Aaa. 4 lhsy 'fARRat e Il ns.w