Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-04-25

portunity to see that they control it
honestly. is to my mind concl lsive that
they don't purpose to do it honestly.
know of no republican state in this
Union where the minority party is not
permitted to choose its own judges and
clerks, and where it is not given equal
representation with the majority,
in Virginia it is only exceptional cases
where we are given any and then not
enough to see that it is honest save only
in my own city.
In Ohio for years they have been CIV
en- equal representation. In Iowa they
have been given equal representation.
In New York they are given equal rep
resentation-in all cases of their own
choice. do not know the situation in
Pennsylvania, but judging by the recent
returns. even there the vote seems 10
be counted as cast. When it is so easy
to give the minority a judge and clerk
OF their own selection at every precinct
that they may, at least, know that the
election is conducted in accordance with
law, and when it would be so easy to
require the applications to register to
be endorsed by an assistant registrar,
of the opposition party, certifying that
1t was made in accordance with law
with an appeal to the courts in the
event of difference of opinion between
the registrar and the assistant,-it is
absurd to say that the powers that be
that is, the democratic party of Virgin
ia, are in earnest in trying to secure
honest elections.
There is no uniformity in the tax lists
prepared by the treasurers. no uniform
ity in the rule AS APPLIED as to who
shall be helped and who shall not in
marking their tickets, and in fact, if
there is single provision of the law or
the practice which even tends to secure
honesty at the ballot box in Virginia,
should be glad to know what it is
What ls the use of statute to punish
judge of election with no method Of
finding out which Of the three judges is
guilty of irregularity?
You must admit that all of Mr..
Slemp's suggestions contained in his
letter look toward honest elections and
| you must agree with this statement,
that if both sides want it, it will be easy
enough to find way to get it. And it
is fair presumption that with the cleo
tion machinery in the hands of the op-
position party entirely, that Mr.. Slemp
is the man who wants fairness, as he
has everything to gain, if for no other
reason.
Finally, l don't believe that you can
produce law in q single republican
state in this Union where the minority
party is not permitted to select, at
least, as much as q judge and clerk of
its own choice. There is maxim in
equity that YOU MUST COME INTO COURT
WITH CLEAN HANDS. Do you think un-
der the circumstances herein set out
and under the law as you and know it
to exist, that the democratic party in
Virginia or the Ninth district is in po-
sition to call Mr.. Slemp to the bar of
the court for any purpose?
hope that you will understand that l
am writing this that you may know the
conditions in other sections of the state
and may give me the benefit of any
knowledge you have as to anything the
democrats are doing to prevent fraud in
election and in the hope that you will
join Mr.. Slemp in his effort to prevent
fraud. THIS is far more important than
to punish it after it has been encour-
aged.
Very truly yours,
GEORGE N. WISE.