The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-26
THE PURE ELECTION BILL.

made necessary by the recent reycla-
lions In Lee county of wholesale buy.
ing and selling Of votes. A number of
prosecutions have been instituted by
Judge H. A. w. Skeen in the Circuit
Court Of the county named. but Il Is
asserted by some that his efforts 10
convict and disfranchise persons who
sold their votes would fail because the
existing laws do not authorize him 10
grant immunity to the buyer when he
becomes witness against the seller
The contention Is that The Barksdale;
law grants immunity 10 witnesses only
In prosecutions under that statute, and
does not make the immunity bath sol
complete that the informcr will be cx-
empt from prosecution under the gen
era bribery law, and therefore, despitc
the judicial offer OF immunity. persona
can refuse to testify on the ground
that they Will render themselves liable
under the general law. There IS much
doubt as 10 the real Htatc OF the law
IN cases like this and 50, to clear
away all doubts. former Court of An
roals Justice Archer A. PhleSar has
drawn bill to meet the situation. and
this measure, introduced into the SEN
ate by Senator A. G. Crockett, has the
full Endorsement OF the Ninth District
Democratic Committee.
The first section OF the bill provides
chat the amendments to the existing
law shall not operate to remit or
interfere with any penalties heretofore
incurred, but that the right to Prose
quite the came shall remain as though
hhe act had not been passed This pre-
vents any impeachment being cast In
the way of Judge Skeen in his efforts
to purify the ballot under tho existing
laws.
The present law is further amended
by prohibiting buyers OF votes from
escaping under tho claim that they arc
acting ae agents for some one else
Money. whiskey or other things can
not be used to influence tho vote OF any
person. thus making II unlawful TO nav
a person not TO vote In certain way,
The penalty is changed so as to BIO
'N - not icss tnan $500 and not
moro than $1,000 coupled with perpct
ual Acknowledgement. one-half Of the
fine goes to the informer. The idea is
that juHes would rather have fines in
ntcted than jail sentences Tho in
former Is given half the fine, so that
there may be an inducement for the
1ote-seller to become witness after
six months. when the prosecution
against him is barred, the proposition
being that whoever will sell his vote
Will not hesitate to Inform on the buyer
for sum OF money II himself assured
OF immunity.
The buyer OF votes Is given immunity
II within six months after ne commits
the offcnse he will voluntarily disclose
Inc name OF the. vote seller and shall
fully and freely .te.tify against him
The idea hero is that the desire for
immunity and for protection against
the seller after the expiration of sin
months would be a powerful incentive
70 the buyer to bring about the dis
1ranchiscmcnt Of the person who sold
his vote.
II tho buyer after six months does
not disclose the violation of law no
can lie summoned before n grand miy
and compelled to do so.
AS far Us law could this measure
would bring bribery 10 nghl. rhe
vote buyer is given reasonable orportu-
mtg to own UP: after that opportunlty
has expired. the seller. WHO Il tho,more
likely TO confess has tho opportunity
10 secure immunity by testlfyinc a. 10
shc purchase of lis vot.. The iilnita-
ton upon the buyer d essential. be-
cause the fac, that after tho expiration
OF his opportunity to confess. that on
portunity Will b transferred 10 tho
seller. is the CLUB over his head the
measure. Il written into law. would
prove great deterrent to tn. vote.
buyer hy reason OF the situation into
which he you'd be thrown ana il
wou!d mono the less prevent the selle!
from disposing of his ballot. M,
position into which the blil puts lie
buyer is one which will tend no, only
10 make him less IikeIy to buy. bul
also more likely to confess II he docs
buy, while, on the other hand. an anal
ogous situation confronts thu seller
Both may lose vastly more by yo,e bar.
tering than they receive The bill is
a good one and should receive the ia.
d vorabie consideration Of the General
Assembly. so that tho hands Of fearless
and la"-eBfOrcing prosecutors NAV ba
y upheld Purer elections atc sorcly
needed III Virginia. in certain sections
more than others, ana every obstacle
g ought 10 be put across the cyii pa,hs
q OF Ycte-aeliers and buyers
An uNriIISkABLE WAR.
# tina, France and italy should be-