The New Election Law
August 4, 1894
Summary
An election in Harrisonburg, VA results in the election of a Democratic mayor and Republican treasurer; it is the first election to occur under a new election law that aims to disenfranchise black voters.
Transcription
The recent election at Harrisonburg, VA resulted in the election of a Democrat, Mr. Switzer, Mayor, and a republican, Mr. D.D. Lewis, treasurer.
The contest was conducted under the provisions of the new law, which was enacted with a View to further disenfranchise the colored people in the black counties.
In a letter to the Richmond, VA Daily Times, Treasurer Lewis, under date of July 28th, says:
“The law itself affords every opportunity for the grossest frauds. Our special Constable is an exceptionally honest man, and did his duty according to the law, as he construed it, But by his wrong Construction, about 50 illiterates were disenfranchised. As I said before, owning to the honesty of the Constable little or no money was used, which was a great improvement over some of our former elections, but with the 1 Constable provision and with a dishonest constable, the use of money can be made a hundred times more dangerous than ever before, for the party who has the Constable can buy all the Floaters, for they cannot be divided and thus made less dangerous.”
He adds:
“ I do not speak from the standpoint of a disappointed office Seeker, having been elected by a majority of 137 in a total vote of 573, and my vote being largely in excess of any other canidate.”
The situation is concisely stated.
When the bosses choose to give a fair return they do so, and when the situation is regarded as desperate they changed accordingly and a majority their way can be rented.
The idea is to work the law firly, in white counties, and unfairly in black ones. Truly the ways of some of these Democratic politicians are at times past finding out.
The contest was conducted under the provisions of the new law, which was enacted with a View to further disenfranchise the colored people in the black counties.
In a letter to the Richmond, VA Daily Times, Treasurer Lewis, under date of July 28th, says:
“The law itself affords every opportunity for the grossest frauds. Our special Constable is an exceptionally honest man, and did his duty according to the law, as he construed it, But by his wrong Construction, about 50 illiterates were disenfranchised. As I said before, owning to the honesty of the Constable little or no money was used, which was a great improvement over some of our former elections, but with the 1 Constable provision and with a dishonest constable, the use of money can be made a hundred times more dangerous than ever before, for the party who has the Constable can buy all the Floaters, for they cannot be divided and thus made less dangerous.”
He adds:
“ I do not speak from the standpoint of a disappointed office Seeker, having been elected by a majority of 137 in a total vote of 573, and my vote being largely in excess of any other canidate.”
The situation is concisely stated.
When the bosses choose to give a fair return they do so, and when the situation is regarded as desperate they changed accordingly and a majority their way can be rented.
The idea is to work the law firly, in white counties, and unfairly in black ones. Truly the ways of some of these Democratic politicians are at times past finding out.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Carlos Serrano
Citation
“The New Election Law,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed June 17, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1499.