The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-11-13
GnGttelIigenrer.
A Reristry Of Voters..AdVice Gratis
10 the Legislature,

The STATE LeRlslaIure VIII met neAi
Tuesday One oEthe frs, things II should
jols, 10 adopt a resolution proposing to
amend the Constitution so as to not only
authorize but require aregiStry Of voters.
We don't want any tests applied that do
not already exist, hut simply desEc that
Il shall be required that at every voting
place in the State, at every election, there
hall be an alphabetical list bearing tho
names oi all the persons entitled to vote
Al that timo and place and of none other,
aud that no person whose name Is not
borne on the list shall vote. 1t should
uOyide Of course all reasonable facilities
10 afford every legal voter an opportunity
10 register. Every election held in this
State since the repeal Of the registry law
hss shown the necessity for o registration
Of voters. There has been q great deal Of
Illegal voting at each and will be more in
future as matters stand. The simple,
complete and proper remedy is in
a registry. Then we may have elec.
lions that are absolutely honest. With.
Out registry such aa election is im.
ps,ible. The Constitution recently adop.
Ied in express terms absolutely forbids q
registry OF voters, Ifever more sense
less Tor knavish) thing was done by bOuy
Of men assembled to frame u fundamental
law, we have not heard Of 1t. The rights
OIevery legal voter aremorc secure under
a proper registration than withoutit The
claimant might not be able at the polls,
in the limited time allowed for the exami.
nSlOn, to prove himself legal voter. Be.
fore the registry officers he would have
all the Time and opportunity that he could
wish; and having established 1t there, his
right could not be questioned at the polls.
The effect Of registry Is in short to re-
move all questions Of this character
from the polls and have them
deliberately examined before hand by
board better qualified under any
circumstances to decide such ques-
tons than the election officers at the
polls usually are. Asa protection against
administration by registry officers
and the best that could be had-we be-
ieVe the commissioners OF registration
should be elective in every county, and on
The cumulative plan, so that the minority
party would always be represented on
each board. With boards Of registration
organized in this way, we would sec ure
Al impartial application Of the provisions
OF the Constitution regarding suffrage and
would have pure ballot box. All the
details Of the law should ol course be
left to the Legislature. The constitution
al provision that needs to be enacted by
amendment need only he general. 1t
might simply authorize the Legislature to
provide registry, but it would be better
10 require 1t.
This suggestion cannot be answered by
4 howl about the. .iniquities OF test oathS,
which appear to be inseparably connected
with registry laws In the minds of many
Of our excellent Democratic friends.
Their objection to the former registration
law, 80 far as It was reasonable, was not
TO The law itself but to the obnoxious dis.
crimlnstions it enforced. Those discrim.
nations were in the Constitution; and
when repealed by amendment the law
should simply have been modified not
repealed. Some features Of that law
were Objectionable, such as the appoint.
nentot registry officers by the executive,
and this should not appear in new law.
What the people Of the State need
10 insure honest elections and secure
Tho right Of every qualified voter
10 one vote and no more, Is q registry
aHll persons entitled to vote under the
Constitution, that registry to be made by
officers elected for short terms by the
people Of each county. No man who OBJ
lecG to that can show a good reason for
doing 80. q.
twill be four or Ave years before such
alaw can be enacted II the Legislature
begins at once. By all means then let
such an amendment be proposed by this
legislature. The people of the State will
% anxious enough for registration be.
'oreit can be reached. This Is not par
'SAn suggestion. All men Of honest pur.
poses arc equally interested in keeping our
eecIIonS pure; and unless one party or
@e other expects to gain advantage from
csOonest voting, neither has any reason
'G opposing the measure suggested. 1fa
Oe''eF plan to accomplish the end can be
suggested we will cheerfully support it;
U1' ample experience in this country has
aoNn that the registry Is the only ade-
Gaa,e means Of preserving the integrity OF
The ballot.
luR Parkersburg Tines. Ga,slte notes q
S's'liying increase Of activity among
Oa''aen and architects in that city.
TaE Legislature will assemble at
NhAfIeslon nm tho 1O,h ;n,k