Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-08
THE VIRGINIA ELECTION THIS
YEAR.
THE GOvERNoRSHIP AND THE SENATORSHIP CON
rEsTs-How VIRGINIA CABINET APPOINTMENT
MAY CHANGE THE SLATE.


THE aovERSoRsHIP AND THE sENAToRsHIP CON-
rEsTs-How A VIRGINIA CABINET APPOINTMENT
MAY CHANGE THE SLATE.
The prominent candidates for governor OF Viz
ginia at the coming election are Gen. Fitzhugh
Lee, Hon. John Goode, Mr.. Walter r. Staples and
Mr.. Holmes Conrad. These will be prominent In
the canvass on behalf Of the democrats for the
election Of the next legislature which will choose
Senator to succeed Gen. Malone. The prominent
candidates for q. s. Senator are Hon. John s. Bar
bour, Hon. Jno. W. Daniel and Walter r.
Staples; also, John Goode, In case the two latter
are not put up for governor. The main contest
will probably be between Barbour and Daniel, and
1t would, 1t Is thought, be very close tight. Some
OF the democratic leaders hope that such contest
will be avoided by the appointment Of Mr.. Barbour
would prefer TO succeed Gen. Malone in the Sen.
ate, but Mr.. Barbour has said that II invited into
the cabinet he would go, though he woulo not do
anything TO seek such position. Virginia demo-
Gratis are anxious to secure the postmaster general
ship for their state In order TO GUST the numerous
appointees Of Malone ia that service in their state
Mr.. Barbour and Gen. Hunton are spoken OF, and
both have backing. Friends OF Gen. Hunton are
ardentiy supporting Barbour for the senatorial
succession with the view that that can be secured
to him the way for HuntOn to the cabinet will be
clear, In the event that the Postmaster General
should be chosen from Virginia. Mr.. Barbour's re-
road is regarded as Significant by good many
The theory Is that Mr. Cleveland would not want
to choose railroad president as one OF his cabinet
and that perhaps Mr.. Barbour had some tntiIna-
tion OF his selection as one OF the Presidents
counseiors and therefore he laid down his railroad
Office. Under the new election law, which places
the election machinery in the hands OF the demo-
Gratis the latter have no fear as to the result OF the
next election.
THE NEW ELECTION LAW.
In response to request OF STAR reporter for an
explanation OF the new election law OF Virginia and
its status, Senator RiddIeberger said:
SsThe election law last wintar npod bo
mode OF appointing registrars and judges OF cleo
tion. These officers had heretofore been ap-
pointed by the judges OF the county and corpora
ton courts The new law provided for their ap-
pointment by board chosen by the general as
sembly, and fixed a freehold qualification. The
law went into execution, the boards We're elected,
@ Of tes Of
this law unconstitutional, because the Constitu-
tOn says in terms, that the right OF suffrage shall
not be abridged except for participation In REBEL
lion, or on conviction OF such crimes as are known
ified voters shall be qualified to hold any Office t is
clear that failure to hold realty is neither partcipa
ton In rebellion nor felony at common Law. Il is
equally aS well understood that qualification of
suffrage cannot be fixed by statute. 1t must be
done by the Constitution. Since then, at a called
session, the law was enacted without the freehold
qualification. This too, is to be tested in the
court OF appeals. on the ground, mainly, that our
constitution provides that all acts and joint resol
tOns shall be submitted TO the governor for his ap
proval IL was by joint resolution that the act was
to be carried into effect and this was sent direct
the secretary OF the commonwealth instead OF the
governor. The legislature adjourned the same day,
as understand, and could not correct their error,
II they believed they had committed one. The
qualification read and write is held by some to
be as vtoative Of the Constitution as that OF the
freehold because it is only for participation In
beliOn and conviction OF felony that suffrage can
be abridged. Our state constitution has undergone
no change in respect to suffrage since its adoption
except in 1856. to put the capitatiOn qualifca-
ton into 1t, and IN 1886 70 repeal it, The whole
question turns upon the constitutional qualiica-
ton Of suffrage"