Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-24


The Richmond co-rssporlsni q TIE
Eslflmore sen writes that some
q he mos; influential zni pro-
ro,free.J fsir-eiec,ion leaders. Dao have
heretofore opposed an educational qiah-
fcsrfor. are almost ready ~ eonc.ie
that 60 ls a Necessary provision in ne
tre.ent condition - thinss in F7s'H-@-
Thee gentlemen. he saJs. haze DeI<i'
teofi, maintained tnzi they "ouh
not agree % aisqualify iiiier1N
uhlte men. bgt. VIII the sxefp-
lions hat roah certainly b. made
tney can hardy ssstsln their POSITION.
AIR. Wlthers says Re exDects 70 pfess
his reso.gt0n for = constitutional COB
ventfon xhich u now bs,ore ths senate
Iydlcl.ry Committee. re does not eA-
pet hat Il vn pass ~ tbs session.
bit .ant. to start the ball IN moiion-
u r. perfectly plain thai 10 s'se''o'l
laz tdat the legislature can pass VIII
li-p1,se Of TIE suffrage question pefl-4-
nertiy. In the end ve snail have 10
,oo.x y, a Constitutional Amendment FOR re-
gef-an amendment. say. thai 7il en4o"
1f,b mirage an Oh sod'ers al tax
navers paying On g. much - -" o.
,..o.rArtv and al men via e4n read and
write
such q chsnze 90 the sufrzgs article
~ our Constitution would di-frzncni-e
hardly any white men. And then = We
chase re might return % viva F'ce
voting In our Own judgment. TIE Gay
q the open ballot has passed; b-t many
other Vlrginians think not 90.
And. ze may ADJ. ve Do not think mat
the time f. yet ripe Tor taxing vote On
ne question q calling a COW si--',''-
The -ubject has not been efficiently Il7-
e,saed AMI 10 will take . year OF Two OF
more 10 DO This. Meanwhile our e.s' -'''
,svs should b. revised and AMENDED 20
a. 10 saxe them a. Acceptable 70 'Ni
public a. possible,
s.ssral substitutes for the Walton "a"
hsy. been onered-not one 80 "no-1
a. veil suited 70 Virginia ~ in@ "al''D
lau-snd from them some valuable sDs'
ge-tlons may b. gleanei. but "e ''.D-
,r ,be I,ezislature ls inclined 20 rurfen1e
che ore-cor.tsble feature o. the existing
lsw Much has been said against tnis
rea,rr- b5. no substitute FOR it hos been
r~oros.l which a. ali meets The lemafls
q The Gaze. Whether me con iian.s
should continue % b. appo.ntf- ~ ''+
p,.ctorsi Board Or the law snopi- %
changed 90 a. % give the app9.ntn.-l-
iot, roa hands ~ the county court j.
q oomrarativeIy immaterisI question Ana
vs believe thai on eli hands Do j. con
coded that the law should b. 80 amen4t'
a. 70 require uniformity 10 the pflhi'D7
o. the ballots
g,t uhen all r done that is practicable
10 b. done 20 improve the law % can
scarcely b. DOUBTED that the demand iof
= new suffrage qualification will con-
tinue. with more Or JOS vehemeHce' &C
oordlrg 10 circumstance. Nearly every
soutbern state has found 10 nece-sary
p, restrict sunrsg.. 80 other way seems
oueu 70 take a pledge against poiitieai
unrest A quarter u 3 century o. UNI
versa. suffrage has afforded us ample
time 10 test the "beauties" o. that sys-
tenn. and few statesmen can DO" D.
found Who will conscienuopsly declare
that Il vas wise a. t1e beginning or That
Il should be continued after It has been
shown 70 be q failure.
However. all this 81 by the way. VIZ
ginian, are not 80; quite ready 20 call
:. Convention. But when We are. let every
old veteran feel sure that 10 matter
whether h. can read or write. Or whether
b. owns much or no property, he VIII
be included In the first clause Of the
first class Of the men who are entitled
10 vote. Our present duty is 20 improve
our election laws. and this both houses
OF the Legislature are diligently seeking
70 10. but We believe that The sentiment
70 far developed IS against departing
very FAR from he essential features Of
the Walton system.
coo rtaf ada ~ g.