Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-23
LOOK AT THE LAW.

There are some provisions Of the ACT
of Assembly "to take the sense OF the
people upon the call of a convention
TO revise and amend the Constitution
which are by no means clear, ana
which the State authorities would 90
well to look into before the day Of cleo
ton Cday 25th) is near at hand. The act
in question is as follows:
whereas. IL is represented TO the Gene
raj Assembly Of Virginia, that a portion
Of the people Of this Commonwealth, are
DESTROYS of amending the COnsutu-
ton of this State;
/ Be ii therefore, enacted, That IL
shall be the duty of the officers autho-
Iized to conduct the elections within TINS
Commonwealth. on the fourth THURSDAY
I'm May. 1897, AT the pollng-places IN the
counties. cities, and towns OF the state
TO open polls for the purpose OF taxing
the sense of the people upon this ques-
ton, Shall there be convention 10 re-
wise the Constitution ana amend the
same?" and all persons qualined 10
vote for the members Of the General AS
sembly shall be permitted TO vote there
on.
The polls TO be open shall contain two
columns and shall be headed on the
one side of the poll-book thus: shall
there be a convention TO revise the Con-
stitution and amend the same ?-conFen-
ton: no convention
2 IL shall be the duty Of the judges
of the election at each poiling-place TO
receive. canvass count, certify ana re-
turn the votes and poll-hOoks at such
election separately, as pTopdcd Dy law
for elections of members OF the Genera
Assembly and they shall pu1 said poll
books under cover, seal the same, ana
deliver them TO the clerks OK the coun-
" and corporation courts in which sald
elections are held on the day following
such election.
Elections in each and all of said coun-
ties cities. and towns shall, on the Sc
ccnd day after such elections Sunday
excepted). meet at the clerks once OF
the county or corporation Tor Whlch
they are appointed. and proceed 10 can
yass and certify the same as proNaeu
NV law for general elections in TINS
State: and. thereupOn, the clerk OF salu
beard shall transmit the result thereof
duIv certified as provided by law. 10 the
Secretary of the Commonwealth at klch-
mond. and the Secretary OF the com
monwealth shall deliver the same 10 the
Sneaker Of the House OF Delegates on
Tho first day of the next general or spe-
cial session OF the General Assembly
10 be by nm ialQ btlhlt Ah' N~iiNAttA 80
eenlly at that session thereof.
4 This act shall be in force from its
passage
What is the meaning Of the provision
that the polls 20 be opened snail contain
two columns. and shall be headed on the
one side of the pOll-book. thus: shall
there be a convention TO revise the Con-
stitution and amend the same-conVen-
ton; no Convention
This reads as if we were going to have
q viva-voce vote. and as If each mans
vote were 10 be recorded, as was done
under the old Constitution. Per contra
Z, ia made the duty Of the judges OF cleo
zion "to RECEIVE, canvass. count. GER
tjfy. and return the votes and poh-books
nothing IS said about ballots, separate
~. as provided by law FOR elections OF
members Of the General Assembly etc
Nowhere is any provision made for the
printing OF ballots. and, OF course, no
suhere is IL prescribed what words the
ballots shah contain.
The Legislature should have made it
the duty Of each electoral board TO have
uinted at the foot Of the official ballot
something like this:
A CONVENTION TO REVISE
AND AMEND THE STATE CONSTITU-
TON.
cThose who are in favor Of calling
convention should m the blank with the
word FOR" Chose who are opposed 10
calling a convention should AL the blank
with tho word "Against.')
But nothing OF the kind IS provided for
Furthermore. II should have been pro-
yided that the judges Of election should
see 70 it That iliterates were aided In
preparing their ballots. as the law pro-
vides that they shall be aided In voting
for candidates for office. But this seems
TO be one OF the very least faults Of the
law, because IL may be possible 10 stretch
the provisions Of the general law. so as
10 cover this defect
The radical trouble seems 10 be with
reference 10 the MANNER Of voting. In
~'@ad OF placing this election expressly