Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-22
BASEBALL AND TELEGRAPH CONTNUED-BERKIEY NEWS
PEOPLES FORUM.

NOTE.-The Peoples Forum being
freely open to all parties, classes, per-
sons, views and capabilities, the Vir-
s e. an Pilot Is responsible for none
pL the statements nor opinions ex-
pressed therein. nor for the style in
winch they are set forth. The ignorant
ana uneducated shall be heard here
equally with the learned.
To the Editor OF the virginianPilot:
Berkeley. Va. May ia few days
ago there appeared in the columns of
the Landmark q communication signed
Fair Play" which was noticed edito-
sially by the Public Ledger in refer
euce to the failure of William H..
Barnes, registrar of the East Berkeley
precinct to open the registration books
of that precinct for the registration OF
voters as required by law. Subsequent
iy there appeared in the Landmark u
communication signed by Mr. Barnes
Stattng In effect that the election this
spring was unimportant, and he did not
deem 1t necessary to remain at the
place of registration during the entire
day. Section rs of the code REQUIRES
7hat each registrar shall annually, on
the second Tuesday In May, at his vot-
Ing place, register all qualified voters
not previously registered commencing
at sunrise and closing at sunset. and
that he shall give notice of such reg
estration at least ten days before each
Citing by posted notices at ten or more
places.
Granting that the election is unin-
Portant. and granting that he did not
deem 1t necessary to remain at the
PIX &c OF registration all day. although
the fact is that no notice of the time
and place was published. and the regis
trar Was not at the place at all vet
ic rsy- fat
ms duty as required by Il plain statute
py not remaining a his post of duty nj.
day, II matters not whether persons
were denied, registration or not? IT
aoundantly appears that Il sworn Off
Ger OF the law has. by his own state
ment, neglected Il duty, with only the
excuse that the election is uniinport-
ant. 1t may be that the registrar and
the politicians OF Norfolk county would
DC WILING, IN order that the people
might not be stirred up enough to
go 10 the polls, to make the impression
that the election is unimportant, but it
dO<s seem to us that the election is one
OF the most important for years. A
Democratic Legislature thought il i'm
prrtant that the sense Of the voters OF
the State should be ascertained as to
whether they desired change in an
antiuuated Constitution. 4 Democratic
convention. vocing the opinion of the
ant that n change in the Constitution
should he made; the people thought 1t
important that Il change should be
made and sent delegates to that con-
Ncntion instructed to make the uues-
ZION a party issue. The Democratic
press OF the State seems to think the
matter important. and every leading
democrat who has bcen heard from
acqucsccs in the dcision Of tho con-
Vcntion making the question an i'm
portant one; and for the first time our
cars arc saluted by 4 registrar OF Nor
i"ik county VINO rresumes to speak for
that party responsible for his aDDoint-
ment. using his voice and saving that
the Legislature, the convention, the
people, the press and the leaders of
democracy are all wrong, and the uues-
tion whether the people Of Virginia
Shall nave an up-tO-dlte Constitution
iashiohed by her own people. TO meet
the needs of her own people. ana in
oruer that prosperity may continue with
US is an unmportant matter II seems
TO us that 1t Is important that the laws
governing the right of suffrage shall
be obeyed. 1t matters not what the
opinion OF the registrar may be. and one
reason why the people of Virginia
think this Is an important matter. is
because they want Constitution so
framed that we may have q fair, lust
ana equitable law for the. conducting
or elections. and not one which can be
disoheyed Thy any election officer; and
certainly the people should not be sat-
is!ied when they are deprived OF n priv
iieSe granted to them under the law;
mat in the opinion Of the man who has
so deprived them of the privilege the
election is unimportant
a large majority of the people Of
Norfolk county have for a long time
heen under the impression that they
We're, To all intents and purposes dis
franchised, unless they voted IN ac-
cordance with the views of the party
VINO Is In control of affairs in the coun-
" and now that there IS Il ray o?
nope. In new Constitution. they desire
TO use every effort to throw off the
yoEe mat is so calling. although they
July believe that every effort will be-
made to keep them from going against
the wishes of the men who control.
WM. Nick. WOODHOUSE.