The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-18
WEDNESDAY. JULY Is, 1900.
THE QUALIFICATION OF SUE
ERAGIE.

The important place which the Hon
William A. Anderson gave in his annual 40
dress before the Virginia Bar Association
TO the qualifications Of suffrage, which
VIII be considered by the coming Constitu-
t;onal Convention. indicates the great in
terest which is felt in that subject through
out the State. Il is conceded that lawyers
viii have the leading role in that conven-
ton, as they have always had and always
should have in Constitutional Conventions.
What. therefore, lawyers believe TO be both
legal and right is a matter Of much impor-
lance. President Anderson only outlines
some Of the provisions which have been
made in other States for such q qualitca-
ton for suffrage as VIII accomplish the
elimination of .lhe Ignorant and vicious
vote without tr.enching upon the existing
rights of those who. under no previous
Constitution for the last fifty years. have
had their voting rights impaired. Our own
view is that very trenchant or serious
qualification of suffrage is not necessary to
accomplish what our thoughtful. patriotic
and unprecedented citizens desire. We are
ment that the requirement of the payment
OF taxes. including the State and county
capitation tax. for a consiGerab period be-
fore an election. would Of itself be a suf'i-
Gent qualification TO eliminate the great
majority of ignorant and vicious voters. 1t
IS highly probable that the requirement of
the payment of only the capitation tax for
fhe two years preceding. and before the
Is: OF February of tho year in which the
election is to be held. would he sufficient
We are aware, however, that this moderate
and reasonable qualification IS not consid-
cred sufficient by voters who wish to go
to the very roof OF the matter. and that
therefore. educational qualifications and
property qualifications will in all likelihood
be by some demanded. It is certain that
no qualification Will bs satisfactory or last
Ing which is not simple, uniform impartial
sair and Beyond tbs reach Of juSglery by
corrupt registrars. The Mississippi pro-
vision about understanding the Constitu-
tion.' though the applicant for voting may
be unable 10 read 1t. has proved most
dangerous device. and is likely to involve
that State in serious difficulties. 1t has been
said that the registrars, who have the
right TO judge Of the understanding of the
voter. viii change their minds as to the
understanding OF the voter If tho voter
Will change his views Of politics to accord
with theirs, even though that voter be
black as the ace Of spades and as igno-
ran: OF the Constitution monkey. From
the registrars standpoint. il he is going
to vote all right his understanding is all
right. and so already in closely contested
eiections The bars have been let down by
9 partisan registrar for the admission OF
tho very ignorant and vicious voters whose
exclusion was the main purpose OF The
amendment, 10 ,ha Constitution.
Tha; sort OF thing canno: be tolerated
for an instan; In Virginia. Whatever We
do mus; be done with absolute fairness. and
the rights of the citizen must be so clearly
determined that the abominauon Of fraud
from, which have so sorely suffered
WILL 81 possible, be even more perfectly
eliminated than tho ignorant and vicious
vote.
The move! provision adopted by Louisiana,
KNOWN as tbs Grandfather Cause. intro
duces into our politics new feature OF
citizenship which would seem 70 be alien
TO tho genius OF our Constitution. IN that
1t establishes a hereditary and privileged
class and man who under other condi-
Lions, would NOT be qualified to vote. e.,he,
Tor intelligence. ownership of property, or
ths paying q. ,sxes. 10 admitted TO sets
becxase k.n grandfather had voted. we
srs bound to say that this Is rot good
Democrats doctrine. and We 90 no; believe
thar /: wiz be adopted By tho Constitutional
Convention OF Virginia We have no such
class o. uss intended 10 be protected by
- wps1xon q fhs Louislana Consr.tu-