Evening star., 1901-10-21
SUFFRAGE IN VIRGINIA
THE TWO PLANS PRESENTED TO
TIE CONVENTION.
Prospect That the Thorn Plan VIII BE
the One Acknowledgements
tf0n to 1t.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

RICHMOND, Va, October 20. 1901.
The democratic members of the constitu-
tional convention have been for some time
past engaged in the consideration OF the
plans reported by the suffrage committee
There is every Indication that the tight
made in the committee will be repeated III
the conference, and it is known tnat at
last one member he's read the riot act 10
the conference though just what occurred
in the conference cannot be ascertained, as
the members are pledged to keep inVloiate
all that transpires in the chamber
OF the two plans reported, one is what is
known as the Thorn plan, and the other as
the Daniel plan. The former has the en-
dorsement Of a majority of the committee
and is more acceptable to the members OF
the convention who are familiar with cen
ditions in what is known. as the Back
Belt than is the plan supported by Sena-
tor Daniel and the minority. A digest OF
the two plans will give a comprehensive
outline of what the restrictions for suffrage
will he In Virginia when the convention
snail have completed Its work.
Digest of the Thorn Plan.
Following are the essential points of the
plan reported by the majority, known as
the Thorn plan: man in order to vote
must have one of the three following re-
quireemnts, any one Of which will qualify
him:
l. He must have been at some time SOL
dier and served In the army navy in
some war In which the confederate states.
the United States or one of the United
States have been engaged.
2. He or his wife must own and pay taxes
on property of the value of $3.50.
3. He must have been regularly engaged
or employed at business or work for three
months of the year, and must be able to
understand the duties of any or all the Off
GERS for whom he may at any time be
called to- vote
whose actual habitation for twelve months
cannot be certainly ascertained by the cleo
ton officers, shall be excluded from voting.
All persons who shall come within any of
the three classes named above shall, six
months prior to the election, pay a capita
tion tax of S1.J0.
Voters coming of age after January 1,
1901, and who offer to register after that
istration in writing, and viii be required to
fix his own ticket without aid or assistance
from the election officers.
Boards of registration, which are to have
charge Of the matter of the registration of
voters, are to determine whether those who
apply for registration are competent after
the understanding clause shall have been
applied. The registration boards are to be
composed of three discreet and impartial
citizens in each and every voting precinct
in the state, and are to be named in the
nrSt instance by the convention, their
cessors to be appointed thereafter by the
circuit courts, and judges of election are
to De appointed by the circuit courts.
The Daniel Plan.
The following is the plan reported by
Senator Daniel and a minority of the COM
mittee, and which is more suitable to the
white counties than the Thorn plan:
1. That the voter shall be male citizen
of t.-z age of twenty-one years.
2. Residence of not less than two years
in the state, in the county or city one year,
and in the precinct not less than thirty
days.
3. Payment at least six months before the
election of the poll tax of 81 80 preceding
the first election held in 1903 and after
that time all poll taxes for which the voter
may have been assessed and be liable.
4 That all voters shall be registered as
may be required by law.
5. That any persons registered after the
adoption of the proposed constitution, and
prior TO January l. 1904, VINO shall have
served In the military or naval forces of
one of the states of the United States in
time Of war; be able to read any sec
tion Of the constitution of the state sub
mitted to him by the registration officers
or to understand the same when read or
shall have paid to the state for the preced-
ing year in which he offers to register
and vote taxes on property to the amount
of 81 which shall be owned and assessed for
taxes.
All citizens who are registered and are
allowed to vote under the qualifications
named are to be continued as voters upon
complying with the provision relative to the
payment Of taxes, and are not to be re-
qured to make application to register in
writing, and may receive assistance in the
preparation of their ballots. After January
1, 1904, the understanding clause" is drop
ped, and persons applying for registration
after that time must do so in their own
handwriting and must prepare and deposit
ballots without aid from the election off,
GERS, except that blind people and those
who have served in war are to receive as
sistance in case they ask it,
Either of these provisions will it is
claimed stand the test of the courts. and
will serve to eliminate al least 80 per cent
Of the colored vote from politics in the
state and at the same time disqualify less
than 10 per cent Of the white vote.