Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-05-18
SATURDAY, MAY IS, 1901
GOV. OVERALL AND THE LIT
ERArE VOTER.

Ex. Gov. CHARLES T. O'FKRRALL in
ehe issue of the Richmond, Va, DAILY
TINES OF April End, 1901, discussed
S'6hould the Ballot be Taken from
Those Who Cannot Read2" He said:
'Sir,- It must be admitted that gen.
erAl intelligence at the ballot box is
much to be desired but the educated
voter is certainly not always a worthy
eitIzen, nor is the illiterate voter by
any means always an unworthy citi
3en. We all know college graduates
who, are worthless and venal, vicious
ana dangerous, and we all know illit-
crate men who are thrifty, honorable,
orderly and law hiding"
The above is laying down q strong
premise, and again:
Virginia contains within her borders
thousands OF men whO cannot read
who are public spirit ID, lead upright /
lives, perform their duties faithfully
and by dint OF their hard, common
sense, industry and economy have
raised themselves from the pos ition of
day-'aborers to that OF weil.to-do free.
holders.
1--WE can recall q number of man
NNASAOob ACnA WAO AhN0 Deeu Su0A
aSessful contractors on railroads and
other public works.
During our war between the States
knew Confederate soldiers, some OF
1hem still living, who had to make cross-
marks TO their names on the pay-rolls
when they drew their service pittsnce
who were just IS brave, just as true "a
any OF their educated comrades,
know men whose fathers dying on bat
tletields leaving helpless Families.
were compelled 80 devote their young
days and boykood energies to the sup
port OF mothers, brothers and sisters.
with no opportunity to attend school,
who are to-day in their illiteracy,
most respected citizens.
Shall all these men be told by their
native state that when the people, are
&sse milling to execute O freeman's
will that the polling places thsIl be
barred against them that they shall
nave no more voice in the affairs OF
Eheir government than dumb brutes
shat only the educated shall say who
shall be rulers and laW-givers. WI Ar
statutes shall be enacted and what
taxes shall be levied?
He continued:
at has been argued that as Virgini.
So- the pact thirty years has fostered
and maintained q public free-schooI
system, voters not able to read have
xhemtelves to blame. This may be
true to limited extent in the main
at is not true. 1t is not true as to the
admits In 1870, when the free-school
system went into effect, for free
schooling was net offered to them.
Many dissolute father has kept his
Shlidren from school to support him
2n idlei ess. Should the sins of the se
fathers be visited upon these ehildren9
In other instances the services of the
children Of households were required
TO MAINTAIN impoverished families, de.
priving them Of the advantages the
State HeIed. Should these unfortu
mates, who are now voters, be held re.
spoGsible for their lack of learning
In some spArsely settled sections
schools could not be maintained
Should men raised under such clrcum.
stances, to whom the S.ate could Offer
no opportunity in their youth, be con-
aaenRsd for not acquiring something
that wss not within their reach3
am Just as much opposed to an ed
uessional Qualification 90 I am TO Z
property qualification.
This 10 strong language. He slinch
ed it however whsn he said: -
~As have already intimsted, Wiz.