Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-10-03

unhampered by any oath, the Democratic
members have proceeded with their
fraudulent and illegal designs All their
energy and boosted intellect have been
engaged in a persistent effort to devise
suffrage law that will deprive a vast
number of citizens of the right to vote
and yet stand before the courts. They
have already declared that to accomplish
this purpose they will disregard the peo'
pie, and they will violate what their can
didate for Governor says is, "the funda'
mental principle underlying the making
IF all Constitutions, by giving to any con-
vention the right to make a constitution
without submitting it to the people for
ratification or rejection" 1t is the de-
clared intention of the Democrats to pio'
claim the constitution instead of submit
ting it to the people. This is a violation
Of the positive pledge of the Democratic
party in convention, of its leaders and
speakers on the stump, and ofits newspa'
pers On the part Of the convention, it is
violation of the existing Constitution and
IF the Act" of February 16, 1901. That
Act made complete provisions for submit
ting the new constitution to the people;
aud though it called the convention into
being in the manner prescribed by our
present Constitution, the revoutionists in
the convention laugh at the Act, and say
it has no binding force on them, either in
law or morals. =
What can we expect from number Of
men who have so little regard for con
science, law, or precedent?
The Suffrage Committee of the Consti.
tutional Convention has been at work
three months, and at last majority have
reported suffrage plan. We print that
report on the first page Of this issue Of the
Republican," and ask its careful consid.
Grafton by all our readers. 1t is scheme
that, if adopted, will thoroughly accom-
plish the purpose for which the Demo
Gratis have been working. 1t will restrict
suffrage to an extent that will be truly
alarming-by depriving not less than one
half of the voters in Virginia of the right
to vote. 1t is vicious scheme, in that it
provides for poll-tax qualifications prop
erty qualification and an inquisition to
pass upon the qualifications of every man
who offers to register.
The Richmond News, speaking of the
work that is expected of the commission
ers of registration, has this to say:
"The chief and highest purpose of this
convention is to save cur State and people
from the necessity of election frauds,
which are dsgraceful, degrading and de.
moralizing. This clause proposes to use
fraud to avoid fraud, to transfer the dirty
work from election managers and clerks
to tie commissioners of registration.
The News then says that the provision
means one OF two things:
Fraud and violation of oath by Com.
missioners of Registration with the comm.
vance of judges,
The disfranchisement of some thousands
of poor and illterate white men,"
If the Richmond News will look back in
its files, and examine double column edi.
torlal published early in March, 1900, we
think 1t was March, it will find where it
asserted that it was the vote in the white
districts that was disturbing the Demo.
Gratis, and that was reason why conven-
ton and new constitution were necessa-
ry-that the threat of negro rule cut no
figure.
But the Richmond News, strong Dem
ocratic paper, which favors restricted suf-
frage, has interpreted the understanding
clause of the proposed suffrage plan to
mean: "Fraud and violation Of oath by
of Registration with the
connivsnce of Judges, or the disfranchise-
ment of some thousands of litter tie white
men,"
Every intelligent man must put the
sane construction on the clause. Take
either alternative you choose, and how
loes the work of the honorable suffrage
of the honorable constitutional
appear to honest men?
We again assert that the convention
was conceived in fraud and
hat its offspring has been tainted with
'raud, deceit and usurpation at every step
hat has been taken.
lAb
y A WORTHY SUCCESSOR.