The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-05
CURRENT TOPICS.

The Suffrage Plan.
nrov T. IL cup to- the Democratic
marty to see to it that the irahcn 80
nrovision OF the new Constructor ts
fafr,1, enforced It cannot be matter
To- frequent reiterauon to impress
49,, those in authority the truth tha ina.
tha urinary and most vital consequence
which the people expect 10 no" i.o. n.
purified suffrage IS an 49,.
ballot and fair count. lhIousnoes
the white sections Of the STATE, e .ts
tions. as a general rule, have peeh W.
out reasonable suspicion Of wrong DONG.
sr-,,a there NAV have appeared occa-
siona1 outcroppings Of fraud, but tney
we're of sporadic nature only, which pup
lie sentiment, regardless OF party Sc
vereIv condemned. In the black belts OF
Virginia. however, recourse mas peeA
had to methods which were innateiy un,
fair. The exigencies which surrounu y q
the people Of those sections, ana tile
stern necessity which impelled them 70
maintain white supremacy at any cost
pleaded strong excuse, II not sunatis"er-
able justification for such conditions. IN 4
to that question it is not now proposed
to enter. Suffice it to know, that whetl1-
er justifiable or not, the poison OF IL
legal election methods has permeated the
body polite of certain Eastern Virginia
counties, and that 1t is the purpose OF
the electoral provisions Of the new Con-
stitution to cure this diease.
Then let the initiatory step In this
direction be taken by administering with
fairness and non-partisan zeal the or
dinances furnished in the revised 1nstru-
ment. The Republican-white or color
ed-who whether able or unable TO READ,
can reasonably answer the "understano-
ing test, should as unhes1tatlngiy pc
placed upon the registration Hsts as
Democrats who are so quallieo. II WIZ
indeed be very earnestly deplored II such
nartisan registration boards are APP
no5nted nv the convention as to preclude
this result Whoever it hurts, or what
ever party 1t helps, right and equity
must now prevail throughout all parts
OF Virginia in this most important mat
ter. S.zel a contamination is one which
the reople of Virginia have long and de-
voutly desired-and a solemn obhsat1on
rests upon each member of the conven-
ton to recommend such electoral boards
as will give fulfillment to their wishes.
The pity Of 1t has been in Virginia,
that since the war her people have lived
in an unhealthy and tainted political
T. NSAA~AA
amendment has struck at the root OF
political morality in the South. operat-
ing as grievous injury to both the Dem
ocratic and Republican parties. Now,
at last. a Constitution is offered which
gives birth to a worthy and intelligent
electorate, and which, at the same time,
regenerates public conscience in Vir-
ginia with reference to elections.
Therefore, whatever be the consequence,
let it be seen to, that vitiated conditions
be entirely eliminated from our politi-
cal life If. as consequence of future
honesty In election. Virginia is enrolled
as Republican State, then SO be it.
Worse, far worse than Republican control
in this State, will be questionable methods
at the polls, when justification no longer
exists. Deliver us from the body of
this DEATH eloquently pleaded Delegate
Thom OF Norfolk. Approaching devel-
cpments, 1t is believed. will show that
this prayer has received favorable an
swer.-Roanoke Evening World