The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-21
LOSE THEIR VOTES
THROUGH ODD IDEAS
Mems Strange Reasons for Not
Registering.
WILL NOT TELL THEIR ACE
Others Do Not Desire Their Property
Flights DivuIged-Negroes Make
Wonderful Answers on Under
standing-Sufrage Plan.
WILL NOT TELL THEIR ACE
Others Do Not Desire Their Property
Eiohta Observation-Disclosures Mol.

The registration Of voters throughout
the State under the new Constitution is
developing some Of the curious ideas OF
men, which it might not be unfair to call
indiosyncrasis.
In the first place. there seems to be
weird. distant feeling which has taken
possession of the voters Of the rank and
frage clause. and they are shrinking
from contact with 1t. as if there
stood behind it some apparition
which in nine cases out Of ten
would absolutely prohibit them from ever
again enjoying the right of suffrage in
Virginia, which among all freeulen is re-
sarded as the highest privilege Of citi-
zen. And yet how are are they from
the true status OF the case?
There are four clauss OF the ordinance.
all so plain that a wayfaring man.
though almost fool. need not misunder-
stand.
If a man was a soldier Of the army
OF the United States or Of the Confed-
crate States, or If he be the son of such
a soldier, he may register without fur
Their trouble.
If he cannot come under either OF these
clauses, and has for the year previous
to his Offering for registration paid State
taxes to the amount Of 81, he still may
register without going through what Is
commonly known as the dreaded ordeal"
of the understanding clause.
IS NOT SO DIFFICULT.
And yet the understanding clause, after
all should not have so many terrors Tor
the voter. for when fairly administered,
as 1t seems to be at all the precincts so
far. there are no great difficulties to sur
mount. 1t involves but reasonable ex-
PLANTATION of some simple section OF the
Constitution. and there are but few half
way intelligent citizens who could not
measure up to the standard if they made
any sort of an effort
But the ballot in itself has ALWAYS
been regarded among citizens as a sacred
thing, and the private affairs OF men are
looked upon as even more so.
1t is these latter that men have hest
tated to divulge before the various
boards Some men are even sensitive
concerning their ages. 1t would hardly
seem creditable. but 1t is nevertheless
true that we'll known business man in
this city. who was qualified to register
under at least two sections of the Con-
stitution. absolutely declined to tell hi;
age, and therefore forever surrendered
the highest right known to mankind as
result Of free government
TENDER POINT
He stated that this was a point upon
which he was peculiarly sensitive and
when asked to give the officers some
vague idea. he declined absolutely, and
walked out OF the precinct.
The famous case of Mr.. Thomas N
O'keefe furnishes another evidence OF
the peculiarities of human nature. Mr.
O'Keefe seemed to get the Idea that
when the registrars asked him FOR the
date Of the naturalization of his father
as a citizen Of the United States and of
Virginia. they were assuming preroga-
tives which did not belong to them. He
walked out too. but finally returned and
gave the information desired
Some men are found who do not desire
publicity given the fact that they own
property upon which they pay as much
as S1.00 per year IN State taxes, while
others who fear they cannot pass under
any other clause do not desire 1t known
that they have not accumulated prop
erty. while still others who are debarred
under the soldier and property clauses
fear they cannot make it" on under
standing and so it goes. the electorate
OF the State failing to gather a great
deal OF strength which it ought to have,
and could get without the slightest trou-
BILE if the applicant would only take the
proper view Of the case.
THE NEGRO a WONDER
But when it comes to understanding"
the negro race is a wonder.
An instance is cited here to bear out
the contention. In Madison Ward the
other night a Times representative was
present when an intelligent young negro
offered to register under the understand
ing clause. He could read as well as any
white man in the city. When handed
copy Of the Constitution and asked to
read and explain a simple section there
of he adjusted his glasses and read 1t.
but made a miserable fall down" on
explanation. He had given his occupa-
ton as that of a drummer" and talked
we'll on all subjects save the one he was
asked to explain, and he did not seem to
have the slightest of the meaning of the
English language contained therein. The
next day the same representative of The
Times was at Shumaker's Precinct, in
Henrico scounty. A big black negro, fif-
ty-three years Of age, gave his oc-
cupation as that Of a plaSterer. He
could barely read a sentence of the new
Constitution, but when a rather difficult
section was read to him he explained
it in a most satisfactory manner, and
was admitted to registration without
further question.
The new suffrage clause is the finest
thai could have been devised and all
who take the trouble to familarize them
selves with it are highly pleased So far
as can be learned it is being fairly adj
ministered, and it promises to prove
highly successful.
RICHMOND ELKS