The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-27
FINISH PL AN AT
To. DA Us SESSION
litue Doubt That Conference
VIII Complete its Work.
FEW CHANGES BEING MADE
Delegate, from The Black Belt Seem to Have
Gives Up tue pIsht-Prsperty Qua!i-.
iieatios 10 County
Lleetisss.

The black belt representatives IN the
Suffrage conference seem to have sur
rendered, for they made no opposition
10 any amendments or suggestions
nade yesterday. except in two instances.
Mr.. Lindsay Gordon successfully opposed
motion to strike out the provision all
lowing counties desiring it to provide
an additional poll tax prerequisite. In
the afternoon Judge Kendall took part
aonE enough to secure an amendment
allowing the Legislature to provide a
property qualification Of $3.50 as pre-
requisite 10 vote for county. city and
town officers for such counties as ap-
piled for 1t.
A great many amendments werc Of
fcrcd by friends of the measure. almost
all Of them being by members from the
white" counties. Messrs. Braxton,
Glass. Moore. w. A. Anderson. Parks
and Richmond taking the leading part
in the proceedings.
Consideration OF the plan was not COM
plcted, because at 500 o'clock there was
so much confusion and inattention it
was thought best to adjourn. There was
q tsomplete ovcrhaulng Of the subject Of
fraud in elections. amendments looking
to lcmedyins that matter being offered.
one of the most important being passed
by for further consideration.
There was IA feeling Of disappointment
expressed last night that the conference
was not able to complete the plan. 1t
r;as the general opinion, however. that
Tho finish would come to-day, and a,
final vote be taken on its adoption as a
whole as amended.
,il. n.or1iuz Ses ,ion.
The convention adjourned and the sur
1rage conference was called, Judge
Robertson presiding.
Mr.. Thorn. of Norfolk. arising to q
question of personal privilege. said: Il
hold in my hand a. copy OF the Norfolk
Public Ledger. in which appears these
headlines: Mr.. Meredith denounces
Nessrs. Thorn and Daniel. This never
occurred. and Mr.. Meredith disclaimed
It on yesterday. trust 1t Is unneces-
sary for me to say that If it had l
should have resented it properly at the
time. 1t is exceedingly unpleasant to
have such a statement heralded in head
lines in the press. and especially in the
newspapers of my own city. [ there
fore make this statement in addition to
that which Mr.. Meredith made on yes
lerday.
Mr.. Thorn further said that a reading
of the report OF Mr.. Mcreditl's speech
In the Richmond papers would show
that the occurrence had been cxaESe-
rated by headlines in the Norfolk papers.
PLAN TAKEN UP.
The compromise suffrage plan was Ia
ken up. Considerable time was devoted
TO an effort to amend the provision Oh
section 8, which allows a person Who has
been registered under the temporary I'M.
derstanding clause at future elections 10
receive aid in the preparation of his bal
lot The plan provides that he may
be aided in the preparation Of his ballot
by such officer of election as he may
himself designate"
The frauds practiccd under the Walton
xrI Toe 40
,nond, Parks, keczcll and Anderson de-
sired to change the wording of the pro-
vision SO that the Voter would DO re-
stricted to getting assistance from one
OF the Judges OF the election in tho pres
cnce Of the others"
They claimed that this amendment would
break up the custom Of Totc-buyins in
the white section.
Captain Parks made some confessions
as to vote buying and Judge Richmond
gave another account of election FRAUDS
In Scott county. giving the Legislature
some '.hot shot for Responding ths
old electoral board. and said their ex-
cuse was, '.They may behave better next
time
DESTROY SECRECY.
Judge Kendall claimed that the adop>
ton of tho amendment would destroy
the secret ballot and q return to viva
voce voting would be the practical re-
suit.
Mir. Wysor said when a man got an
other to mark his ballot 1t was doing
away with the secrecy of it anyhow.
The trouble about corruption in cleo
tiuns did not come from intimidation,
but from the purchase Of voters Cor
porauons might induce voters but they
never could intimidate them.
In opposing this amendment, MAJOR
Anderson said it was exceedingly dan
gcrous to attempt to fix an election law
in tho Constitution. It should be lett
10 the Legislature. He made q strong
plea for honesty in elections. lie said
ir any election law was to be put in the
Constitution. put the pure Australian bal
lot law there and not the mongrei law
that was now being used in Virginia
ADVOCATED SYMBOLS.
he advocated a ballot with symbols
on it and said it would break UP cor
.apt;cn and bribery.
Mr.. Class: Didn't you have law
passcd and haven't you heretofore been
an advocate of a secret ballot and With
ont any distinguishing mark
Major Anderson. IT do not claim TO
be always consistent. / learn and grow
older
Mr.. Stuart opposed any amendment.
waving that he was the author Of the
particular language in the compromise
plan. and it was safer not to change It,