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

a WARNING.
Wa print elsewhere in to-day's paper
an editorial article from the Roanoke
Evening World which we commend to
the prayerfui attention Of the Constitu-
tional Convention. The Evening World
is one of the fairest and ablest papers
IN the Commonwealth. It is paper
that is true to Democracy and the in
terests Of Virginia, and what it says is
entitled to favorable consideration.
Our contemporary points out that it
is for the democratic party to see to
1 It that the franchise provision Of the
4 new Constitution is fairly and honestly
enforced. at cannot be a matter OF
too frequent reiteration," It proceeds. ito
Empress upon those In authority the
truth that the primary and most vital
consequence which the people expect to
fow from a purified suffrage is an hon
est ballot and fair count.
Much as was said against the Under
wood Constitution. We have no idea mat
the people of Virginia would have call
ed a Constitutional Convention at this
time II it had not been necessary to
take some action on the question of suf-
certain parts Of the State which seemed
to demand, for the protection of the
whites, election methods that Were hu-
initiating to the whole State. The peo-
pie stood it as long as they could and
then they finally determined to call a
convention and remove the cause for
| this shame.
A new Constitution has been framed
and it is great improvement over the
old Constitution. But If it does not
succeed in giving to Virginia pure and
honest elections it will be in its most
Essential feature dismal failure.
Our Roanoke contemporary says what
Nhe Times has said time and again, that
I'm order to secure this result, in order
to purge our voting lists of the unworthy
we must have honest and discreet and
courageous registrars who will honestly
and discreetly and courageously carry
out the spirit Of the suffrage clause. 1t
it designed through this means to get
rid Of a large number Of black men who
we're forced upon us under the Fifteenth
who are, and have for years, been
menace to pure politics and good gov
ernmenr. We do not mean by this to
say that all negroes should be exciuo-
ed. There are negroes who are com
petent to vote and worthy to vote, and
they shhould be admitted, as there are
white men who should be excluded. But
Sc this law Is to be administered by the
REPRESENTATIVES Of cliques and factions
within the Democratic party for parn-
san purposes 1t will utterly fail of Its
nurpose and our last state will be worse
than the first
The term Understanding Clause" is
obnoxious, and we were in hopes that
some plan would be devised by the Con-
stttutional Convention which would be
above reproach and suspicion. But this
provision may be honestly administered,
and IL honestly administered 1t Is one OF
the best methods that we know OF 70
determine the suffrage. The objection
to Il and the danger Of it lie in this:
That in the hands Of dishonest men-in
the hands of tricksters, 1t may be used
by bad men to admit to the suffrage
those who are unworthy and to exclude
those who are worthy for partisan pur-
poses Its success as an honest measure
depends entirely upon the honesty and
discretion Of those who administer 1t.
Therefore, it becomes a matter OF su-
preme Importance that the registration
boards shall be men to whom this great
trust may In perfect confidence be COM
rnitted.
The selections for Richmond thus lar
made are excellent. The men, SO lar as
they are personally known to us are
honest, discreet and courageous, ana II
ali the State Will do as well, the law VIII