Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-09-20

sistance" made it almost impossible to
reach conclusion finally and generally
satisfactory. The Convention was made
up quite entirely of men who earnestly.
desired to accomplish the best results.
It's membership comprised an ex-GOver-
nor, an ex-U. 5. Senator, Congressman,
four eX-CongresSmcn, and many of the
States most brilliant lawyers. Indeed,
during her long and illustrious career
Virginia has assembled no more patriotic
nor conscientious body than that which
framed and perfected an Article which
would not be suitable to any other State
i'll the Union. Doubtless, as intimated,
it is not just all that any individual
member wanted, but it is the best SYM
postum of conflicting Judgments ever
reached, probably, through earnest dis
cussicn and statesmanlike concession.
1t provides for a new registration of
all the voters in the State by Registra-
tion Board appointed by the Convention
itself, and three Registrars We're accord
ingly named for each Magisterial district.
In order that ii person may obtain reg
istry he must be ID Il soldier who has
served III the army or navy of the United
States. of the Confederate States, of any
State in the United States, or (2) the son
of any such person; (3) a person who has
paid State taxes aggragating at least one
dollar for the year next preceding the
year in which he offers to register, and
~ a person able to read any Section of
the Constitution and give reasonable
explanation of the same, or, If unable to
read such Section, give Il reasonable eX-
PLANTATION of same when read to him.
Each person who registers after 1904
must have paid all State and poll taxes
assessed against him, make out applica-
ton i'll his own handwriting without
suggestion, aid or mrmOruDdHn, i'll the
presence of the Registrar, giving his
name, age, time and place of birth, resi-
dence and occupation at the time and
during the two years next preceding, and
state whether he has or has not previ-
ously voted; lastly, answer all questions
by Registrar, which questions, with the
answers thereto, shall be in writing and
preserved as part Of the official record.
1t is confidently believed the new suf-
frage provision will legitimately elimi-
nate by both educational and moral tests
many of the ignorant and vicious voters
from our electorate and obviate occasion
for corruption and fraud i'll future cleo
tiOns. 1t may not accomplish all that is
hoped for in this direction, but that it is
long step in the right course there is
not the shadow of a doubt.
1t was often said during the Conven-
tiOn-"the elimination of the negro vote
will, perhaps, III Ike Virginia Il republi
can State" Invariably the answer from
men who had grown gray i'll democratic
service was $50 be it; we care not for
that alternative if it brings relief from
the discredit of questionable elections
,,.,l, g 10,
illiterate and vicious supremacy.
The outcome no man can forecast, but
the wishes which inspired and the mo-
tives which animated the men who con-
structed this Constitution were as high
and noble as any that ever stirred the
hearts of patriots anywhere at any crisis.
Last-not least, as to the matter Of
PROCLAMATION
or submission of the Constitution to the
people for ratification. There We're
weighty reasons pro and ron, and those
who held that proclamation was lawful
aS well as snf', won. They cOntended
that submission to the whole, unpurged
electorate would precipitate a fierce and
dangerous collision between an array of
the corporations and the diSfranchised
on one side and the friends of constitu-
tloIldl TtloTHl Oh lHc OtIltI. LII tHt lui-
ther event of rejection of the COnstitu-
ton, it was argued by the proclamation
lists, 1.-The last state" of the Common
wealth "wiIl be worse than the first"
For my own part l believed and still
believe that while the Convention had
the lawful power to proclaim, il was both
dangerous as ii precedent and bad as Il
stroke of policy. Feeling that in this
view l represented the best convictions
of my constituents, l voted to submit
the Convention S work to the people.
1t is fair to Il number of those who
voted for proclamation to say they did
so in response to popular request ex-
pressed in public meetings i'll many
counties, held when the question was rife.
Ihave written freely, though not fully,
yet as one hopefully believing our good
and grand old State, under a chart new
and auspiciOus, sets out upon career
resplendent with promise of days and
years worthy to link with its illustrious
past. Yours very truly,
d. G. OFLAHERTY.
GENERAL.