Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-16
VOTERS HELD AL0OF
First Days Registration in
Richmond Light.
NEGROES KEPT AWAY
A SCHOOL" ESTABLISHED TO
TRAIN THEM.
Only One Republican Nominated for
ongress-Democrats Making a
Strong Fight.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.


RICHMOND, Va, September II, 1902.
Registration under the new constitution
began in this city today at noon and the
results for the first day are not very fat
tering. There are twenty-siX voting pre-
cincts in the city, with seven wards. Regis
tration began at each OF the wards at the
same time. Considerable interest was
shown in the work of the boards of regis
tration by people who did not offer to regis
ter. The people seemed to be afraid to at
tempt it, apparently waiting to see the
scheme tried on some one else before going
to their own precincts and applying. The
result is that the first day shows that the
voters are coming up unusually slow.
Another fact Is that the negroes, realizing
that the new constitution has practically
put them out of politics, are taking no in
terest whatever in the registration, but are
keeping away from the places designated
for registration. Even in Jackson ward
where the negroes outnumber the whites
five to one there are few negroes applying;
but there is believed to be reason in this.
The number of colored men who can qualify
under the new constitution as regards the
property and soldier qualifications is ex-
ceedingly small, while great dependence is
being placed in the understanding clause
The negroes are pretty sharp however,
and last night School for the informa-
ton of the colored voters was opened at
negro institution here, at which We're pres
emit a great many of the brightest men of
the race. The matter was discussed at
great length, and teachers of classes will
go out among the negroes and give all the
information possible in order to enable
them to qualify, and 1t is believed that
more negroes will get on the lists in that
way than is generally expected would be
admitted The registration boards will be
in session just fifteen days in the city. The
boards are showing no preference in the
matter Of putting the understanding test to
appicants-whites and blacks being served
Nominations for Congress.
All the nominations for Congress have
been made by the democrats. and in one
district Ghe fifth the republicans have
named candidate Only two changes will
be made in the delegation from Virginia
that in the fourth, where Major f. r. Las
sitter was defeated at the primary for the
nomination, and in the sixth district, due
to the death of Major Peter J. Otey.
The full list of candidates by districts is
as follows: First William A. Jones; sec
ond Harry l.. Maynard; third. captain John
Lamb; fourth, Robert G. Southall who sue
ceeds Major Lassiter; fifth, Claude A
Swanson; sixth, Carter Glass, nominated to
succeed Major Otey, deceased; seventh,
James Hay; eighth, John f; RiSeH: nintn,
William F. Rhea tenth H. D. Flood The
republican nominee is Beverly A. Davis of
Franklin county, a former member of the
constitutional convention.
The republicans of this district will as
semble at West Point tomorrow for the
purpose of placing candidate in the field
in opposition to Captain Lamb. The first
district republicans will hold convention
Thursday to nominate candidate and the
tenth district republicans will also meet
this week for the same purpose. In the
ninth district Mr.. Slemp. who last year
was a candidate for lieutenant governor.
has announced that he will accept the
nomination.
The democrats have no fear of defeat at
the coming election, but the nominees are
making a canvass as though they mad the
strongest opposition. The fight will not
amount to anything. The impression seems
to prevail that the President does not like
the conditions prevailing III the state and
for that reason there is some disposition
to put up candidates. The main point, how
ever, is that a majority of the office hold
ers do not want to see nominations made,
while the rank and file of the party-par-
ticularly the white republ1cans-are anxious
to have a fight and are urging the making
of nominations.