Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-05-29
THURSDAY. MAY 20. 1902.
vRGINlA's POLITICAL FUTURE.

is about to enter a chaotic condition in
politics the careful observer can hardly
fail to see. A complete and radical change
in our organic law would naturally pro-
duce such a condition, even if peculiar
motives had not provoked such radical
changes in the Constitutional law of the
State.
Possibly we may be mistaken, but we
have never had faith in the sincerity of
the politicians who we're the originators
of the movement for holding a Constitu-
tional Convention. We believed from the
first it was a partisan movement, and
each successive step taken by the Conven
ton has strengthened US in that convic,
ton. 1t is manifestly the purpose Of the
men who control the Convention to So
shape the suffrage and election laws as to
make the Democratic party permanently
control Virginia. How to accomplish
that, without iu6&ing the Constitution I'M
constitutional, has been matter of serious
trouble to the partisans who have under
taken the work. They have struggled
along for many months over this and that
plan and at last have agreed upon a suf-
frage scheme whose constitutionality they
must even themselves gravely doubt. But
the new Constitution has been frahed and
revised and only the question of procla'
nation or submission remains to be set
tied. At this writing the indications are
that it will be proclaimed, and that may
be done before this article is perused by
our readers. The proclamation will only
strengthen the case of those who propose
to carry the new Constitution to the Su'
preme Court of the United States to test
its constitutionality. Some of the best
lawyers in the Convention do not hesitate
to express the opinion that if the Consti-
tuition is proclaimed it will sIt in the
Supreme Court declaring it unconstitu'
tional. We believe This is a correct
opinion.
There is no doubt but that the new Con-
stitution will he carried to the Supreme
Court by QUO warranto or some other pro
ceedlng If this is done it is our firm be-
lief that there will be numerous grounds
upon which the court will declare the in
strument unconstitutional and nullify 1t.
If this is done political chaos will certainly
reign. The masses will have less conf.
dence than ever before in those who
Wanted their ability to make Consti-
tuition that would inlract the Federal
Constitution and vet stand the test in the
Supreme Federal Court. 1t will place the
so.called leaders of public thought and
opinion in such disgrace that new leaders
will be brought to the front and political
lines reformed.
If, however, the new Constitution does
stand the test III the Supreme Court, what
will 10 the future political conditions in
Virginia? Will there be any change in
the election methods and will politics be
purified? There is nothing in the pro
visions of the new Constitution that will
necessarily secure change of methods or
insure honest elections. Upon the con-
trary, the new suffrage law will furnish
more abundant opportunities for fraud
than does the Walton election law. 1t Is
admitted that the understanding clause''
is to be used primarily as fraudulent de-
vice at the first registrations under the
Constitution. This is an alarming admis-
sion, enough to awaken the serious appre-
tensions of ell good citizens. Besides,
the new Constitution makes no sufficient
provision against the preparation and
use of ballots of fraudulent design-lke the
notorious "Scott County Ballot" 1t does
say that: "All ballots shall contain the
names of the candidates, and of the Off
GERS to be voted for, in clear prilt and in
due and orderly succession" This Ian
guage is no clearer or more emphatic than
is that of the present election law, and Its
true intention is made manifest by the
preceding sentence, which says: 'The
General Assembly shall provide by law
for ballots without any distinguishing
mark or symbol for use in all State, coun-
ty, city and other elections by the peo-
ple." This is a Constitutional prohibition
of the use of the only fair Australian bal
lot that can be used.
We are justified in concluding that if
the new Constitution does 90 into full
operation a machine will be placed in
control of our elections to operate the I'M
derstanding clause fraudulently. This
machine will be clothed with ample power
to provide the "proper" kind of ballots
and conduct the elections. With ma
chine once In control Of the elections il