The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-12
OUR REGISTRATION LAWS.

What is the law in this state regard
ing registration and right of voting mas
not get been determined. In the muhlc-
ipal elections last Monday and TUESDAY
different were placed on
the law. In some owns men VINO had
placed their names on the permanent
roll under the grandfather clause
were allowed TO vote without register
ing again where entire new registration
was ordered. In others they We're de-
MED this privilege. Lawyers as we'll
as Iaymen differed in their opinions on
this point. The constitutional amend
ment was drafted by the judiciary COM
mittee of the legislature of 1899 and the
act of the legislature carrying into eff
feet that constitutional provision was
the product Of the judiciary committee
of the legislature Of 1901. These two
bodies of legislators were generally
spoken of throughout the state as being
the best the state had had in many
wears. There were in both these legls-
latures men who were popularity con-
sidered TO be among the leaders IN the
legal profession as to legal lore and
brilliancy OF intellect and also lay
mon from the creme de la creme of
North Cardinals business men. And
this is the muddle in which, after two
years Of study and consideration, they
have left SO simple a matter as provid-
ing regulations for the registration and
voting qualifications of the citizens OF
the state. A farmers legislature" could
not have left the matter in a worse
condition.
One section of his constitutional
amendment provides for a permanent
registration of all voters. This perma-
nent registration was provided for by
the act of 1901. Another clause of this
constitutional amendment provides h a
every person offering to vote shall be
at the time a legally registered voter
as herein prescribed and in the manner
hereafter provided by law"
The question now is whether a man
who has taken out permanent reglstra-
ton as provided for in the one clause
shall be considered as a legally regis
tered voter whe he presents his ballot,
even if he has not placed his name on
the registration BOO in accordance
with requirements for new registration
made subsequent TO his permanent reg
~dstration or whether the provision which
nently registered) shall be entitled to
register and VOTE etc, precludes the
idea contained in the other section that
a person permanently registered has
qualified himself for voting by being
legally registered because of such per
manent registration. In short-to vote
a man must be legally registered. One
clause recognizes a man who has taken
out permanent registration as being
legally registered for voting. Another
declares that all such persons who are
thus permanently registered shall be
entitled 70 register and vote" implying
that he must register again whenever
a new registration is ordered.
These seem to be the questions which
are bothering lawyers and Iaymen and
there are differences OF opinion on the
subject among both classes of our citi-
zens and We are rot surprised that there
are.
1t is easy enough for the advocates
of either construction - say the law is
perfectly plain: but IS It perfectly
plain?
Following so closely upon the heels Of