The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-19
Gh. aflessengrr.
ALL VOTERS MUST REGISTER.

No man can vote at the dispensary
election to be held in this city on the
9th instant. or in fact. at any city or
state election unless his name is on the
registration book of his precinct or city
ward at the time of the election.
: Permanent registration under the
grandfather clause Of the constitu-
tionaI amendment does not relieve him
of n necessity OF placing his name on
the registration book of his ward or
precinct, just as was required before
the adoption Of that constitutional
amendment or as is now necessary on
the part of those who have not placed
their names on the permanent regis
tration roll.
We thought differently until very
recently. We were, along with a great
many others, of the opinion tina en-
roilment on the permanent list relieved
a man of the necessity of ever again
registering. This was the general
opinion. We got this idea. as did all
Others who thought the same way, from
IA III = dump Noh
the campaign of 1900. The argument
urged by these men, as thousands in
the state will bear us out, in favor of
men putting their names on the per-
manent registration roll was that it
would save them the trouble of ever
registering again in the future. We
were told on the hustings that once
49, N - r-nC
registered for all time to come.
Tx men who used this argument to
gain votes for h constitutions
amendment either were trying to fool
the people or did not know what that
section of the amendment provided.
Let's be charitable and give them the
benefit of the plea of ignorance.
That amendment does not say any
thing of the sort. 1t expressly provides
for the registration. like all other per-
sons, On the part of those who avail
themselves Of the permanent registra-
ton clause.
1t will be seen that this clauSe of the
constitution provides hat all whose
names are on the permanent roll may
in all subsequent elections register"
and vote-mind you. not simply vote.
Under the constitutional amendment
no person can vote who can not read.
There is an exception made to this re-
striction in favor of those persons who
on January 1, 1867 had the right of suf-
frage or are descendants from persons
Uhn ut rnat time had cIInh nriyyiIaro
provided that these ilfiterate persons
desiring to vote should, before the year
1908 place their names on the perma-
nent roll. The only effect of this pro-
vision in the educational clause in the
new constitution is to exempt from the
inhibition to register and vote-reg-
lister in the ordinary way as all others
have to do-placed upon il~literates, those
who have placed their names on the
permanent roll as persons entitled to
vote in 1867 or as descendants of such
persons All persons who cannot e a
who have not placed their names on the
permanent roll by 1908 will be debarred
the right OF suffrage after that date.
The clause regarding permanent regis
tration in no way affects persons WI
are not debarred by the general clause
against illiteracy. They must register
whether they are on the permanent roll
or not. as also must all illiterates wis
have taken advantage of h privilege
CT permanent registration under the
grandfather clause.