West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-05-25
NEW ELECTION LAW
The Second Conference Between the
Democratic and the Republican
Congressional Committees.
From the Hampshire Review.

held meeting in the same place. At their
meeting they appointed a subcommittee OF
1--WE persons TO wait upon the Democratic
Congressional Committe. or such a sub.
committee as 1t might appoint. to discuss
what action should be taken with reference
to the new registration law. which was
passed by the last Legislature and went
into effect on May 18th. The conference
was probably suggested by the advice OF
Governor Dawson who. though the Execu.
tive OF the State, especially charged with
the enforcement and execution of the laws.
had ADVISED that the two committees get
together and agree to ignore the new regis.
tration law
well, lie Democratic Congressional
Committee appointed a subcommittee OF
hve persons to meet the Republican sub.
committee and meeting was held at Key.
ser after our convention had adjourned.
When the conference began II pretty soon
developed that only few persons had
read the new registration law and those
VINO had read IL had not given the matter
careful thought. consequently no one pres.
ent was prepared to express any opinion
about II. IL was, therefore, suggested that
second joint conference between the
two ,sub'commttees be held In Cumber.
land on Saturday, last. at 10 O'Clock a. m.
This second joint conference between
these two sub committees was held In
Cumberland as agreed upon. last Satur.
day. to again and further discuss the new
registration law and the procedure under
H. The members OF both subcommittee.
Wlen they last CnnvanaA
oil the opinion that the new registration
Jaw could not be ignored; that II would be
In effect when the special election is held
and that therefore It's mandates must be
ooeyed, else the penalties might be en-.
forced against the officers OF the election
as we'll as against the individual citizen
and voter. Therefore, It was further
agreed, that there was nothing to do ex.
eept to prepare to register the voters In
the respective counties OF the district and
TO hold the special election under the new
law.
Then suggestion emanated from one of
the Democratic members OF the conference
committee, that the blanks for the registra.
ton be prepared Jointly by the two Con.
gressional Committees, in order that there
might be no wranglng on the day OF cleo.
tion between the commissioners represent.
ing the two political parties, as to which
blanks should be used in registering the
voters unregistered, who offered to vote
lie further suggested that after these
blanks had been prepared under the aus.
pices and with the approval OF the chair.
men oil the Republican and Democratic
Committees, that the two Chairmen then
issue Joint letter Of instructions to the
commissioners OF election regarding these
blanks and embodying in this letter such
sections OF the law as ought to be called to
the attention Of the commissioners.
Astonishing to say this suggestion was
turned down by the members OF the Repub-
lican conference Committee. To be ALSO.
lutely fair, we want to say that to all ap-
pearances and all indications, the sugges.
ton was approved both by Mr.. Lakin and
the Chairman of his committee. Mr.. Keim,
but in any event it was voted down by the
members OF his committee, and so reported
TO the Democratic members.
The question naturally arises. why3 IL
was in the interest OF fair and expeditions
election that the suggestion was made, in
order that no persons entitled to vote.
whatever their politics. would be denied
the right to vote and that no ballot would
be cast by an illegal voter. Ii was in line
with agreements entered into heretofore
by the two committees, as to the form If
the Official ballot but this committee of
Republicans declined to do anything that
would facilitate and simplify the operation
oil this new makeshift Of a registration law,
which must prove most expensive, provok.
Ing and exasperating at this special cleo.
ton, under the most favorable conditions.
With all kindness to the gentlemen com.
posing that Republican subcommittee. who
are our personal friends. we cannot put any
other Interpretation upon their action than
that they desire and Intend to take some
unfair advantage In the matter OF the regis.
tration of the voters in the Republican
Counties. There is no other Interpretation
20 put upon II; there could be no other rea.
son for refusing TO join the Democrats in
aiding in the preparation Of these registra.
ton blanks and agreeing upon the proper
form.
Let the Democratic voters in the Repub.
lican counties beware. There Is a scheme
OF some kind in the minds Of these gentle.
men TO disfranchise those Democratic vo.
tiers under the new registration law. Let
the Democrats Of Preston county be espec.
tally alert, for two members OF that con.
terence committee, Senator Samuel Mont
gomery and Hon. w. G. Conley hail from
good old Republican Preston
The Democratic Committee, driven TO Il
by the action Of these gentlemen, will pre-.
pare registration blanks and furnish them
TO the election commissioner. in accord
ance with the requirements Of the law. II
the Republican assessors fail or refuse 10
register Democratic voters in the Republi.
can counties, let these Democratic voters
SO 70 toe polls early and demand that they
be registered by the election commissioners
and allowed 10 vote and see to Il that they
are not denied that sacred privilege which
the constitution oftheir country guarantees
70 them.
We believe that this action on the part
Of Mr.. Lakin's managers. some Of them self
constituted. will not meet the approval Of
iairminded Republicans throughout the
| district and that any attempt 70 so manipu-
late the new registration law 80 as 10 dis
franchise Democratic voters will be met
with stern resistance by the Democrats
and On equally stern rebuke by honest add
iairm.nded Republican voters.