Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-05-18
VOTERS MUST BE REGISTERED.

At meeting in Cumberland last
Saturday of committees representing
the Democrats and Republicans of the
second West Virginia district, it was
agreed that the election for Congress
man must be held under the new la W,
which requires registration Of voters
and which goes into effect today. 1t
was felt on both sides that the new
law is inviolable and there is nothing
to do but obey it; that no matter what
political conference might determine,
the law is on the statute books and
must be obeyed. Both parties must
hustle to get the vote registered be-
tween May Is and June 6, end 1t was
decided to apply to the commissioners
of the II counties of the district at
once, requesting the appointment OF
special registrars to register the Vot-
ers. SO far all was harmony and
good feeling, and it was hoped that
both parties would agree to measures
that would insure fair and honest
election. But this could not be man
aged, as may be seen from the follow
ING account of the conference which
we take from the Hampshire Review,
edited by Hon. John J. Cornwell:
A suggestion emanared from one Of
the Democratic members of the confer
ence committee, that the blanks for the
registration be prepared jointly by the
two congressional committees, in order
that they might be uniform and in or
der that there might be no wrangling
on the day of election between the COM
missionerS representing the two pollt-
cal parties. as to which blanks should
be used in registering the voters unreg-
istered. who offered to vote. lie FUR
Their suggested that after these blanks
had been prepared under the auspices
and with the approval of the chairmen
of the Republican and Democratic com
mittees, that the two chairmen then is
sue a Joint letter of instructions to the
commissioners of election regarding
these blanks and embodying in this
letter such sections of the law as ought
IN be called to the attention OF the COM
miSsioners.
Astonishing to say, this suggestion
1 I,r hn m hnrE nj
tho Republican conference committee.
To be absolutely fair, we want to say
that to all appearances and all ndlca-
lions the suggestion was approved both
by Mr.. Lakln and the chairman OF his
committee. Mr.. Keim, but in any event
il was voted down by the members OF
his committee and so reported TO the
Democratic members.
The question natura ly arises, why!
II was in the interest OF fair and cX-
neditious election that the suggestion
was made, in order that no persons en-
titled To vote, whatever their politics,
would be denied the right to vote and
that no ballot would bs cast by an IL
legal voter. IL was in line with agree
ments entered into heretofore by the
two committees, as to the form of the
official ballot, but this committee OF
Republicans declined to do anything
that would facilitate and simplify the
operation of this new makeshift Of a
REGISTRATION law, which must prove
most expensive, provoking and eXaS-
peratlng at this special election, under
the most favorable conditions.
With all kindness TO the gentlemen
composing that Republican sub-com-
mittee, who are our personal friends,
we can not put any other Interpretation
upon their action than that they desire
and intend to take some unfair advan-
tage in the matter Of the registration oil
the voters in the Republican counties.
There is no other Interpretation to put
upon it: there could be no other reason
for refusing to join the Democrats IN
aiding in the preparation Of these reg
istration blanks and agreeing upon the
proper form.