The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-10

for the future after 1901 is thus committed TO
the Registrars. They are not allowed to register
any person, who has not paid ms poll taxes and
who does not make application in HIS own
handwriting without aid, suggestion OF memo
tandum in The presence of the registrar
To register any person. who has not compiled
with these requirements, is violation OF the
law and defeats the purpose OF the Constitutional
Convention for which the supreme formerly
rcntended so strenuousy. 1t is positively as
serted. and. as far as VIC iarormed, has not
been denied. that the names Of about 4oo persons
were entered upon the Lynchburg registration
books for whom no written applications were
made And these persons were allowed 10 vote
in the election. and by their votes the election
Was determined. That is to say the votes OF
legally registered citizens were offset by the
vqses Of illegally registered citizens. and yet tho
supreme" declares. $50 far as we are informed
the vote represented the real sentiment OF the
community
Does the supreme think that the sentiment
Of the community should be determined accord
jfg to the method as prescribed by the Con
stitHtion, should il he determined according
10 the whim Of the registrars. Or the wishes
o( the liquor interests?
What has brought abolt this great chung in
the attitude of the Supreme" toward the meth.
cd OF Il proper determination of the senti-
ment Of community Does il now propose to
stand for an unrestricted electorate ana advo-
cate the right of all persons, white and colored.
educated and illiterate, panpers and polltax pay
ers to register and to yotee
Not only does the new Constitution forbid the
registrar to register any persons who have not
complied with the law to poll taxes and q writ
ten application, bat it gives him large latitude in
determining, 20 his own satisfaction, the quail
iieations of the person as an elector and can
ask him questions on that point and can require
him 10 answer in writing. TIE purpose OF Civ
ing this additional power to the registrars is
TO see that the purpose aud the spirit OF the
Constitution are not violated in the written al-
plication.
In one OF ou9 cities the vets held night
schools aud taught the illiterate negroes how to
Ill IN an application for registration, which per
fofmanee parrot-like and directly contrary
to the spirit Of the Constitution.
Ategtstrar who desires 10 carry out the IN.
que stous and required answers in writing which
could have nufea this sehemieg trickery 10
defeat the ends Of the Constitution.
The liquor interests ate enawine al tine very
heart Of the Constitution, and they arr aided and
Allotted by the wet newspapers All the great
questions. concerning public officials. public pol.
ieies constitutional amendments can be settled
hy tine electorate provided By the Constitution.
Except the question of the saloon But the
saloon uust be given the right 10 override ali
laws The saloon must be allowed to destroy the
work of the Constitutional Convention Fl MUS.
be allowed TO register ilttterate and pprehasabe
whites and negroes. Nofhing is required tut the
poll taxes which are paid by the National
Liquor Dealers Association or some ether body
OF liquor men. ilarrisonburg, Bristol Roanoke
Banviile. and Lynchburg have all been
brought under the yoke once more The liquor
Interests care nothing for the intelligence and
morality Of 4 eummnntt Their business de.
sfross both.
The definite aim aud purpose Of the liquor
traffic Is 10 put on TIL registration looks IN
oVera county and city in Virginia tho names
Of as many veua! and iIlHerate voters as possible
and the only thing to prevent this is the law
quoted above, and the faithfulness Of the reg
istrars III carving out the intent of IN law.
Bat the Supreme in Virginia which pro
fessgs 10 be solietous about the purity of our
elections in Virginia not only makes 10 pro.
test against This persistent attack which is be.
Ing made by the liquor interests to cat our the
core Of the Constitution but gives fits on.
ao1sement by declaring that In Lynebburg the
vote represented the real sentiment OF the com.
umlty"
IL the supreme so closely allied to tbs LIQUOR
Interests Of the state that it is willing % allow
theln To work their viii even in the matter. ~
til" suffrage. which affects so vitab the nerma.
nent political. economic social and nnraJ well
fare Of the state2 II looks that way.
BLoODLESs SOCIALISM,
n4OHssfiV n