The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-24

controlled in The matter OF refusing
10 strike Off q name. and there is no
way or compelling them no matter how
naErart the Defiance OF law.
"(2) There IL no way at all of got
ing rid Of the names improperly put
on the registration books after fifteen
DAYS day, before the regular registration
registration day before the November
election. Should any election occur be.
tween those dates there is no legal
no way Of getting rid OF the names
put improperly on tho books FROM
nfteen days before the registration day
before the November election until the
next regular registration day in the
removing May
go An obstinate registrar can and
has, made II very difficult to see his
hooks at all
breakdown OF Law.
'Al these difficulties apply with
reat Jorge to any attempt to purge
me lists for any general election, but
inc breakdown. of the law is much
option election. which cannot be held
within thirty days OF regular cleo.
suppose, for instance local option
election is held in the early part Of
May. nobody put on the registration
book, books since flfteen. days before tho
last November regular registration day
could be stricken off.
held in July or August no names could
nc d e, removed which We're placed there
registration day in May. 1t follows
that the electorate at any local option
election may be debauched at the will
o. any unssernnulous registrar.
numerous instances. sometimes care
lesslE. sometimes designetlly, cannot be
doubted.
There is very grave danger that
unless the General Assembly enacts
remedial legislation by virtue Of which
me voting lists can be purified and
crate into a plight worse than before
the new Constitution. Prior to tho
present Constitution any elector could
challenEe tho right Of any person to
cided against his challenge he had the
right Of appeal.
!, . annder the stress Of local option
tered increased in stanton from 4
to ~; In Berryville from to 80; in
narrisonhurg from "a to S.; in Fred
eeriGksburg from about 80 to about %; ;
IN Roanoke from about IS 10 200.
SHOULD, in the case OF State
referendum. 4 proportionate number Of
negroes be registered the negro vote
only IN such referendum. but in gen
eral elections We must regard such
result az calamity. Not onlS have
, negroes been placed in large numbers
WHITE men have been illegally regis
tered: IT appears. as the result Of a
judicial investigation, that in Lynch
burg 266 persons We're illegally regis
tered in one year. Now that tho at
tention Of the people has been called
to this menace. it will be the sacred
nuty OF the next General Assembly 10
safeguard by effective remedial legis-
Ia ton the registration lists. The suf-
irage clauses of the new Constitution
r nave 1een , enacted in vain II the OF;
from the ballot box to the registration
books.
Suggested Statutes.
earnestly hope that the next Gen
eral Assembly viii enact statutes pro
"H) Greater publicity for the regis
examining them
"(2) An appeal from the decision of
challenged name.
90 Fix time before every general
ana ~ hion ey nh., referendum fe election at
heard against Illegal registra lions. and
torpid further registrations between
such time and the. election.
Punish registrars criminally for
suitable penalties for deiinquencies.
state wide referendum, without
w ynese n ha n,,, REFORMS in the law.
Judging the future by the past. thou
SANDS OF negroes would obtain fran
ch,se, the Constitution as to its fran
chise provisions would be set aside,
ana large. ignorant and .venal vote
eo ..T} 10, IN the body polite.
III stntntes accomplishing the re
not enacted by the General Assembly
OF 1912, then If any Statewide refer
endum bill Is made a law tho bill itself
fnta ,irt,
necessary to make 1t certain that the
questions submitted to the people by
the referendum shall be decided BY Il
legal electorate"
Then cam. the consideration OF the
report OF the Legislative committee.
The convention decided TO first take
up the preamble and resolutions recon-.
Defense of Newspapers.
But before this was done Rev. $. C.
Hatcher, OF Richmond, got in his nrsi
protest against the dcnunciation Of
Newspapers. which formed the bull:
Of the report, He said that if the com
mittcemen We're themselves. and they
only, responsible for these uttcrancs,
ne had nothing TO say hut he waa
scathng Remuneration OF the press ~
is 10 me- he said. drastic and bitter,
and VIII DO no good TO the cause
pr- Cameron explained that it had
from the proposed platform of the
league the usual program Of minor
matters, and 70 subordinate every
thinS TO the two matters contained
IN the report--the extension OF the
!oca option principle. SO as 10 prevent
nc ntrastate shipment Of liquors into
dry territolE, which would put the re-
sponsibility upon the Legislature. and
me other 10 secure for the people a
!ight TO call an election and decide the
proposition OF state wide prohibition.
re did not mean TO m!nmize the i'm
Torrance of other legislation. but 10
say nat all things considered. it would
De best 10 stress only these things
would Take Away Argument.
PRESIDENT Henry Pearco Atkins offer
Cd a resolution striking out the refer
erce 10 prevention OF shipments to dry
I.srri'oIN, ne thought q platform OF
prove Il 1iniculiy 10 the league. liz Is
ala no, think the convention Should
=" any further in the local option pol
ICY FURTHER, he believed 1t would take
away, one. Of tho strongest arguments
whlch had been heard 50 much during