The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-30
PLAN PROPOSED
1OMAKE men VOTE
City Committeeman wouli
Print Names of Those Negli-
gent in Citizenship.
THINKS SCHEME PRACTICAL
Argues for Stringent Methods
to Compel White Man to
Choose Officers.
THINKS SCHEME PRACTICAL

MeInpeTS OF tho City Democratic
Committee have recently been address
Ing themselves in earnest to the solu-
ton OF the problem of the Indifference
OF large part OF the voting popuIa-
ton of Richmond to the duties of the
franchise. In city of 10000 people,
two-thirds of whom are white. 1t is
estimated, according to every accepted
rule of Calculation of such matters.
that there should be nearly $4,000
white men more than twenty one years
of age.
And yet the number of votes cast.
In the most exciting Democratic pri.
maries. never exceeds 1000 under tho
new Constitution, while 1t Is fact
that the normal Republican vote does
not eXcet 1000. including the eufran-
chised negroes.
The most moderate estimate, after
allowing for those who for their own
reasons keep their citizenship else
Where. is that 5000 white men fail
to exercise the privilege of the fran
chise granted them by the Constitu-
ton-for 1t has long since been a
maxim that there is no such thing as
the right of franchise. and that It is a
privilege.
Often Discussed.
This situation has oeen discussed
many times, privately and in public
IT mas been made the theme In meet
| lhgs designed to improve municipal
conditions Yet no one has under
taken a practical solution of wha5 Ia
regarded by students of political econ.
omS as an actual m ;nace to the con-
tinued good government OF city and
State.
what he hopes Will prove a solution
has been worked out by a member OF
the city Democratic Committee. who.
until his plans are perfected, prefers
tnat MS name be not used. It Is SIM
ply 70 publish the names and addresses
OF all white men of Richmond who INV
no poll tax, or who. IL they pay tax.
nave not voted for a certain number
OF past elections
we speak of a good citizen as one
VINO Keeps out Of Jail" said this COM
mitteeman last night. so long as his
name does not appear in the annals OF
Justice Crutchfield's court, we are too
apt to say that a resiuent mea
up to the duties OF citizenship. Ye.
we have little condemnation for tho
INDIVIDUAL who commits the crime of
indifference toward good government
Tor the municipality In which he lives
whose protection he claims. and in
which he rears his children"
Would Publish Names.
me tentative plan is to have citv
committeeman and party workers
take the city by sections. and to study
the directory. the poll tax lists, the
: books OF the Commissioner Of tho
revenue the registration books and
the poll books of preceding elections
/ Then lists would be prepared of those
who neglect to qualify themselves for
suffrage, either by unwilineness to
pay $3.50 for the support of the State
or by simple neglect. The names can
be gotten, and space would be pur-
chased for their publication In the
newspapers Of the city and In leafet
form.
The names of those who have not
lived In the city one year. nor in the
state two years. would be omitted.
for they cannot qualify. SO also there
would be left out the names of those
who for sentimental or other reasons
pay their poll taxes elsewhere In Vir-
Ginia or in some other State. and per-
form the duties of citizenship there.
1t is realized that thousands of
young men employed in the factories,
stores and Offices of Richmond pay
no attention to the franchise, and take
no interest in the science of the gov
eminent under which they live. This
/ is recognized to be the fault of their
training-an education which leaves
them with an intimate knowledge of
the various excellences of baseball
| pitchers and yet with no knowledge
of the problems OF the age-of the
building of a city and a State and
nation for the generations to come.
This committeeman's plan is being
Endorsed by some and criticized by
others. He admits 1t may not ac-
complish it's purpose. But he proposes
to try 1t and see what 1t will do.
Next June there VIII be elected a
Mayor and majority of the City
/ Council of Richmond. Democratic
primary Will probably be held In April
In order to participate In this pri-
mary, poll taxes must be paid by early
In December of this year. After the
list closes. the individual referred to
proposes TO begin his work OF tabu-
lating the names of those who de-
cline to help choose the mon who are
to govern the city.