The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-09
rtE ElEcr,oNs MUST NE uos,ssr.

the danger of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF
| q large BODY of negroes as the result
| OF the strain ana stress ut a contest
over liquor, OF over some other cues
ton which might arouse intense an.
/ tagonism, ana without cxcuSing those
! registrars who so IA, forgot them
! selves as 10 violate the Spirit Of the
/ constitution, The Times Dispatch
would interposc word for sanity ana
clear vision OF the situation. penun
| citation Of the Lynchbur.s registrars is
| easy: is It not better, fla little more
| difficult, to work GU, Il remedy?
| In the frs, place. ii was intended
| by the Constitution builders that tho
registrar should WELD considerable
! power On no other basis can an un.
/ outstanding clause be successfully
(, operated for dropping all prctcnsc.
| the purpose OF tho Dcmocratic party
/ in Virginia was TO disfranchisa every
/ nosS!blc negro and TO Keep OH tho
| rolls every possible white man. Tbs
! registrar was expected 10 exercise
, uncut or We might say practically
! lniposslble, for negro to qualify. ana
] IT was expected that he should make
allowances for white Ineu so as TO yct
their names on the books
| NO body OF men charged With such
| varied duties as fell 10 the lot Of the
! constitutional Convention OF 1851 can
think OF everything. The ioophoic Was
/ left by that body for the registrars Ia
| do as they pleased in the matter OF
1 choosing between the races: no one
foresaw that the power would be ubus-
! ed in contests over the sale OF LIQUOR.
! or the issuance OF bonds. On in any
! hight where feeling runs high
| Nor can the Legislature he Justly
/ blamed for falling to enact ii punish
| ment for registrars WHO place on Tic
/ books he names of men who have no;
complied with thes mandates OF tie
/ suffrage clause OF the Constitution.
i Only recently, in tho storm or Local
! option contests, has the danger 40
the public to any oNtent until the re-
/ cent litigation over the result or thu,
| Lynchburs iiuuor election As Nj.
| Speaker byrd pointed out in his New
! port News speech, laws arc not en-
| acted until the reason for them ap-
! pears. rs the demand FOR a law IL
| punish registrars has lust arisen IL
! Is safe to SLY that tile desired act Viii
! be PASSED by Tic nest General As-
scmby. That much may be regarded
aa settled
/ \ wrong cannot bc rich,cd until i.
| IS wrong y crime cannot be pun
/ iahed until it has beon committed
/ Wholesale or retail dcnuncialion OF
the Legislature is unjust, unfair ana
unrca souablc.
+ Judge Christian pointed ,ost in tn.
/ Lynchbure decision that no charge OF
fraud had been made either III the
| proof or III tile pleaiings. The 'ldrys. :"
astounded By the change Of sentiment.
sought TO haze tho election set aside.
upon technical!ty revealing a ser
ious case unless checked, it is true, but
! stu u technicality. The learned judge
could see no sufficient ground u2on
/ which 10 override the Will Of tha poo :
PIE. YetMie properly characterized
the work u the yesistrars In permit !
ting iegistration without arpiica ton
IN. .tle Scul-bc voters handwriting;
as ignorance ana negligence There
vas netting 10 show WHO profited by
ihis prorcdnre end the probabilities
that beth sides registered cvcrybody
they could
;! Nor e i, fairto plane such mistakes
. on on" sl',c or tn-othct Some Of the
LNnrhhure registrars arc. said to have
bccm on lie VET side When tic
negroes wcc registered in Eris,o!
Gprins ne local opton campaign o,
\ lHHs. theN werc ~, on the books rs
iT'mcs ~ Moft. dry" leader. whose
honesty no one has ever Questioned
The nest l,csisluturc should nn
/. Will provide suitable punishment
II wiluoul The necessity for hystcra. 70,
ANY sucli mistakes in tho future
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sAiN'r PATRICK