The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-12
TRAVELLING men
WANT SUFFRAGE
STATE n. p. A. DIRECTORS HEAR
PROPOSAL FOR LEGISLATION
TO THIS END.
WOULD VOTE BY MAIL
w. H. CRIDLIv, or RICHMOND, IN
PRODUCES REsoLUTION--
STATE CONVENTION IN
LYSCHBUHO IN MAY.

"traveiers' suffrage" amendment
20 the state constitution. making pos-
sible the exercise Of the right Of suf-
frsge by travelling men who may be
In other States on election day, was
proposed by w. b. Cridlin before the
meeting of the State board of oirec-
tors of the T. y. A, at a meeting held
a. headquarters last night and re-
ferred to Howell Featnerstone, of
Lynchburg. chairman of the T. =. A.
legislative committee, for his opinion.
MIR, Featherstone will report at the
next State convention, which will be
held at Lynchburg, May Sth, 9th and
10th. and IL he thinks the proposal
feasible the State Legislature will be
asked 10 submit an amendment along
The lines suggested TO the people and
the national convention will be asked
to take UP the matter in other States.
The meeting was held at r. r. a.
headquarters on Main street. with
President l.. Il. Barksdale, of ftAsrs-
mouth. presiding. The time and place
OF the next annual convention was
selected. various committees appointed
and routine business transa cted. after
which Mr. Cridlin addressed the meet
Ing In behalf OF his proposition. which
he then submitted for consideration.
The resolutions presented by him
affect not only travelling mon. but
others whose business takes them from
home during a large portion of the
year, these men being practically dis.
franchised. Those in service In the
army and navy, railroad employees
those in the consular service and
others in addition TO travelling men
are unable to vote. In election after
ali pw ~ Aa hI a
absence from their place OF reRfstra-
ton, and 1t In for all these that he
would provide. Mr., Cridlins plan is
tentative and. as he stated, subject 10
any changes that might be deemed
necessary In brief II is as follows:
Subject TO certain conditions named
II provides that any regular qualified
voter who shall be absent from the
! county. congressional district or State
! in which he holds citizenship and
where he Is properly registered may
exercise the right of suffrage. To &C.
( complish this end he shall give notice
/ in writing TO the registrar OF his
/ precinct certain time before cleo
! ton day and forward by registered
! mail application for ballot. which
I shall be gent him. In the presence
4 OF the postmaster or assistant, he
shall then and there open the sealed
! envelope, take out the ballot. mark
/ II, place It within the envelope pro-
/ vided for the purpose and sign the
voucher printed upon the envelope
| The voucher is to be witnessed by tbs
postmaster or his assistant This en-
velope shall then be enclosed. together
| with n coupon from the registrar In
forming the pagtmaster that the re-
| ceivsr Is "a qualified voter. in another
envelope directed TO the registrar
sealed and registered
! Provision In also made for voters so
| tourNing without the jurisdiction OF
| the United States. and for those ir
| the army and navy. Tho duties oi
fhe registrar upon receipt OF hppli-
2 cation for II ballot ana the exact man
ne~ in which he shall enclose ane
| mali ballot. what shall accompany this
p, ballot. the form Of said ballot ana
Of coupon for identifying prospective
voter to postmaster at point of des
I tination and other details are worked
out in the resolution. presented b,
! Mr. CridYin. The regulations 10 gov
crn the receipt of the ballot, thf
counting and when II shall lee re-
ceived are also outlined
Further protection against fraud IL
( provided for in the last article, whlct
/ reads;
/ section /. ANY person attempting
| 70 aid or abet fraud In connection
/ with any vote cast or attempted &c
be cast under the provision OF this
| travellers suffrage act, shall. upon
conviction, be sentenced To the penl-
| Tertiary for not less than one MOI
! more than five years"
Section H. Any person attempting
to vote by fraduleutly signing the
name of s. regularly qualified voter
! shall be guilty OF forgery and subject
| 10 the laws Of extradition. and all the
penalties Of the laws governing forg-
! cry"
The board Of directors decided not ia
| act upon the resolution until It had
been passed upon by Mr.. Feather
stone. not caring to take action until
learning something of its feasibility.
I At the meeting preliminary work In
connection with the national conven-
! ton to be held here In June, was
| discussed. and plans laid for the en-
! tertainment Of the visitors.
I