The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-10-07

strued as mandatory, his EGcellency 'is
right in saying that October sth would
! be the last day, and II of course follows
that our soldiers cannot vote But ell
forts in which his Excellency and other
members Of this Council have cooper
atcd have secured Socialist nomina-
tons to be now made. and have received
from the Prohibitionists the suggestion
10 go ahead and print the ballots. for
the reason that they did not intend. 10
make nominations.
2. The situation has therefore devel-
oped. under which the soldier may vote.
! unless October 9Th is the last day for
them to make the several registrars the
necessary applications for ballots. But
II the provision that they shall do so
thirty days before the election is direc-
tory merely, as We think and not man
datory, then his E1cellency is wrong
and under the. law thus construed the
soldier may vote
8. II our view Of the law as thus e2-
presses IS correct, and with nominations
already made by the only minor party
| which has not waived its right (for the
very purpose of aiding the soldier L"
vote). the only remaining difficulty is
the practical one OF aiding them to d"
so. His E1ccuency proposes no plan.
but takes n position of mere despair. l.
the plan We propose open to his ob'cc-
lions or otherwise objectionable?
4. Our plan for getting the ballot to
the soldiers does not involve this Coun-
Gil in anything political II that term Is
used in the sense Of partisanship. The
Council appointed one Democrat and one
Republican to go to every camp and
! A. 11, l.S
and information to get their ballots in
time to vote The names OF the Demo-
Gratis. who, at the time OF the filing OF
this statement have now been appointed.
removes any excuse for charging either
desire or attempt to procure any parti-
san advantage. II not partisan purpose
others Will not aid in securing to the
soldiers their own exercise Of the rights
for which they are fighting. the burden
and the charge Of artisanship pass from
us to them.
5 It seems to MS that nothing more
concerns the Executive State Council of
Defense and IL more in accord with the
very spirit and purpose Of its creation
than to aid those who have been called
from home to the colors in the exercise
OF their rights as citizens. To refuse
them the opportunity, or oven to be in
different to aiding them in securing the
opportunity to do Li1at which Is both n
legal right and a personal duty. would
be on the part of our Council both 4
failure and a fault, Mere excuses, how
ever rhetorical. will not take the place
of practical help to the soldiers.
6. We would not II we. could. contend
that his Excellency does not possess all
the libcrality OF feeling and opinion he
processes toward the exercise by the SOL
diers Of right open to those who re-
main at home. We merely regret tina.
his liberality had not led him to con-
strue as merely directory that statute
which creates the difficulty. and that
his interest has not been sufficient 10
induce him either to suggest or acQuI-
csce in practicable solution.
7. The former and present construe-
tions placed upon this Soldier Ballot
Law by his Excellency would have
dual effect: First it would have COM
'pctely dlsfranchised the minor parties:
and second. 1t would now, in large
measure, disfranchise our men in mill
lary service.