The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-09-28
Would Send Representatives
To Each of the Army
Cantonments.

Re5uoucan state Chal-.nan w. f..
Baker has formulated a comprehensive
plan for insuring q vote for all west
Virginia soldiers in the camps and CAL
tonrnents. which ne has presented To the
State Council OF Defense for immediate
consideration and action The feature
Of the plan is the sending OF Republican
and Democratic representatives TO all
OF tho army environments ana camps
where West Virginia soldiers are III
training for the purpose OF instructinS
and assisting them in making appllca-
lions. for ballots. Speaking OF the plan.
Chairman Baker says In q letter 10 Inc
Intelligencer:
This Is the only practical way SEQ
10 give our boys the privilege contem-
mated in the act of the Legislature. l
am, very anxious that every Republican
in West Virginia shall be- made aware
or NV effort in this connection there
fore ask you to publish this letter IN
vorr next issue The Democrats must
fail in line aud join me in this request.
otherwise the boys IN the army ana tneir
friends and relatives at home Will De
convinced that the Democratic leaders
do not wish to be fair with out soldier
voters"
MI. Bakers Letter.
Chairman Bakers letter to inc Stdtc
Council Of Defense follows:
After having given considerable
: study to the act permitting registered
voters, vino are required BY military
dpty TO this sta,s. or to the United
States to be absent from their VOTING
precincts on tn. day Of election. to vote
by registered mail 1 have dec'oed 'ois
act is very irnpracticable.
Section Is provides that this act
shall be literally construed. 50 that full
force and effect shall be given thereto.
Il have been casting about FOR some
practical method Of insuring To our boys
in the service OF their country the rights
contemplated In the passage OF thlS act.
This act was passed by the extraor-
binary session Of our Legislature May.
1917. At the same session IN act was
passed creating your body. since when
time you have been very active in con-
n.-ction with war work. carrying out the
spirit Of the law.
II now suggest Z movement which in
n,y position would insure 10 our soldier
bows their right Of franchise IN the
coming November election.
'+iou send together on: pHrn"cTa1i"
and one Republican representative 10
ehch ,antonmeut naval training station,
naval aasc. aviation field or army camp
where our West Virginia boys are
located. for the purp":r IF inStrurtlnS
and assisting them in making out shcit
appncatiou for ballots. t'ro'id" Suc'i
representatives with the nlut'. and posi-
office address Of all registered in cach
county in the state. together with the
number and local name Of tn" various
precincts represented BY each rrEis-
erar, and further provide such represent
tati1es with application blanks for bal
lots. stationery and postage necessary
for each soldier to apply for and cast his
ballot
II would further suggest that the
chairnea OF the Republican and Demo-
cratic state committees each b.: re
questrd TO recommend their respective
representatives for this work.
II do not believe there Is anything Tor
which you could cNpGnd the same
amount OF money that would d" more
to convince the boys in our army rs
well as their loved ones left behind that
the State OF West Virginia Is deter
mined to do everything in her power I"
give to her soldier boys their every
right
7 most earnestly ask that you con-
vens at the earliest possible. moment and
act upon this matter