Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-17
SPECIAL ASSEMBLY MAY
CHANGE ELECTION LAWS
Soldiers Lose Votes Unless Action Is
Taken by Legislators
Soon.
DEMOCRATS STUDY PROBLEA,
Stntc Committee Expected to Urge
Certain Procedure - Governor
Davis to Get Good Roads Petition
as Soon rs 1t Is Available.
STUDY PROBLEM

Speedy action by special session OF
the Legislature, which must repeal one
prohibitive provision of the Virginia
election laws, is the only recourse
through. which n vote this year may be
secured to the States returning SOL
diers. according to the consensus of
opinion expressed yesterday among
lawyers who have given the matter
their attention.
Repeal of the existing statute will
not enable them to participate In the
regular November elections. since re
qulrements of the Constitution consti-
tute an impossible barrier. but the law
can De so written as to permit them to
ntarles. which are tantamount In this
state to election. these authorities
say.
To accomplish this, the Governor
with the least possible delay. The pri.
maries will be held on August 5. ANY
legislation affectign the returned SOL
dters vote must be effected QUICKLY
ana stamped as an emergency measure.
Can Lift Statutory liar.
The election laws of Virginia pro.
vide that, to participate i'm any pri-
mary, the voter must be qualified to
fast fion ms ms ballet ballet in tho general cleo
Under tho Constitution. this quaIifica-
tion includes the payment of poll
taxes at least six months prior to
constitutional bar cannot be removed
It Is pointed out. but the statutory
nar' mar prnaidnG re,atng 70 TO- primaries which are
j. ~ Brenaman. secretary of the
State Democratic Committee. when his
attention was called yesterday to the
soldiers find themselves, said that he
would take up the matter imme-
diately with Colonel Rorer a. James.
state Chairman. and ascertain just
what could be done through action by
the committee
The petition of members OF the Leg
lslatuTe. asking the Governor to cali n
the PURPOSE OF matching Federal ap-
preparations for roads. probably will
be oihciaily presented to Governor
D.-Vis within the next few days.
$. l.. Lupton Returns.
:; l.. Lupton, president OF the vir-
yesterday upon his return to Rich
mond That ~" executive committee
, would take take the matter up and ~
proper steps would be taken as quick
ly as possible. He declared that about
three-fourths OF the entire membership
OF the General Assembly finally would
have their signatures attached TO the
petition.
Speculation was rife yesterday
among those interested in tho o,es
tion as to whether the Governor would
insist that the special session be held
OFT until the ten vacancies I'm the Leg
islature can be filled by special cleo
tions. There arc three vacancies In the
senate and seven in the House.
1t was the consensus OF opinion thar
we're the session called Immediately
the matter OF the vacancies would in
no wise affect the legality Of subse-
quent legislation at this session The
question OF unfairness. however, was
raised.
Unfnirness Ii Alleged.
1t was contended in some quarters
tina, II would bs manifestly unfair To
call the Legislature to Richmond to
aci upon matter OF paramount inn
portance without giving all counties
and districts an opportunity for full
representation. This argument was
met with the assertion that each leg
islator would be acting, not for any
particular county or community, but
Tor tho state as a whole and that
there would BIO no possible chance for
discrimination.
1t was stated at tho Governors Of
hce that the petition had not been Of
fcially presented to Governor Davis
and that. manifestly, he could take no
action OF any kind until that had been
done.