The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-08-14
RHODE ISLANDS QUEER LAWS.
How the Property Qualification for Voters Op-
- erAtes in that Htate.

How the Property Qualification for Voters OD-
r. crates in that State. ID
Providence, R. l., Aug. 9.--The Wallace OOm-
mittee continued the examination Of witnesses
this afternoon. Thomas darcy testified that he
was q naturalized citizen; was unable to vote for
over ten years, on account Of not owning land is
now real estate owner and voter thought that
about one half Of the foreign born citizens in the
Ninth Ward voted In the other wards the proper
ton Of foreign born citizens who held real estate
was smaller. 10.
Col. James Moran testified that he served in the
army during the war, but could not vote because
he held no real estate thought the property quail
iHcation made foreign born citizens Indifferent to
the welfare Of the State did not think that 1t
had a tendency to make them acquire real estate;
he estimated that about one. third of the foreign
born citizens were disqualified from voting.
VIM. H. Joyce testified that he served through
the war; was "a. Republican in sympathy; had
been over eight years in the customs service. He
was foreign born, and could not vote because OF
the want Of ownership of real estate; he thought
twothirds Of the foreign population did not vote.
The population might be more transient than in
many Of them as operatives; the question Of 70
pealing the property clause had been repeat dly
submitted TO the people, and had elwnye been
voted down, but he believed the restriction WOtld
have been removed II the parties controlling
things had thought the fOIeigners would vote the
John N. Duffy testified that he had served
through the war. he owned real estate and waa
q voter st one time. but lost his property and
with II his right to vote. he considered 1t = ie'
gradati0n to come under the properly restrictions
A local matter known aa the Brook street DIS
trict improvement was then introduced Henry
r. Rogers testified In substance that the Brock
street district was condemned by the LegslSture
for the city Of Providence. Many foreign born
citizens lost their votes by geing obliged 10 give
up their property Forty.eight foreign born oii
Sens sent In a petition TO the Legislature Hkng
70 be restored 70 their rights, but their request
was not granted. ..I-
]. ]. Mcguire testified that he owned properly
In the Brook street district, and amer Il WAR con
demntd he was deprived Of his vote; no was un-
able TO vote for about three years. IL answer 10
questions by Mr.. Blair the witness said that he
had been benefited financially by the transaction
but at the prompting Of Mr. Wallace he said that
he did not wish to sell his vote that way. ID
DR.. Gottschalk estimated that there we're 1900 or
10000 naturaliEed citisens In Providence deprived
Of the right Of suffrage; nearly I'll the GtrmSuS
were disqualified; Democrats 90 well ~ RspunIi.
cans have voted to allow the clause 70 remain In
Msjor Joyce testified that no thought the soldiers
were in favor Of extending the suffrage; the pEO-
position to extend II had usually b. Gu befOre the
people coupled with other questions which killed
Ii Democrats did not always vote IN favor Oi ex.'
tending the suffrage although they talked in Ia
Vor Of II. ...-.... ....