The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-04-07
STATE CONSTITUTIONS.

ARTICLE yII.--ELEcTIoNs-- QUALIFICATIONS |
OF ELEcToRs--ruBLIc OFFICERS.
The Democratic theory has been said TO /
be that those constitutions are likely 70 |
prove the steadiest which have the broad |.
est base, that the right 10 vote makes a /
safety valve of every voter. and that the |
best WAY OF teaching man how 20 vote Is /
90 give him the chance OF practice. It IL !
true tina. while the tendency In the United |
states Ii Ia the direction of putting COM
rleteiy incorporation this theory of govern /
ment aud establishing universal suffrage, /
some limitations stili exist II has been /
decided By the supreme court OF the /
United States that the right Of suffrage In /
any state Is not necessary attribute OF
national citizenship. and that such a right !
was not conferred upon any one. either BY /
the constitution OF the United states as
originally adopted. or by the 18th or 18th |
amendments thersto. The right of deter |
mining the qualifications OF voters. there
fore. Is vested In the states. subject only to
the restriction that there shall be no dis
elimination in the exercise OF the elective
franchise, on account OF race, eoler or pre-
yious condition OF seryftude. Il rests with
the state accordingly to determine
and. II not. wha. limitations il is wise tn
impose The most common restriction of
the right OF votIngis that which confines
I: the suffrage 20 males IN every state con-
i sfituticn now In force this limitation pre-
yasls. The constitution Of Wisconsin,
however. authorizes the Legislature to ex-
tend the right Of suffrage 20 persons not
enumerated therein as electors, such law
70 take effect. II approved by majority Of
the votes cast az the general election. BY
the Colorado constitution of 1876, the
Legislature was required at its lrAt session
aud authorized thereafter 20 enact laws
extending the right OF suffrage 20 women
OF lawful age, otherwise qualified, the
same 10 take effect II approved by msjor-
ify Of electors at = general election. such
Law wse psss and In October, 1877.
was submitted 20 popular vote, but was re-
jectsd by a vote OF 1900 TO Zoo. Similar
amendments have since then failed or
been rejected IN other states: In the In.
diana Legislature In ISS2. and by popular
vote in Nebraska In isse. aud in Oregon IN
isst. in many states. however. tne suffrage
Is conferred upon women ia respect to ed
ncational matters Ihe constitution of
Kansas erdaiRs that tbs Legislature, In
providing for the form alton aud regala-
too Of schools, shall make no distinction
between the rights of males and females
These OF Minnesota and Colorado provide
that women aged q may vote ae any cleo
ton of scsioof officers or upon any meas
urcs relating 20 schools. and may hold any
Office pertaining solely To- the management
thereof and similar provisions are also
found ia the constitutions OF Pennsylvania
and Louisiana.
sEit would be 3 difficult matter. % eontra-
vert upSa the ground oi natnrsi right the
claims Of wemeB "a Suffrage Bat unan
the ground OF eypedieney it is at iesst an
open question whether ,he welfare Of &
state weald be promoted hY che eeRferfing
OF such right when Il Il considered there.
fore, that when once formally adopted,
WON ar ~ Tfeee would doubtless become
fixed. > .re eSne. cnee shows that when
once enlarged the suffrage Is not likely 10
fs again restricted, whatever the f.snlis OF
the change may b., st seems clear that the
wsSeSs and ln fact the only proper course
"a pursue is, s. has hcen heretofore stated 70
submit the question "a the deliberate de.
esxioa of The people untrsrnlneied hy other
considerations. No better way II seems
could be devised for doing this than that
provided FOR in the constitution OF Col. /
Grade, The right OF voting upon eaaea. /
tionHl matters is one that has upan the /
whole been found productive az good. a. |
though in some states Il hss not been ce,,.
orally TAKEN advantage OF Asa stage I'm i
che progress cs the movement aud - = /
PREPARATION for a broader right destined 1
sooner OF later 20 BE attained. the limited
pyfyilexc i<eomeS Of Importance
Anvthes restriction ~ The riSht Of snf. i
trace i imposed 10 tire states 81 Con
nccsteat, Massachusetts,. Flefiaa ard Col. i
orasfo. whore thc constitutions provide Tor 4
an educational qualification. In Connect
icet ~ an amendment adopted in iS5s. no
person Is eligible as "a elector who Is no.
shse 20 rsaa any article 81 the constitution /
OF any section 90 tae statutes If the state i
ia Massachusetts, an SsaeaesEeut asapsesi 4
IS FiSss eeniex the stxAs - yate ar 90 bold 4
etflee 81 say oae who u net able 70 rad /
ths constitution is she Engllsa language
aud - write bis name, saving persons al +
rssay entitled 70 sete. ar physically as j
sh3ea. The Florida constitution Of tsss re-
4u3FeA ,Aa legislature 10 enact laws regais. 4
lns eaiuessiaasl qaaliarafsons Tor electors
after The wear iSsa ssvisg ali persons presa-
constitution 81 ISIS aagheFiTea fae eenerNl 4
assembly ~ prescribe rs iaN after the year /
ESses Az educational Qualification for eice- +
ferS, ~ AlAnauss and &sxssSsfpps. bow
eyxs, TIE constitutions praiaitft arr, exsaes
Hons of f~saesssy sa4l aeasina. e u uas
easy 70 see Gs@sn what grnansss sa s44aea.
ssozAs Qualification requiring sha. "a esass.
ses shah - sele 80 seAa sad g. wrsse ais 4
a~R nAzss eSa b. essestSi 10 A yeTx9a
not &ssg 10 fsss.i car eessAsaaY mas vote 81.
tslsixsntlr. ras can aaa sAa IS waasss -
write as nsEas ~ res.e4 apoa ~ s3s4nzsa1y .
es'ls segA ersi zee Sutsss ~ ve53 A. sAe
rsSag attached 30 TIE exercise af sae so.
fsssr. A esopesfr aasliee asSsm sssa.as 1
ugssn a. eas1rSiy alseeeaf tasss. Aas hss
ssss i.ESse = se+aassss s. q savesahse essn-
sssses&aas- als3ssaga fhis wAs fsseaesly
rv-sHsrra Ia Haag ssaSes. Sc sn afAsvssnss
ssss2 lSiA ts Massachusetts, untss ssss. u
NeS NArk ant3 sss IA New gstS.T aak5s
ists- - t.enpeefieat aBssl las Ia ksrv!asz
ss2sll lsSz 10 Aasfk sszsasena sastg istss. s=sgs
"a ssaasysrSAs4 azzs5 ISL Il Las use
~ , sasl sss'k ia every seats exeenE Esssse
l*i&at u seFse&t wasss. hesesns, "a
sssssss gsass ssve Haff saeA tAres ~ aee
gss sssgs5 * essa. aT 30 TAX C. sSy.as~sgg 4
as Las me constitutions ~ Msans~ssss