The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-15
WHITE MEN MUST RULE
PRRPLExITIEs OF THE PROBLEM
IN MISSISSIPPI

Powerful Opposition Developed to
the Property or Educational Quail
f1cation Schemes Many Poor
Whites Would be Cut OF by the
Adoption of Either.
JACKSON, Mss, Sept. lA-Now that the
mist Of debate has cleared away from the
atmosphere of the constitutional conven-
ton II may not be untimely to give short
review of the situation. The perplexities
that surround the suffrage problem seem to
have increased with the discussion. The de-
bate of the past ten days has developed a
powerful opposition to either an educa-
tional or property qualification, and the
delegates of the white counties are uncom-
promising in their hostility to such resJric-
ton Of the suffrage.
WOULD CUT OFF MANY WHITES.
They maintain that large numbers OF their
white constituents will be disfranchised by
the engrafting of such suffrage limitations
upon the constitution, and serious schism
IN the Democratic party ranks Is imminent
If the Chrisman amendment, which en-
bodies that idea, is carried through. The
delegates from the black counties contend,
on the other hand. that the question de-
mands heroic remedies.
THE FOUR PLANS.
Four plans of settling the suffrage ques-
ton have been proposed, and neither one of
the four has met with the preponderance Of
support necessary TO harmonious adjust
ment of the question. The committee TO
whom was entrusted the task of
formulating suffrage plan sub
mitted a plan which its chairman
announces did not reflect the views Of any
considerable majority of the committed,
but represented the basis of compromise,
which was thought TO be the best settlement
possible, in view of tho divergent views
that prevailed. That report Is divided into
three ches-apportionment, franchise
and electoral colleges.
THE GERRYMANDER.
Under the apportionment plan the state
gerrymandered, giving the preponderance
OF power to the poorer, white counties and
taking from the rich, black countless which
pay the heaviest share OF taxes, a large por-
ton of their sovereignty.
The electoral college plan makes an cleo
toral college of the lower house OF the legis-
lature, and its province is to elect all state
officers in accordance with the wishes of the
people as expressed at primaries, each
county to have as many votes iu the cleo
toral college as 1t has representatives In the
House.
The franchise branch of the report limit
the right to vote to those who ha ve reside d
two years in the state and one In the county,
and have prepaid a poll tax of SO. It also
prescribes a system of voting modelled upon
the Australian plan.
THE OBJECTIONS TO THE REPORT.
The objections to the report are reflected
in the speeches of those who have opposed
it. The black counties demur to the abridg.
ment Of their sovereignty. The Others In
sist that the proposed educational qualifica-
ton is a temporary expedient, and that IN
q few years the danger of negro domination
and consequent financial ruin Of the
state will be greater than
ever before The Australian ballot
system is criticised as easily evaded and
wholly inadequate to meet the present
emergency. The report is also objected to
because it makes no provision for white
supremacy in the county governments,
which Is considered to be Of weightier Inn
portance than executive or legislative
control