Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1890-09-04
THE STATE CONVENTION.
The Woman Suffrage Amendment 10
Repoted FasorablY.
a. I. Generally Relieved That the recrs-i-
tiea WIN We ERxr4ftrd P"n the Cen.ti-
tution--sea..,soasi~ scene IN the Room OF
tn. Franchise COMMITTEES.

Jackson. Mss. Aug. 81 The work
u the Committee ON suffrage has bccn
the all-absorbing topic here. Tho COM
mittcc rcconsidered its vote on the aues-
tion Of giving the power 10 vote To
women, guarded by property qualin-
eation- The reSult was complete tri-
umph FOR the advocates Of the measure.
There we're only tWcnty-cight Of the
thisty-hve members present. and the
vote stood seventeen for and eleven
against. There was no use in trying 10
keep the vote secret. and in less than
half an hour every body knew II and vas
talking about IL.
The majority Of the members who ex-
pressed themselves were highly graft
fed. and regard IL as tho best move
made yet TO secure white supremacy.
The right Of women to vote was
abridged somewhat from the original
proposition, as the property qualihca-
tiun Is changed from $50 20 500. and
she j. 10 own in fee simple.
Col. Muldrow. ON hearing the news.
remarked:
Il am glad Of It. not that was in
favor cf It "a a prime proposition, but
W. are in fix. and the easiest way that
We can rclive ourselves of this negroiEcd
condition j. 10 my mind the best"
IL isa fact that on no question which
has been broAched since the convention
mot has there been such a rapid change
in sentiment as on this subject.
Col Fewcll's speech. when introduc-
ing the resolution. put members to
thinking. and since then the measure
has steadily gained ground. until today
bat few doubt that it will be engrafted
upon the Constitution
The Suffrage Committee also revised
their action in regard 70 the qaalifica-
tion oi voters Yesterday it was veil
understood that the committee would
recommend both an educational and a
property qualification At today's ses-
sion, by a decisive vote. the committee
agrced 20 reject the property qualifca-
iion. and recommended an educational
qualification 10 60 into effect in the
year isl.s In the meantime the Aus
tralian system. that is now in force in
Tennessee, will hc adopted
The debates in the committee today.
ike yesterday. we're very spirited. and
several gentlemen spoke right out in
the meeting.
senator George. it Is said. insisted
that II the Australian ballot system
was - BE- adopted there should b. a
provision for the officers of election ~
mark the ballots OF those unable u
DO ~
Mr. Mclean replied 10 the senator in
brisk speech. in which he tNitted the
senator % being more responsible for
the calling q the convention than any
one member of u. and now il seemed
that he vas inclined "a 90 ahead and
inaugurate the reforms the convention
was expected 10 make. For . time
there VAS quite
a LITTLE SENSATION
in the committee. bat the gentlemen Of
course retained their good humor.
The Suffrage Committee has now
about handled all Of the prime matters
u come before IL. and only has - put
them in shape. Il Is doubtful since the
woman franchise measure passed and
property qualification clause has been
reicctcd that there Nill be aay minority
report.
Chairman Patty stated today that h.
thought the committee would - read '
- report by Monday, and not later than
Tuesday next.
The Committee on fenitentiary, OF
which Mr.. Dcan. Of Lafayette County.
il the chairman. submitted report "a
the convention at its session this after
noon, which was received. ordered
printed. and made the special order for
Tuesdays session. The report Is
signed by six OF the seven members OF
ing present a. the meeting at which
the report was adopted The commit
tee emphatically declares that the
( leasing system is incapable ei reform or
amendment, and .'that IL should be alb
solutely and dunconditionally abolished. .
To this end they recommend the adop-
tion OF constitutional amendment de-
claring that the system shall not exist
after January l. l,95, and requiring the
Legislature to provide the proper legis-
lation for the change.
II also recommends the removal by
1885 Of the prison from its present site
in Jackson To a large tract Of land,
where the convicts will be kept under
direct State control. some to be worked
in agriculture and others in mechanical
and manufacturing pursuits.
This committee also proposes q prison
reform in the establishment thus 20 be
erected. by which reformatory system,
especially for Juvenile offenders. shall
be arranged, the whole prison estab-
lishment II be under the direct super
vision Of State Board Of Control. The
committee regards this as a mode by
which all the evils and brutalities Of
the present system will be abolished.
And the prison and convicts viii bo
made self-sustaining after thoroughly
established. The sentiment Of the con-
vention IS overwhelmingly agains, the
hiring or leasing OF the cocvicts in any
form or under any pretenses-
Ex-GOv. Aleorn's scheme to have the
convie.s turned over TO the leyee boards
meets with little O. no favor. Such a
project would practically nullify all ef-
forts At reform, and substantially per
pe.aate all the evils Of the present sys-