St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-12-22
SUFFRAGE REFORM.


Never will Louisiana elections be
freed of fraud until the pauper aud
il'iterate voters are denied the
privilege Of the ballot. The fail
ure OF the last Legislature to give
Us the educational and property
qualification. or some such measure,
shows the disposition on the part
of the members of that body to
still stick to the corrupt methods
90 long practiced in this State
Crowley Signal.
The Legislature is without au-
thority to "give US the educational
or property qualification" under
the existing provisions OF the con-
stitution Of this State. 1t did the
best thing 1t could in submitting
to the people an amendment to the
constitution providing such qualifi-
cations. The Legislature may
perhaps be justly charged with
sins of omission or commission, but
it should not be blamed for not per-
forming inpossibi.ities. People
who are in earnest in demanding
suffrage reform should take some
pains to know what they are talk
about before giving utterance 70
such absurd criticism rs that
quoted from the Signal.
Let them unite in ADVOCATING the
adoption Of the proposed suffrage
amendment and thus assist in carry.
ing into effect the pracLical reform
inaugurated by the Legislature
Southern Waterman.
The suffrage amendment will
have al al important hearing upon
the approaching struggle for ballot
reform, and 1t is therefore proper
and necessary that the people
should become familiar with it,
provisions. Its text is as follows
No. 200. JOINT RESOLUTION,
Proposing amendments to Article Is;
40 nf hn ~
Louisiana relative to suffrage.
Section l. Be it resolved by the
General Assembly OF the State oil
Louisiana, two-thirds of all mem.
beers Of each House concurring, tina,
an amendment to article one hum
dred and e'ghty-five (l85) Of the
constitution Of the State Of Louisi.
ana, be submitted to the electors
OF the State at the next election
for representatives in 1896, to read
IS follows;
Article 1875. Every male citizen
OF the United States, by birth OF
naturalization, who is twenly-one
years old, or upwards. possessing
the following qualifications, shall
be m electOr to vote at any election
by the people, except ~ herein
provided.
First. He shall be al actual
resident Of the state one year next
preceding the election at which he
offers to vote.
Second. He shall be an actual
resident OF the parish in which he
offers to vote at least six months
next preceding the election.
Third. He shall be All actual
resident Of the ward or precinct in
which he offers to vote at least
thirty days next preceding the elec-
ton.
Fourth. He shall be a registered
voter.
Fifth. He shall he able to read
the Constitution in his mother
tongue, or shall be q bona tide
owner of property, real or personal,
located in the State and assesse ed
to him ut . cash valuation Of not
less than two hundred dollars.
Sixth. The General Assembly
at it, re .ular session in 1896 shall
have power. by . vote Of two-thirds
Of all the members elected to
each House, and approved by the
Governor, to modify. change or
amend this article Of tie Constitu-
ton, and srch modification, changes
or amendments when 50 adopted
and approved shall become a part
of the Constitution without the pub
LEGATION and submission 10 the pop
ular vote required IN Article 256 Of
the Constitution.
G. w. BOLTON,
Speaker, House Of Representatives.
H. Il. LOTT,