The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-10-16
Will Tillman Knuckle?
Senator Irby Declares Him
self in a Red Hot Inter-
view.
He DENOUN CES TILLMAN'S
SUFFRAGE SCHEME, AND
SAYS HE WILL FIGHT TT
TO THE BITTER END.

10 THS BITTER GNO
Senator Irby has given an inter
view TO The Piedmont Headlight,
which will be published in that paper
to-day. Senator 1rby strongly at
tacks Senator Yil!mans suffrage plan
as reported. Here is the interesting
interview as it will appear in The
Headlight:
We visited Senator Irby at his
home in Laurens last week and inter-
viewed him about the work of the
Constitutional convention and also
got his opinionein regard to the suf-
frage plan proposed by Senator Till
man, and which has been made public
within the last few days We believe
that if the report Of Senator Tillman's
committee was carried out that it
would mean the disfranchisement OF
thousands of poor and illiterate white
voters in South Carolina, and vindi-
cate the position Of The Headlight in
it's opposition to the calling of con-
stitutional convention.
We found Senator Irby in fine spir-
it's, and as usual he was surrounded
by his friends There is no denying
the fact that the people of Laurens
honor and love Senator Irby, and they
are clinched to him with hooks of
steel.
We asked the Senator about the
work of the convention.
II have had but little to say thus
far" remarked Senator Irby, 'as only
preliminary work was being mapped
out, and the settlement of few ques-
tions of any great Importance brought
before that body. Of course there
were plenty of speakers on hand, and
/ did not desire to fatigue the pa
thence of the members | have care.
fully watched the deliberations, how
ever, determined that whenever the
rights and interests of my people
were imperilled that ! would be heard
from in no uncertain terms"
Senator" we asked, "what do
you think of the recommendation of
Senator Tillman's committee on the
ri ght of suffrage p
Il look upon that report as a
political monstrosity-one of the
most dangerous schemes ever con-
cocted in the brain Of man, and when
the convention reconvens l shall fight
it and vote agsinst it if have not
another member upon the floor at my
back. Why, the more l study that
report, the stronger my opposition
and the greater the danger |
see in it. But let me take
that report up section by section,
and analyze it for you, and l do
hope that The Headlight will go to
work without delay and arouse the
white voters of our State as to the
danger that threatens both the poor
and illiterate white men. as also the
political supremacy of the Anglo
Saxon race in our State
The first three sections of that re.
port are bnt a reiteration of the old
law and to which no objection can be
urged. But after that the plot begins
to thicken, and the further you 60
the more damnable and outrageous it
becomes First, let me take the
qualifications for suffrage, as follows /:
"The person applying for registra-
ton must be able to read and write
any section of this Constitution, or
must show that he owns and pays
taxes on $500 worth of property in
this State; provided, that at the first
registration under this Constitution
and up to Jan 1, 1898, all male per-
sons Of voting age who can read a
clause in this Constitution or under
stand and explain it when read to
them by the registration officer, shall
be entitled to register and become
electors, separate record of all illit-
crate persons thus registered, sworn
to by the registration officer shall be
fled, one copy with the clerk Of
court and one in the Office of secre.
tary of State, on or before Jan. :.
1898, and such persons shall remain
through life qualified electors, unless
disqualified by the provisions of Sec
tion 6 of this article. The certificate
r .ha clork Of CONT or secretary of