The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-27
POPE BOLTS FROM THE PARTY.
TIRED OF TILLMANISM, HE JOINS
THE REPUBLICANS.

He Asserts That the Constitution
Now Being Framed Would BE Re
jected by the People if Submitted
to Them-The Suffrage Clause One
of Its Most Objectionable Features
in the Doctors OpiniOn-The Con-
ventiOn to Adjourn Sine Die Next
Tuesday.
Columbia, S. c., Nov. 26.-South Caro-
lina's constitutional convention tonight
at 1903 o'clock, after a session lasting
nearly all day, completed its work so Ear
as the constitution is concerned having
been in session almost continuously FOR
over two months. and it now only remains
for the delegates to return here on Tues
day next TO ratify the new constitution.
The convention began work this morn
ing with the articles on the declaration Of
rights, on the judicial department and on
the legislative department, yet to be lin
ally acted upon, along with three ordi-
nances and two resolutions The bust
ness was rushed through in great shape.
The homestead clause was badly cut up.
The homestead of $500 to unmarried per-
sons allowed on the second reading was
stricken out.
This evening the convention reversed
itself on the divorce question, striking out
on a close vote the requirement that this
state shall recognize divorces granted by
other states. The delegates are tonight
making preparations to leave in the
morning for Atlanta to be on hand for
Carolina day at the Atlanta exposition
and spend the remainder of the week
there.
South Carolina will be represented in
Atlanta on Thursday by the delegates to
the convention, the members of the leg
stature, 1,500 militiamen and about 100
students of state institutions. The mem
bers of the convention will go on special
train. Gov. Evans and Senator T1llman
are scheduled to make speeches.
Dr. Sampson Pope, who was defeated in
the last election in the race for COVER
nor, is out in an interview tonight, in
which he announces that he has gone
over 10 the republican party. Speaking
of the situation, he says: Il believe that
l am safe in saying that there is much
political unrest. The convention now
about closing its labors has framed a
constitution for the people winch, II SUB
mitted to them, would be rejected by a
large majority There are too many OBJ
jectionable features in it to refer TO all
of them, but the suffrage clause is the
most Objectionable. 1t places the power
in the hands of the respective boards of
registration to refuse to register any man
not of their political views, ana 1 pre-
dict that thousands of white men will be
disfranchised by them, and more than
100, 900 negroes-in fact, as in Mississippi,
do not expect 10000 negroes to be regis
tered. This power comes from the re-
form members of the convention, aided
by some of the conservative members. 1t
! is intended by the reformerS TO perpetuate
| themselves in power That it is intended
to commit frauds under the suffrage
clause has been admitted on the floor
.'The suffrage clause is a disgrace to the
| civilization of the age, and is in conflict
| with the constitution of the United states,
and il was adopted whist the flag of the
nation floated over the hall of the con-
vention. Many of the poor white men
of the state are uneasy lest they lose
their right to vote and well they may
be, for the constitution puts 1t IN the
| power of few white men in each county
to refuse them. l predict that major
ity of these men will leave the reform
| ranks and seek safety elsewhere.
"Will the action of the convention lead
! to any political changes in this state?
Eyes, there are a large number of white
| voters in the state VINO now feel free to
make new party aHgnments. The repub-
| lican party of this state will in the next
| campaign consist of 1900 white republi-
| cans who have not voted since 1876 or
/ who have come of age since then and
! have not voted, and Of 25000 conservatives
and reformers, who will seek a new party
! alignment, and of that part of the negroes
to be registered who will not follow Till
The republican party is the party Of
protection, not only of manufactures and
labor, but also of the rights of the siti-
zens under the constitution of the United
! States; hence our people are looking to
| that party. Having been a protectiOnist
since 1884, I naturally go to that party,
| and 1 do so for the further reason that l
| believe in giving to every citizen every
right inherited from magma charta, and
the common law of England before the
! adoption of the United States constitu-
| ton, and every right guaranteed to him
| by the constitution of the United States.
"You may look for a lively campaign in
| this state next year. 1 would not be sur
| prised to see South Carolina in the re-
publican column alongside of Old Vir-
gina, West Virginia, North Carolina,
( Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas. Ken
lucky and Maryland are in the colmun to
| stay"