Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-23

Bennett, Berry, Bishop, Black, Rodge, Boothby
Boynton, Briggs, Gates, Chase, Chute, Cousens
Daggett, Dole, Drummer, Harrington, Farrow
Eioyd, Friend, Furbush, Garner. Gilbert o
Greene, Grindle, Grose, Hamlin, Hapgood
hooper, Howe, Hutchinson, Jennings, Jewell
Zones OF China, King, Knowiton, Lawrence o
North Yarmouth, Libby of Chester. Libby O
Durham, Lombard, Longley, Mahoney. Merry
ffdliiett, Milliken, Moulton, Niles, Parsons
Roberts, Rowesl, Ryerson, Sawyer of Mill
bridge, Singer, Smith of Dayton, Smith o
Aodgdon, Spear of West Gardiner, Tibbetts
Tolman OF Carroll, Tolman of Warren, Trafton
WEIGH, Weymouth, Williams, Woodside 20.
| NAY-Bagnall, Bixby. Brewer, Clark o.
Naples, Cole. Daigle, Dickey, Doyle. Fair,
cock, Keegan. Kingman, Lane, Larrahee
Lawrence of Lubec. Leaivtt, Littlefeld, Mccall.
Tough, Merrill, Miller. Moore of Deering
Noble, Packard, Parkhurst, Robinson, Smith
| OF Hanover, Smell Spear of Rockland
Sweetser, league, Wells, White, Wndes
| Winslow-37.
,AnsENT-Ba5cock, Barrett, Bartlett, Burns
Clark of Hollis. Coffin, Comins, Crockett
Doten. Dudley, Geyer, Holbrook, Houghton
Hurd, Jones of Rowland, Kane, Law, Leighton
Miles, Moore of Gouldsboro, Patten, Peaslee
Rideout. Rodick, Rollins, Ross, sanborn
Sawyer Of Smithield, Shea, Smith of Marion
Sprague, Stanley, Twitcheil, Wheeler, WHEEL
den, Whitten-aS.
PAIRED-Folsom, no; Howes. yes.
Majority and minority reports relating
W SuuCdClOAdl VI NOtCTS.
Mr.. Keegan of Van Buren,, moved to
adjourn.
The motion was lost.
Mr.. Keegan said that some years ago
an amendment was passed providing for
what was called an educational qualifca-
ton for voters. The intention may have
been good but it works hardship in some
of the northern sections OF the State. In
several of those towns in the
north the population is exclusively
French. They have schools in
which the French language is of necessity
taught as a stepping stone to the English
language. The English language is like
wise taught. A boy of average intelli-
gence by the time he is 10 or 10 years of
age is able to read more or less in the
English language. If he remains at home
helping his father on the farm, by the
time he is 10 or go years old he has wholly
lost that little knowl, dge of the English
language which he pos sessed, because his
surroundings are against him. He has no
chance to practice. He cannot speak to his
father or mother in English, nor to his
young associates So if he remains at
home, by the time he is 81 he has lost his
right of suffrage He has not lost the
right to pay u poll tax or tax on the
property he owns, he has not lost the
right to bear arms in defense of his
county, but he may not say who shall be
a highway surveyor, or a selectman, or
who shall have the right to tax him or
make laws for him. 1t may be said that
it is very necessary that they should learn
the English language, but this is prac-
fianl D,,nctin, thcvc Thnp
don't have occasion to hear a word of
English spoken from one end of the year
to the other practically. l believe the in
tention of the constitutional amendment
was to have an intelligent vote-the in
tention was that q man should be able to
read in some language, not that he must
necessarily be able to read in the Eng
lish language. If you say that
a man must be able to read the English
language in order to vote as to whom
shall represent him in the Legislature or
in order to know something of the ordi-
nary rules of common sense, then this
constitutional provision is right and just
but it comes with ill grace from one of
these United States to enact that which
will disfranchise man simply because
his mother tongue is French, when in all
other respects he is a suitable and proper
man to enjoy that right | am not aware,
when, some 100 years ago, France sent
aid to this country, l have not under
stood that delegation was on the shores
of the Atlantic TO examine the great La
fayette and others to find ont whether OK
not they were able to read or speak the
English language. 1t was enough for
them to know that they were able to bear
arms, nobly, bravely for us, as they did.
1t was only 80 years ago, or less, that you
gave the right to ballot to the freedmen
of the South; today you take it away
from portion of your native born
citizens in the north. | submit to you
whether you wish to have large number
of towns in this State in the position of
having almost no legal voters as must
necessarily result if this constitutional
provision remain as it now stands
propose that one being otherwise quail
flied, if he has the requisite educational
qualifications in the language in which
he is able to speak and does speak,
l ask that he may be
treated just as fairly as every
one would wish to be treated under SINH
lar circumstances.
8r. Howe OF MILO spoke briefly IN sup
port of the position of Mr.. Keegan.
Mr.. keegan moved to substitute the
for the majority report and
called for the yeas and nays.
The cali was not seconded
A division being had, the motion to
substitute was lost by vote of 62 to H.
Mr.. Keegan raised the point OF no quo
rum voting.
The question being on making certain,
a division was again had, and the motion
was lost by vote Of so to 10.
The majority report was then adopted
On motion of Mr.. Millett of Gorham,
Adjourned
Afternoon Session.
The following resolve was finally passed
Resolve to secure the proper enforcement
Of the inland fish and game laws and to
aid in the propagation of inland fish and
game.
On motion of Mr.. Woodside OF Lewis
ton an act relating to the repairs of high !
ways and bridges in towns, was taken