The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-11-13
Constitutional Convention.
Work Done During the Past
Week.
CoLUMB1A, November IL, 1895.

The one thing for which the Con-
stitutional Convention was announced
to have been called has been finished.
The plan, by which it is proposed to
regulate the suffrage, has been settled
and given the world for what it may
be worth. There was not as much
of a fight over the plan as was ex'
pected, and indeed most of the con-
tention was between the members
of the Reform faction. Most of this
was on the grounds of looking out
for the poor man, of which SO awful
" much has been heard in the Con-
vention and is liable to be heard on
the stump. 1t took about a week to
agree upon the suffrage plan and
while The committee report was not
exactly what everyone wanted it was
adopted in lieu of something bet
ter" There were great many OF
the members who had pet schemes
that had to be agitated, and great
many thought they had to go on
record, and so a great deal of time
was consumed in record and history
making, in connection with the
adoption of the suffrage plan. The
committee plan was adopted in all
substantial particulars as the com
mittee reported, the only essential
difference being in the refusal OF the
Convention to agree to the PROPOSE
ton that the minority party be given
representation on the board Of man
ayers. The Convention, notwith-
standing the firm stand taken by
Senator Tillman, declined by de-
cisive vote to provide for bipartisan
boards.
Repeated efforts were made to
change the essential provisions Of
the plan as to the property qualifica-
lion but all in vain. The effort was
made to strike out the entire section
fixing the requirements for registra,
ton, but it failed, as did the propo-
sition to extend the time for the ope.
ration of the understanding clause. :"
1t took repeated votes on variety of
phases to satisfy the advocates Of
woman suffrage that the Convention
did not want itin any shape or form
The advocates Of woman suffrage
were persistent and think that they
have sown the seed that will bear
fruit in later years.
The threat has been made that the
constitationa!isy Of the plan will be
tested. As this plan is of such vast
Importance its main ideas are about
on this line:
All elections shall be open and the
count in public.
Residence in the State for two
years. in the county one year and III
polling districs four months.
Payment six months before any
election of poll and other taxes then
due Registration is made a pre-
requisite TO the right of voting.
There is to be a new registration
every ten years, except Of those
registered on the FIRST registration,
which is to be made a permanent
record and entitle those registered in
the first enrolment to life registra
ton. Up to January lst, 1898, per-
sons applying to register must either
be able to read any section of the
Constitution submitted by the regis
tration officer or to be able to Gun
derstand and explain any section
when read to them" Those regis
tered up to 1898 are entitled to life
registration
After January Let, 1898, all apply.
ing for and entitled to registration must
be able to both read and write any
section of the Constitution or be able to
show that he has paid taxes Oh property
in the State assessed at $500 or more.
The property qualification is an alter
native for those unable to read and
write after 1898. After 1898 the. idea
is to have straight educational quail
,.,;nn with a chance fnr thoso uho