Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-28
South Cardinals New Constitution
About Completed.
EFFECT OF THE SUFFRAGE CLAUSE
Promises Made to the IIliterate
Whites.
VARIOUS MATTERS SETTLED

COLUMBIA, s. c., November 2s.-South
Cardinals constitutional convention will
ADJOURN sine die next Tuesday. All the
Work OF the convention has now been COM
pleted except that of final revision of the
changes made in the constitution, which is
in the hands of a committee. The body has
been in session continuously, with the ex-
ception of ten days recess, since the 10th
of September. The new constitution will
be different in many respects from the one
it will supersede
The most important change will be in the
suffrage article. In round numbers there
are 10000 adult male negroes and 100000
adult male whites in South Carolina. The
present constitution of South Carolina was
adopted in 1865. and was framed by a con-
vention composed mostly of recently lib
Grated slaves, and dominated by northern
ers, who came into the state at the close of
the war 1t was patterned after those of
Massachusetts and Ohio.
The greatest objection to 1t was against
the suffrage article. which bestowed the
franchise on all male citizens of the age of
twenty-one years and upwards, not labor
ing under certain disabilities named.
There are about 1900 llliterate white
adult males in this state. The convention
could never have been called had not most
explicit promises been given that these men
would be taken care of. How to cut down
the regro majority and preserve the vote of
the white men and do it in sucn a way as
to run the gauntlet of the federal courts
Was the difficult problem which engaged the
attention of the convention, in which there
ere only six negroes. Senator Tillman, who
led the fight for the calling of the conven-
ton, was made chairman of the suffrage
committee.
The suffrage article of the new constitu-
ton provides for an alternative educational
or property qualification for voters. ANY
,x-rif ho
taxes on $500 worth of property has the
right to vote.
Iilfterate Whites Provided For.
Had the convention stopped there the
illiterate whites would have been disfran-
chised. They are provided for in a clause
which says that any one who cannot vote
under either a property or educational
qualification shall be given the right to vote
for life if he can understand section of the
constitution when read to him by the regis
tration officer. This understanding clause
is only to be operative for two years. All
males attaining their majority after 1888
must comply with the educational or prop
erty qualifications in order to be allowed to
vote. This clause was fought vigorously,
though unsuccessfully, and is regarded with
dissatisfaction by large proportion of the
citizens of the state. Doubt is expressed
as to whether it will stand the test of review
by the federal courts.
Under the old constitution there was .
two-mill tax on property and a one-dollar
poll tax for the benefit of the public
schools Of the state. The new constitution
retains the dollar poll tax and increases the
educational property tax to three mills. In
addition, the new constitution says tho
profits of the liquor dispensary and the
penitentiary and the proceeds from the
sales of abandoned lands and escheated es-
frt hill hN fv,to b.
funds.
The new constitution increases the num-
Der of the justices of the supreme court
from three to four, and provides that when
the supreme court disag-ees on a case in
volving an Interpretation Of the constitu-
ton, all of the circuit judges shall be called
in to sit with the supreme court in a re-
hearing of the case.
Recognition of Divorces.
Throughout the history of South Carolina
there has never been a law allowing d.
vorces in this state, though it's constitu-
tons have been silent on that subject. In
the first days of the convention a clause
was put in the constitution forbiddin8
granting divorces by any of the courts Of
this state, and a proposition that divorces
granted in other states be recognized in
this was voted down.
Last week, however, Senator Tillman Sc
cured the adoption of a clause requiring
recognition of divorces granted in other
states, where the marriage ceremony was
not performed in this state, and one Of the
parties was not at that time a citizen or
resident of this state.
Questions in the convention have not been
decided on fractional lines, and the best Of
feeling has prevailed between the reform
and conservative members. Some fights
among the reform leaders have developed,
as result of which some new alignments
in politics are expected in the next cam
paign in this state.