The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-22

| believe the Louisiana constitution consti-
| tutional, and quote the ablest lawyers
! III Louisiana as agreeing with them.
| Upon first reading, the average man
would be likely to come to the hasty
conclusion that the "son and grandson
clause was in violation of the fifteenth
amendment, but these able Congressman
can show strong reasons why such is
not the case There are two ways to
vote outside the ''son ana grandson" pro-
vision. If a negro is denied q vote be-
cause his ancestor was not a voter in
1867, he can qualify himself to vote by
learning to read and write, or by owning
property. 1t does not deprive him of
voting if he has the qualifications that
would admit him to suffrage in any
State where the Australian ballot is in
vogue. II
The restriction of suffrage by, consti-
tutional amendment in three States is
success, promotes honesty, and secures
peace and good government. Restriction
by any other means is attended with ills
and evils that confront the white people
upon every recurring election. Therefore
am convinced that a constitutional reg
uiilOll 10 tIlb OliiS emu S"hN
method to be employed. And l am also
convinced that 4 legally conducted pri
mary is necessary adjunct to insure
against division among the white men
who compose the party. In these two
convictions / have been strengthened by
talks with the ablest men who represent
the Southern States in Congress.
The Southern States which have no
constitutional restriction of suffrage have
laws which in some measure restrict
the mass of ignorant negro voters. Viz
ginia has the Walton law, which makes
it difficult for ignorant men to vote. |
am promised by a leading member of
Congress a synopsis of the Virginia law
and an interview as to its practical work |
ing. Under its operations Virginia is
safely Democratic and that is a recon- |
incubation to Democrats. There is Il
sentiment in the Old Dominion, however, |
that it is unwise and unsafe to depend ;
upon the election law, and it will not
be long before suffrage will be restricted |
by constitutional enactment.
Alabama has been operating under a |
law SOUlpNIldl Ike the Il dA lt SitClIOil ?
law proposed in the Legislature of North
Carolina ten years ago. Congressman |
Bankhead, who has long represented his |
district in the House, told me that after
long deferring it. his people had determ- |
ined to end the long and difficult strug- |
gle to maintain white government with
out constitutional enactment 1t cost |
too much in every way, the tension was
too great, and the dangers too imminent |
to endure it longer, and now a constitu- |
tional convention has been called to |
regulate suffrage. Senator Morgan Is
the leader in this movement and he Is
ably seconded by such men as Pettus, |
Bankhead and Wheeler, the men who
have kept Alabama in line for true De |
mocracy in spite of Populists, gold-bugs |
and Protectionists, all of whom have At
one time or another vainly sought to take |
Alabama from the Democratic column |
These men have never felt the fire as |
We of North Carolina, but Gen. Bank |
head said yesterday, 1--WE are going to |
provide against the evil day. We do not |
want ever to have TO go through what |
has injured North Carolina"
| do not know what system Florida |
employs to secure and perpetuate white |
supremacy, having so large population |
of rich Northeners. As it elected 100 |
Democrats out of possible 100 to the |
Legislature, | did not enquire as to
whether it needed any constitution reg
ulation. / cannot see how any plan could !
strengthen the white mans party in
that State.
Tennessee has no constitutional re-
striction, but it has a mixed system.
which cuts off the ignorant vote in the
large cities. Hon. j. ID. Richardson,
who has no superior as parliamenta-
rian in the House. tells me that under
the workings of the Australian ballot
which is in force only i'll the cities, and
the enforcement of the payment of the
poll tax as a prerequisite for voting
there are many negroes who do not
vote.
Does it not also prevent the litter !
ate white man from voting?' ! asked.
20, yes,' said Mr. Richardson, where
ever it applies, but it is not in force
in the rural districts"
He said that the requirement of the
payment of a poll tax had not brought
about the evil feared to-wit: that can
didates for office would have to pay
the poll tax of many voters. 1t is Il
crime for candidate or office-holder to
pay the poll tax of a voter, and that
prevents the requirement becoming a
source of corruption. Besides, there is
a law which compels the payment of the
poll tax long before the campaign opens
so that payment during the campaign
cannot be made. Here is summary
of the election laws in Tennessee as
furnished by Mr. Richardson:
LIST. POLL-TAX LAW: All voters
who are liable to poll tax, that is those
who are between the age OF 81 and 80,
must give to the judges of election sat
isfactory evidence that they have paid
the poll taxes assessed against them for
the preceding year. All revenue arising
from poll taxes. is by the Constitution
of the State, dedicated to the support of
the public schools of the State.
2nd. Registration is required in each
civil district of the State, which by the
census of 1890, contained population
xiFk