The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1898-03-12
THE REPORT or TIE SUF-
wAGE COMMITTEE.

after giving much thought TO the
question of suffrage. The plan
PROPOSED may not be perfect one,
but all except extremists will readily
concede that with so many difficult
ties to overcome and such great
humber Of elements to reconcile, the
committee has done good work.
OF course it is easy enough to point
out the irnrerfections in the F'an
proposed by the committee, but 1t is
doubtful if any body Of men how
ever wise and patriotic could have
done better under the conditions
now prevailing in this State. When
it is considered that evcty man OF
any prominence in the convention
had a plan of his own, it is possible
TO hs.ve an idea of the magnitude OF
the work to be performed by the
committee on suffrage. 1t should
be enembered that tho Sc'tlemen
composing the committee Cou!a ROT
he gs.ided solely by their owa views
in the matter ; concessions had to
be u, AIDE 20 rseet the eXigencies OF
the times and to insure the passage
oft.he Dill. That the report OF tn
committee has been violently as
sailed is Sust whet should have been
expected, for no measure, however
wise, could have escaped the cr'tl-
>cism Of an unfriendly press. MOI
even the most enthusiastic supporter
of the bill will claim for it the attri-
butte soE perfect: or, but &c she able
chairman of the convention has sad,
1t is about the best that could De
formulated. The Democratic party
u as repeatedly pledged itself TO the
work ct eliminating the bulk or the
vote from our politics while
.<list-znchisiug but g very small! mann
der Of white men. All Democratic
held prior to the cleo
z:ion of .sis!egstes dec!arc! r. e th'5
was the raison d'c,rc Of tie Constr
.utional Convention, an! that 10
other solution Of the problem wo"!I
!oc acceptable TO the great body OF
.,,;,- vote,s in Louisiana G'nc
many provisions the oi;l may APP
.Dear little intricate, but as It IS
..hc general desire MOTTO dlafranchlse
"a certain class Of citizens who would
fail to H,eet the requirements OF the
property and educational clauses,
this portion Of the proposed Ia" viii
hardly encounter much opposition
among the white people OF the State.
The clause which imposes an eeiu-
cational or property qualification
uDon voters who will attain the age
of N al Gritty after the adoption OF the
constitution will prove, or ought to
prove, an incentive to the younger
generation to acquire an edu-
cation or to accumulate some prop
.erty in order to enjoy the privilege
of voting.
The committee entrusted with this
rather difficult task has prepared a
plan Of suffrage which we believe
will meet the abnormal con
~ditions existing in Louisiana
without taking away from 100 man!
white voters the greatest privilege
that is accorded citizen of this
republic.
In another column appears some
extracts from Mr.. kruttschnltt's
speech in which the reader will find
"a concise explanation of the limita-
"tions proposed by the bill.
Since the opening of ,tlce debate
the provisions authorizing the de
scendants Of the voters of 1868, the
n aturalized citizens, the husbands of
wives owning property, to vote re-
-gardless of their own qualifications,
have been severely criticised by
members Of the convention and it
is probable that certain amen 1ments
will be made to the ordinance before
its final passage.