The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-29
HARDWICK BILL DEFEATED.
ONLY THREE VOTED IN FAVOR OF
THE MEASURE.

BiII, but He Won No vOtes-AIost
of the Other Speeches Were In Op-
position TO the Measure-0ther
| Legislative News.
Atlanta, Nov. 2S.-Overwheiming defeat
was met by the HardwlcI bill to dsfran-
chise negro voters when it came 10 a vote
In the House this afternoon.
When the time arrived for the friends
OF the measure to rally to its support, there
were only three who rallied. The vote
stood 1877 to against the bin.
The three voting for the measure weres
Bell Of Forsyth Ellis Of Bibb and Hard
wick OF Washington.
The decisive vote was taken on the ques-
tion OF arranging the favorable report OF
the committee on constitutional amend
ments. When MIR. Pace, the chairman of
that committee, explained that he thought
the bin unwise, it became apparent that It
was not to receive any strong support.
The debate was very interesting, but
Mr. Hardwicks speech was the only one
in favor of his bill. He made an eloquent
appeal but It apparently fell on deaf ears.
There was number OF speeches against
the bill by members from all sections of
-
the state.
An effort to table was defeated because
It's opponents wanted to kill Il.
The large delegation of negroes who at
tended to-days session was delighted al
the outcome OF the bill Only once dld
they interrupt the session by applause
That was when Mr.. Copeland Of Walker
said 1t was just as wrong for the whites
n for he liz
theni When told that the rules of tho
House forbade applause they maintained
quiet during the remainder of the session.
Provisions of the Bill.
The bill provides THAT no person shall
pc a competent voter unless he shall be
able TO read and write any paragraph of
the constitution OF this state and shall bo
able to understand any paragraph of said
constitution and to give reasonable inter-
pretation thereof; provided. however. that
no male person who was on Jan l. 1867.
or at any time prior thereto entitled to
vote under the laws of the state wherein
he then resided, and no lineal descendant
OF such person shall be denied the right
to register or vote at any election In this
state by reason of his failure to possess
the educational qualifications provided
for"
Mr. Hardwick readily admitted that his
aim was to disfranchlse the large bnlfv
rant and purohasable voters" He said il
was his desire to restrict the government
10 white citizens.
Speaking of the provision In regard 10
men who could vote prior to January, 1867.
and their descendants, he frankly stated
this provision would protect $3.50 Hitter
ate white men, who would otherwise be
dlsfranchised.
According to the census of 1890 there
would be only 179 illlterate white voters.
foreign born, affected by the bill; the num-
Der competent to vote would be 336 So
the total number OF foreign born voters
to be affected would be BIS.
The bill was not directed against the ne
groes because OF Fheir color but because
they lack virtue and Intelligence, he Bald.
The understanding clause, II was ex-
planned was aimed at the younger ne
groes, who, having smattering OF edu-
cation, might be able 10 stand a mere test
OF reading or writing.
He denied that the bin was violalive OF
the fifteenth amendment which provided
there could be no discrimination on account
of race color or previous condition OF SER
yttude.
MIR. Hardwlek gave the credit for the
IDEAS contained in his bill to Judge Thom-
as X. Sernmes of Louisiana. who was for
many years president of the American
Bar Association, and who is recognized
as high authority on constitutional law.
In support Of his proposed resolution, Mr..
Hardwick referred to the laws of Massa-
chusetts, Delaware, Rhode Island and
Maine.
Gov. Gamblers Message.
In support of the bin Gov. Gamblers re-
commentator for restricting the vote to
the intelligent and unpurchasable element
OF citizens contained in his last message.
was read. Mr.. HardwIck said the negroes
comprised 80 per cent. of The purchasabla
voters Of the state. He did not cfam that
the purchasers were not guilty of wrong
as well as the sellers, and did not deny
that he had been implicated in this work.
ing.
Mr.. Hardwick said he was not negro
hater. He believed the bill would help
and not hurt the negroes. In appealing
for the passage of the bill and arguing its
necessity he said that 1914 per cent. of the
population OF the state were negroes. The
negroes have a majority In sixty-three
counties, which included every city in tho
state except Atlanta. Mr.. Hardwlck said
that II the Populst party. In 1894. had had
enough money TO buy the negro vote, It
would have swept the state from the
mountains to the seacoast.
Negroes AppIauded Him.
Mr. Copeland Of Walker followed in a
strong argument against the bill. He de-
clared Il TO be unwise and unjust. When
he stated that the vote-buyers were as
bad as the vote-sellers, the negroes In
the gallery applauded. They were warned
by Speaker Little that II applause was re-
peated the galleries would be cleared
Mr.. Copeland said IL the negroes had ex-
ercised their right they could have sent
from sixty-three counties
to the legislative halls. He did not be-
lieve they would exercise the right so long
as they continued to receive fair treat
ment from the whites. There was no ne
cessity or demand for the bill.
Mr. Harrison Of Quitman, one Of the
signers of the minority report, said there
was no danger Of negroes being put into
Office In Georgia. There was not even a
negro constable In the state. All the talk
Of danger was mere hailucination, and due
to political excitement. He urged that the
policy of educating negroes should be pur-
sued further before disfranchisemeut was
adopted.
Mr.. Howard Of Chattahoochee said edu-
cation was not a proper test Of vicious-