Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-17
STREAMING EVERY NERVE
Efforts of North Carolina Democrats to Per-
petuate Their Power.
Views of MIR. JOsephus Daniels, Ma.
tiOna1 Committeeman in
Other States.
pecial Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
RALEIGH, N. c., January 17.-Apparent-
ly the democratic managers who are
straining every nerve to make their con-
tinuance in power a certainty for many
years to come have struck a snag and in
their zeal to achieve success are talking of
having the legislature adopt suffrage
amendment to the state constitution, which
will be made up from the election laws of
two of the other southern states that have
already dealt with the question.
Mr.. Josephus Daniels, democratic national
committeeman for this state, who is prob
ably one of those best qualified in North
Carolina to speak on the subject said a day
two ago:
The sentiment of the state is practically
unanimous in favor of a constitutional
amendment restricting suffrage, and almost
as unanimous that the Louisiana plan is
the one that is most practical most FEAST
bic, and most suited to the needs of this
state. MIR. Winstons bill incorporates its
provisions with certain changes that have
commended themselves to him.
There is but one objection to the Loui-
slana plan from any quarter, and that is
that it has never been tested ana is there
fore, open to the objection that if we should
adopt it the Supreme Court might declare it
unconstitutional. We have all along felt
the weight of that criticism, but have rest
ed IN the faith that the eminent leaders of
the bar in Louisiana, who gave it long and
serious consideration before pronouncing
II constitutional, would be upheld by the
federal Supreme Court. Their opinion is
concurred in by some of the first lawyers in
North Carolina
The Supreme Court would not have I'D
held the Mississippi constitution fifteen
years ago. The sentiment in favor of re-
stricting ignorant suffrage has grown since
the Mississippi decision, and the annexation
Oh HAWAII and the Philippines has greatly
accelerated the movement to confine suf-
To
OF other races who nave shown themselves
capable of exercising suffrage intelligently.
Louisiana Plan Doubtful.
But, however strong the argument in
FAVOR OF the Louisiana plan, there is doubt
whether it would be upheld 1t is a doubt
that should give pause to those who believe
1t the ideal plan. In view of the doubts. the
plan should be so protected as to make
sure that II the courts annul if there stilI
remain provisions for restricting the s,f
frage OF the mass of ignorant negro yot-
ers The issue is too momentous for us to
sdhe any Ghance as to constitutionality that
Iorethought and prudence can avert. and
we teel sure that the very able Joint com
mlttee charged with drafting the amend
ment VIII shape it in such a way as to
frame it. oiii S'ii
me Louisiana plan is the only self-exe-
cutlhg plan. The others all depend upon
the action of poll-holders and repistrars 20 ~
protect the unlearned white man in he III ~
lot. Inc Louisiana plan protects him in the
~ same law OF the state, making certain
t ti,sa no oihcer can deprive him of the cleo
i've franchise. That is the central ide.
mat must run through the amendment sI'h1
United by this Legislature. 1t is the corner
can be built structure
IF the Louisiana plan should be dec,,rod
unconstitutional, why not make provision
IN the amendment to still have the Missis-
slppl pan so that the purpose of restrict
hrt t1C+f 60;
Tears are realized? What is the ohiection
10 empodying the provisions of both the
louisiana and Mississippi plans into our
constitutional amendment? The amend
meht would then embrace these reouire-
mentS:
The Requirements.
mo person shall vote unless be owns
wv worth OF property, or be able to read
any section of the constitution of this state
or Shall be able to understand the Same
when read to him, or give a reasonable in
depreciation thereof; shall have paid on or
before the first day Of February of the
year in which he shall offer to vote ali
taxes Whicn may have been legally re-
qulrec of him, and which he has had an
opportunity of paying, according to law
Tor the two preceding years, and who shall
produce to the officers holding the election
satisfactory evidence that he has paid said
taxes provided that no male person who
was on January l, 1867 or at anv date
prior thereto, entitled to vote under the
constitution or statutes of any state of the
United states, wherein he then resided and
no son or grandson of any such person not
less than twenty-one years of age at the
date of the adoption of this constitution.
and no male person of foreign birth who
was naturalzed prior to the first day of
January, 1893, shall be denied the right to
register and vote in this state by reason
OF his failure to possess the educational or
property qualifications prescribed by this
constitution
1T will he observed that substantially
the above is the Louisiana law, with the
addition of the understanding clause in
the Mississippi constitution If in its wis
dom the general assembly shall embody the
above requirements into its carefully drawn
amendment, 1t is believed it will stand the
tests of all attacks from all sources Tn
der its operations all of the white voters in
the state would be guaranteed the right to
vote under the son grandson" provision
which we believe would be upheld in the
federal Supreme Court 1t is reasonably
certain that it would be in operation sew
eral years. If, however the courts should
declare the son and grandson clause un-
constitutional, there would then remain the
understanding clause, which, in Missis-
sippi, has operated to secure the uninter-
rupted exercise of the elective franchise to
those white voters who are not learned in
the books
we throw out these suggestions for the
consideration of those who are STUDYING
how best to solve the most difficult problem
that has been presented to the people of
North Carolina in the history of the state.
1t is to be hoped that the thoughtful citi-
zens of the state. particularly the members
of the bar, will discuss the various sug-
Sestions and plans, and give the legisla-
tors the benefit of their investigation and
matured opinions"
OUR FOREIGN TRADE IN 1898