The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-24
RESTRICTION OF THE BALLOT.
BIDS FAIR TO BE THE PRINCIPAL
MEASURE Considered.

Talk Grows strong for COnstitu-
tionnI Convention-Other Amend-
mcnts Considered.
Atlanta, Oct. 23.-The legislators are be-
ginning to arrive and by tomorrow nighs
the greater portion Of them viii be hers
ready 20 begin work on Wednesday.
Speaker Little and Mr.. Dodson have been
here since Saturday.
Gov. Gambler has completed his message,
and copies win be given the press to-mor-
row afternoon. He win lay more stress
upon the restriction of the ballot than any
other subject as he believes the time has
come for change along that line In
Georgia. He viii urge the passage of am
amendment to the constitution for this
purpose.
There has again arisen a great deal OF
talk for n constitutional convention, and
the surface indications point TO a strong
fight before the Legislature for such
convention, and many who believe in the
Hardwick BILL which practically disfran-
chises the negro vote. It is said, will urge
this course The main opposition to thu
proposed amendment viii be based on
these arguments, which will be strongly
presented
Arguments Against IL.
First. Il will be sold the disfranchisement
of the negro vote will cut down Georgia's
representation In Congress.
Second IL will be argued that the negro
vote in Georgia is under control that tne
counties are all practically Democrats
and that the conditions do not neccssitate
measure Of the kind.
Third. 1t viii be opposed by some politi-
clans who deliver the negro vote in their
respective counties at their will
The friends of The bin argue that there
are now 100000 negro voters in Georgia.
that in tfty-siX counties In the state the
negro vote is in excess of the white vote
| and the present conditions are dangerous.
f not menacing and should be remedled
before Georgia feels the disgrace that pre-
vailed In North Carolina for five years
previous TO the last election in that state.
IL will be further advised that the very
principal Of according the right OF suff-
rage to an ignorant, incompetent man Is
wrong and should be amended.
Like That of North Carolina.
The bill In itself Is practically the sama
| as the amendment submitted by the last
| general assembly of North Carolina. The
| North Carolina amendment makes the
| qualification of voier,the ability TO read
| and write any section of the federal con-
| stitution This would disquaify In addi-
| tion TO probably 1900 or 100 600 negro votes,
! a large number Of white votes. The
whites are provided for, however. in what
is known as the "grandfather's clause"
which stipulates that any man who Is "A
| lineal descendant OF any man who was a
| voter prior to 1863 can vote, whether he
| can read or write not.
Mr.. Hardwick's bill will contain the
| same qualifications, with the same provis-
| ion, except that the qualifications are
| able 10 read write any section of the
| constitution, but must be able to give an
| intelligent Interpretation Of the same.
| This qualification Is intended evidently tn
| reach the class known as free school ne
| groes who have learned to read and write
| only and because OF these meagre ac-
| compishments are said TO be more vicious
| and more dangerous in some sections OF
the state than the most ignorant of the
! race.
How the Bill Reads.
The language Of the proposed amends
meut Is as follows: Every male citizen
| of the United States Except as hereinafter
| provided twenty-one years of age, who
shall have resided in this state one year
next preceding the election, and shall have
resided six months in the county In which
he offers to vote and shall have paid all
taxes which may hereafter be required OF
him. except for the year of the election,
shall be deemed an elector, provided that
no soldier, sailor or marine In the mill
tary or naval service Of the United States
shall acquire the right Of an elector by
reason of being stationed on duty In this
state and no person shall vote who IL
challenged shall refuse to take the
following oath or affirmation: II do swear
or affirm that ! am q years of age. havs
| resided in this state one year and in this
county six months next preceding this
election. / have paid all taxes which,
since the adoption of the present constltu-
tion of this state have been required ~
me previous 10 this year, and which
have had an opportunity 10 pay, and
have not voted at this election;" provid-
ed further, that no person shall be a
competent voter unless he shall be able to
read and write any paragraph of the con-
stitution of this state and shall be able to-
understand any paragraph of such consti-
tuition, and 10 give reasonable interpre-
tation thereto; provided, however, that no
male person, who was on Jan. !, 1867, or
at any time prior thereto entitled to vote
under the laws OF the state where ne then
resided and no lineal descendant of such
person shall be denied the right to register
and vote at any election In this state by
reason OF his failure to possess the educa-
tional qualifications provided for in this
paragraph"
Lindsay Says White Primaries.
A prominent supporter of the constitu-
tional convention said to-day that the
present instrument had been so patched
up that the original document was scarce
ly recognizable, ana then, too, there is a
strong indication that the white primary
plan Is taking hold upon both the people
and politicians. Hon. John W. Lindsay
OF Irwlnton, Tenth district, Democrat, says
the people down in his section are prac-.
ucaily unanimous for It since the death
OF Popusm, ana that the white primary
is the best way IN which TO satisfy the
white people OF the state and at the same
time completely eliminate the purchasable
negro vote. Col Lindsay represents that
class Of Georgians who believe In going
back TO the methods used just after the
reconstruction period In forming a white
mans party and ostracising any who step
beyond the bounds, and denouncing the Re
publican party for its anliation with the
negro, and especially that class OF white
men in the state who are coddllng the ne