The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-16

his demands in matter which involves
his own future and the life of his party
in North Carolina. 1t will not do for the
advocates Of the amendment-(the men
who carried the State last November
by almost superhuman exertionl-to fall
into sense of false security. The
amendment can be carried. the amend
ment will be carried, but il will be
fairy tales that its opponents will scatter
far and near.
Only few days ago an ordinarily well
informed gentleman, who has served
several terms in the Legislature, talking
with some friends about the amendment
could learn TO read and write by 1908
| He had not read the amendment but
| had gotten the idea that after 1908 all
voters must he able 10 read and write,
losing sight entirely of fhe fact that the
| requirement to ''bc able to read and
write any section of the Constitution in
the English language does not apply to
any male person who was on January
II, 1867, or ut any time prior thereto, en-
| titled to vote under the laws Of any State
| in the United States wherein he then
resided and no lineal descendant of any
such person shall he denied the right to
register and vote ut any election in this
State by reason of his failure to possess
the educational qualification" The only
requirement for all who could vote in
register by November LIST, 1908, When
once registered, there is no suggestion
that thereafter any old voter shall
he required ever TO learn to read and
WRITE. That requirement applies solely
to those who could not vote in 1867,
whose fathers could not vote ut that
time, and to boys under thirteen years
of age. And yet an cx-State Senator of
fine information and wisdom. who had
had gotten the idea that the extension of
the period of registration TO 1908 was in
order TO let the old men learn to read
and write. We mention this merely to
say. if this well-read gentleman has
fallen into that error, how many other
equally erroneous notions have found
lodsnNnt in the minds of men not so well
informed?
This incident ought TO cause advocates
it to every voter with whom he comes in
contact. A lie will travel miles while
truth is pulling ON its boots. If the
fallacies and erroneous notions, not to
speak of falsehoods already put in cir
culation, once get firmly fixed in the
public mind, it will be very difficult to
dislodge them. The way to do is to let
the truth get a firm Judgment and then
falsehood and error will have hard
time in making Roadway.
Here are the two sections of the
amendment-they contain the root of the
whole matter-that ought to be carried
about in every mans note book; they
ought to be committed to memory; and
they ought to be explained to every white
man in the State within the next month:
Section 4. Every person presenting
himself for registration shall be able to
read and write any section of the Con-
stitution in the English language; and.
before he shall be entitled to vote, he
shall have paid, on or before the first
day of March of the year in which he
proposes to vote, his poll tax, as pre-
scribed by law, for the previous year.
Poll taxes shall be lien only ON assess
ed property and no process shall issue
to enforce the collection of the same ex-
cept against assessed property.
Section 5. No male person, who was
on January ], 1867, or at any time prior
thereto, entitled to vote under the laws
of any State in the United States where
in he then resided, and no lineal descend
ant of any such person shall be denied
the right to register and vote at any
election in the State by reason of his
failure to possess the educational quail
fication prescribed in section four of this
Article: Provided, he shall have regis
tered in accordance with the terms of
this section prior to December /. 1908.
The General Assembly shall provide for
a permanent record of all persons, who
register under this section, on or before
November first, one thousand, nine hun
dred and eight; and all such persons
shall be entitled to register and vote
in all elections by the people in this
State, unless disqualified under section
two of this Article Provided, such per-
sons shall have paid their poll tax as re-
quired by law
Lime upon line; precept upon pre-
cept" will carry the amendment, for
upon its success depends the hope of
permanent good government in North
Carolina.
Some Republican Congressman are
talking about dsplacing Tom Reed