The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-16
FALSEHOODS EXPOSED.
FOUR MISREPRESENTAT
ABOUT THE AMENDMENT
SIFTED AND ANSWERED.
Mr.. BEDDINGFIELD' S FAITH IN THE PEOPLE
He Exhorts Men to Study the Amendment and
Its Effect, and Then to Vote The
Best Way to Secure Good
Government.
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
Shakespeare says, LET every man
negotiate for himself and trust no agent.
Every voter ought certainly to see with
his own eyes, if he can read, just what
the constitutional amendment is, and
if he cannot read let some trusted friend
read it for him. This is Important be-
cause the enemies of good government
are telling falsehoods daily about the
amendment They claim:
That it DISTINGUISHES white voters.
That illiterate white men cannot vote
after 1908.
That it requires everybody to pay poll
tax regardless of age or condition.
That where a man has moved from
one county or State to another he would
be obliged to bring witnesses TO prove
that he or his ancestor was Il voter
prior of 1867. and that il poor man
would lose his vote because of cX-
,pense.
Those claims are absolutely false, but
are being indllstriously circulated by
unscrupulous men in every county in
the State, and, in some instances, good
men take up the idea that some of
these claims are true. and comment un-
favorably on the amendment.
Surely no man can afford to form
an opinion about anything without
knowing something about it, and still
less can he afford to discuss it and
thus help to form public opinion.
Here are some facts in regard to the
amendment every voter ought to know
before he makes up his mind about
the matter:
First. The constitutional amendment
il adopted. will not disfranchise white
men. Section ) was framed expressly
to prevent that. and preserves to every
white man. and even to every white
boy who will come of age by 1908, the
right to vote whether he can read and
write or not A permanent record OF
the names of such persons is required
by the constitution to be kept, so that
their right to vote can never be ques-
riGned.
Second. There is no word in the
amendment requiring a property quail
fication \ man does not have to own
$500 worth of property TO vote. 1T
makes no difference whether he has IL
dollars worth or not. If he or any or
his forefathers was voter III 1867, on
if he can read and write he can vote.
Provided. only that he has paid his poll
tax if required by law to do so.
Third. IT does require Il man to pay
poll-tax, unless exempt by age or for
some other lawful cause. The asser-
ton, however. that old and INDECENT men
would be compelled to pay poll-tax rs
absolutely untrue. Section 4 is per-
fectly clear upon this point. and no doubt
the wise trainers of the amendment had
this class Of men in mind when they
wrote the words AS prescribed by law
The amendment does not provide that
the mans ancestor should have voted
before 1867. Section > plainly says:
Entitled to Vote SO all that is ne
cessary is to show is that his ancestor
could have voted if he desired. either in
1867 or at any time prior thereto This
is as broad as can be and sustains
every white mans vote.
The Legislature did not have the
power to disfranchise single indi-
vdual 1t could only suggest certain
changes in the constitution and sub
NIT the question to the people. and
the people themselves must determine
the result. This is right. 1t is Demo
cratic. / have no fears of the result
if the people will only study the
amendment and find out what it is.
There is only one object that is de-
sired to be obtained by this amend
ment and that lis to cut off a portion
of the ignorant negro vote and pre-
vent a recurrence of such events as
transpired during the last campaign,
If / did not believe this was best for
the colored race as we'll as my own
/. would oppose it. but / am fully con
WINGED that it is best for all that it be
made impossible for vicious colored men
ever again to dominate Eastern North
Carolina. Those who were there dur
ing the last campaign know that oul
people stood on the brink of racial
riot which seemed at times unavoid
able, and if it had come would have
been bad enough for the white race
and awful in it's consequences to the
poor deluded negroes. Such con
ditiOn must never again occur. We
have the race problem to solve. We
must face it. The responsibility is
upon us. The, adoption of the amend
ment will solve it and will settle the
whole question quietly, peaceably and
without one drop of bloodshed. 1t will
be spur to the coming generations
both white and colored. to secure an ed
ncation. to improve their minds and fit
themselves for citizenship. 1t will he
a blessing to the whole people and its
beneficent effects will be at once per
ceptible. Life and property will be safe
capital will seek investment, good gov
eminent win be assured and better
feeling between the races fostered.
e. G.. BEDDINGFIELD.
"What might have been"-if that little
cough hadn't been neglected-is the SAT