Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-25

WoNS ,tue Sdilie Us I'LL the Otner states In
the early days. In 1866 Connecticut
amended her constitution SO that it
read: Every person shall be able to
read any article of the constitution, or
any section of the statutes OF this
state, before being admitted an cleo
tor. This was the first educational
qualification ever enacted In America,
1t was followed in 1857 by Massachu-
setts enactment Of the same clause,
with the addition that the voter must
write his name" Until the recent re-
strictive movement In the South these
were the only two States having edu-
cational qualifications.
Inc removal OF property qualifica-
lions first occurred In Pennsylvania in
lU6, then in Vermont in 1777, then In
New Hampshire and Kentucky in 1892.
then in Maryland in 1910, and the new
states. as they were formed, generally
followed the example of Kentucky and
had universal suffrage from the begin
ming. No State has had q property
qualification since 1868, when North
Carolina abandoned it, except Rhode
Island, where the alternative of a
small property holding, or payment of
81 tax, or service In the militia still
prevails.
The restriction of allowing none to
vode VINO have not paid State or coun-
" taxes exists now In q few States.
Connecticut, in her Constitution of
1913, allowed freeholders to vote. or
those who had paid G. State tax or
served in the militia, but repealed the
provision in 1916. Delaware, In her
constitution of 1872. made electors of
those who had paid county and Stnte
taxes. and the sons of such persons
between the ages of 81 and % years.
provision which still remains. Geor,
gia, in 1889, made voting free to all
who had paid State or county taxes
FOR the year preceding an election, and
repeated the provision in the constitu-
lions of 1898, 1865 and 1868. Louisiana
made a similar provision, requiring
the payment of the taxes for six
months before an election in her first
Constitution of 1872, but repealed 1t In
1915. Massachusetts adopted 1t in 1872
and still continues it. Mississippi had
it In her first Constitution of 1877. and
repealed 1t in 1882; New York adopted
1t in 1921, and repealed 1t In 1876;
North Carolina in 1776. repeating it in
1865; Ohio in 1892, repeating it in 1851;
Pennsylvania in 1880 with the same
provision concerning some between 81
ana 10 years OF age, as Delaware had,
and repeated it In her constitutions OF
1888 and 1873; Rhode Island adopted it
In 1912; South Carolina in 17T8, repeal
Ing 1t In 1865. The Constitution of
New Hampshire of 1854 made voting
Tree 10 any one who paid his poll tax,
repeating the provision in 1892 and
Tennessee in 1870 required q poll tax.
as Virginia, as we have seen, did in
1875. these being the only three in
stances of q purely poll tax require
ments in a State Constitution until the
recent movement in the South.
1t has been shown that the property
qualification. which was once general,
has disappeared; that the poll tax re-
quirement. which was merely q passing
experiment also Disappeared: but that
the educational qualification and re-
quirement of payment OF taxes still re-
main-the former in two States, the
latter in five.
In the coming Virginia convention 1t
Is safe to say that no effort to revive
a property qualification will be made.
1t had Its basis in a social condition
that has disappeared, and the record
OF Its elimination is a record of the tri-
umph of Democracy. The poll tax has
recently been revived. but is still In a
purely experimental stage. On the
other hand, payment OF taxes, not laid
upon voter as voter. but as n citi-
has his home there. is a legitimate pre-
requisite to the exercise of suffrage.
and has stood the test OF time. So has
the educational qualification, which Is
Intended to shut off from the ballot
those who cannot read or write. and.
consequently. usually vote as they are
told to vote. IT is so these two res.ric-
tons that attention and discussion
should especially be directed with
view TO framing satisfactory suffrage
clause In she new constitution