The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-03-08

strictly Educational Qaaiific.ti0n
Nc, Proper 1~st OF the fitnes. OF
a People to GoNern Ih~m.rixe.
Special 90 the CAnraslan
Nesson. ~. c. Marrh On ges-
iertay senator P-itchard nlisa his az
pc.nintnt a; THE place 90 address fhe
Nc;ers On the PROPOSED constitutional
amenlmenc. Ia spite us the rain Ana
Sleef, most disAgrceable wcn;hcr Over
head and under foot. there gathered a
very large and representative and.ean-
which more than packed the courr
house. The audience Was composed
OF DcmorrSss. Republicans ani para
lists from the county. with sprink-
ling from adjoining counsles Many OF
the bnsinoss men o; Newton WcTe pre-
erg
On yesterday Hon. W. a. Bower adj
dressed an audience here on IA.
amcni:neni. but his arguments were
llstened 10 in cold silence without any
evidence of approval much leSs ap-
plause. No; 80 with Senator Pritch-
ards speech. He had close and eager
attention from the audience. and ire
quent manifestations az inteTes; ana
approval.
Mr.. Pri;chard stated briefly the fact
now familiar 30 all who have studied
the question. that the proposed amend
ment in its fifth section. rs In direct
violation OF the fftcenah amendment
OF the federal constitution. lie cited
ex-senator George J. Edmunds' opin-
ion TO this effect. lie quoted CHIEF
Justice Fuller OF the United States
Supreme court. 10 prove that only che
fifth section would be declared unoon-
stitutional. II the amendment were
ratified. and showed ;ha; the cOnsttu-
tional portion OF toe amendment ap-
piled with the same DISTINGUISHING
force 10 while men ~ 90 negroes. Sen
a;or Pritchard alluded 30 the new sec-
ton Mr. Simmons says the Legislature
Is going 10 add TO the amendment ia
substance as follows:
Judge Brown. OF the Superior cOurl.
now on the bench. has handed down
decision in advance regarding t@'
job and told Mr.. simnons Thai r ing =
doomed unleEs he can fix IL up.
Simmons-God knows ] don't know
how can fix Il up. I've told them -
many things they won't believe amp
thing more | say. Can't you help me
out?
Judge Brown-Oh. yes. You insi Fef
the legislature 10 Instruct the Suprcn.
Court that section Is unconstitutional
and section 4 is constitutional. and
that when IL declares section uncon
stliutlonal IL must also declare section
unconstitutional.
THIS Is sending the amendment a
the court with a key" % work it oui
with. IF had boy 10 years Old.
said Mr.. PrEchard. and he shoGld
suggest such thing as this. Id WHY
the snirt of OF him" This was one O.
the few times in lis speech that Mr
Pritchard provoked laugh ~ the q,
pense Of the amendment makers. ]
the legislature passes an unconSntu
tional law. ne added. the Suprem'
Court will say so and no Legislature
can prevent g. They cannot say 20 III
Supreme Court OF the nation you Dc
eide it this way or do nos decide IL q
all. WHY have they pB9osed tn
new thing? BeraGEe we have cangh
M with them. We have exposed thei
trick. They want 20 fool the peopl'
once more.
A large part of Senstor Pritchard
address MAS devoted 20 a very dire
and instructive analysis o. the poll IA
payment requirement Of the propose
amendment. The measure require
that the tax be paid before M4rnh
I, the amendment were IN force nos
10 citizen could yc.e rext August Q
next November If they choose 10 pn
the election forward 90 the man gh
has not now paid his tax.
Senator Pri;chard declared that ths
poll tax provision was a br!be 10 citi
zens to induce them not 20 pay poll "a
and thereby lessen the school fund. 81
said: We have on the insolyenf Es
20 900 white men in the State who wa
he denied the -syht 90 vote under thi
poll tax provision. re asked Il th
sheriff Of the county was present. a. b
wished 10 know what percentage q IN
citizens Of Catawba county had %
vet paid their taxes. Later u va
learned from the county records tina
20 per cent. had not yet paid-in 10
township OF Newton Il was nearer ,
pe- cent. Twenty-three per cent
1he white men OF the State can nelths
read nor write ami the tdueational rs
quirements and the poll tax schem
showed how sincerely the promoter
OF the amendment were protecting IN
poor and ignorant white man-
senator Prltehard referred 20 Senl
= tor Vance as being not only against NJ
: simmons and mis- rnotbods. 0ut as 10
ing directly opposed TO every sue
scheme Of limiting suffrage. and shos
ed how his influence had defeate
!. every such proposition while he live
, and said that aoy since 1he SimEnoI
people have the whip hand the eans
: men had better look out
Referring again TO the e1ucztioai
: qualification sest,' Senator PritchaT
said: Il ind some Of the Draines
weaithiest and most influential men a
over the State who have 10 make che
mark. They say the negro IL an iE
!. ferior race. bu. after 1905 is yoar bo
canno; read and write. he VII .
stood side by side with that iBferio
race. Eeernsl rigilezce j. the price G
tfbartv In a careless moment ~e ca
: 90 that which through long years "
s cannot undo" lie then alluded 20 IN
difficulties OF the poor boy on W
/. farm obtaining an educs-1on whife ID
!, town negro had the advantages
g. graded schools. but that unoer IN
= amendment. as its promoters nav
framed IL. an iIlitersse white boy NJ
be on a level with the ignorant negr
= In the application OF this disfranrfii
e ing act in eight short years.
In conclusion he appealed 20 tie "a
"a dIerce 60 think about this quesl0i
n and N fhey had reasonable dods
) sbou. the consfitutionality OF II
measure that they should act on thl
doubt and vote against H.