The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-01

worth or pfopoStys VI WtAo A~ wouan who has $500, is, a man of some character and may be reasonably exnected on the average to exercise the elective franchise unseiishly.
 Mr Macdonald-He has property to take care of.
 ,,ndar.tood as saying that a man who marries a woman with little money is better than a man who marries poor girl for love!
 MT. Ashcraft-No sir, do not, but I do say that we have observed that men who have come into control or property are more conservative ana in- telligent as a class. not every one VI them. hut generally as class, they act with more consideration towards the Government than those persons wbo have no responsibilities upon them. We have also observed that the young man who has put forth energy and skill sufficient to have capacity to read and write. although come Of tbern had few opportunities, as a class, have the sense of responsibility which will insure a reasonable exercise of the elective franchise. am sure that our Committee have considered all these propositions and the purpose for which they have presented tn!s clause IS 10 exclude from the franchise those young men who have sought education, not that they may work the better. but that they may avoid work. They are willing to let in every man who seeks education in order that he may work better. but If there are those who for sinister purposes seek to read ana write. they have set up a barrier to exclude as many as possible of that class from the exercise of the elective franhise. I think the provision ought to stand. and think the amendment offered by the gentleman from Pike makes a mean and tnvidious distinc- tion, and am opposed to 1t.
 MT. Coleman-Mr. Pre- sident, in con sidering theso questions. delegates ought to consider the entire plan sub, mitted. Much of the argument directed against the Section now under oDnsid- eration, is met fully by the next par aeraph of the Sectior. When you cen slider the State of Alabama, composed as it is, in one section of the mining interests and in another section of what is known as the Black Belt, and another section, the agricultural fn- terests, and then remember the Eff teenth Amendment, with the decisions under it, and remember the pledge Of the Democratic Party to disfranchise no white man, you Will see y.e diff ,1l- ties that this Committee Was confront ed with. Their scheme has been to establish a good standard for the elec- torate We have considered all the questions that have been arsuei before this Convention. The word "re gul&ily' seems to raise some objections to it, and so far as he Committee is concerned, if it will ease the disturbed condition of the gentleman, 1 we are perfectly willing to strike out the word regularly" But so far as the remainder of the section is con- ccrned,. the committee devoted at least two days. or d day and half anyhow. in selecting these words. l propose to read to you the decisions in this State as to what is meant by being engaged in business. and then you will have some conception of the influence that operated upon the minds of the com | mittee framing this section. Section 5467 of the code: Any person who en- gages in or carries on any business, | ct cetera. Then down below you will | find this language: "To engage in or | carry on any business within the mean | ing of this law Is to pursue an occupa- | tion or employment as a livelihood or | as a source of profit but it is not nec- essary that 1t should be the party's sole occupation or employment. It is the | question of intention only, and it is immaterial, whether such profit was realized or not" Under the influence of those decisions 1t has been often held where an attorney was engaged in
 business. if he has an office and holds himself out as a practicing lawyer. whether he has clients or not. So far then as the argument has been used
 that it would disfranchise laborers | who have stopped work. MT. President, | 1t is without force.
 MT. Macdonald-I would like to in l Quire whether the second paragraph of | this section wherein persons convicted of being tramps or vagrants does not sufficiently meet the proposition con- tained in the second paragraph of the sixth section.
 MT. Coleman-The difference between
 the two is this: We are providing a plan by which we may eliminate the
 vicious and the venial vote, and at the same time comply with the pledge of
 the party to disfranchise no white
 man. Under the section that you re- | fer to it requires a conviction for the offense. Under the section We have here the conviction is not required. It
 is a question of qualification. AS is | well known in every town in this State 1 there are numbers of people who live. 1 you cannot tell exactly by what means. | MT. President. education alone is not
 a sufficient qualification for a voter. | Under a liberal system of this State
 there are many negroes who will be able to qualify under the reading and
 writing clause, and yet who are drones
 in this State and have no employment | MT. Kirk-You speak of the case of a lawyer. l want to ask you this. Sup | pose clerk should lose his position in a dry goods store and did not have the required amount of property. assuming that he was not married man and he
 was unable to secure employment for eight or twelve months from the time | of losing his position, would he be permitted to vote under the provisions | of the plan reported by the committee | MT. Coleman-I have no doubt of it | in the world, he is a man who has an
 occupation. but is temporarily seeking | work.
 MT. ONeal-He is trying to get em-
 ployment.
 Mir. Coleman-Trying to get employ mcnt, yes. In the case of a strike it is
 because he does not believe that he is getting sufficient compensation for his employment but he Is ready to go to | work
 | MT. Pillans-May ask the gentle
 man a question? Where would be the objection to amending that section by | adding after the words compensation,
 trade or calling" the words so far as
 he has been able with diligence to pro-