The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-08-02
ALABAMA's SUFFRAGE PLAN.

a MONTGOMERY telegram of July >
analyses the rather complex looking
suffrage law of Alabama and simplities
it's meaning. The law. We are told, is
composed OF two Independent plans to-
tally different in their operation and in
their bearing on the whites and blacks.
The first strikes boldly at the negro.
the second aims at the illiterate and
the unsettled of both races. The first
II temporary and lasts only to Janu-
airy /, 1903. As the new constitution
cannot be adopted until late this fall
the scheme can be operated for just one
year.
The second plan is permanent and be
gins where the other ends. Only two
things are common in both plans, a
poll tax prepayment OF $3.50 and dis
Establishment for crime. Great inn
portance Is attached to both of these,
The poll tax must be paid by January |
prior to the election and Is purely vol
untary. The list of crimes includes
such as wife beating and vaGrancy.
The purpose of the plan, which ends
on January /. 1908, is to make up a
list OF voters with all the white folks
| in 1t and as few negroes as possible.
Once on. a voter Is on for life by keep
| ing up his poll tax. But being left off
he can try again under the permanent
| plan. A board of three registrars Is
created for each county, who are re-
Quired to register all old soldiers and
their descendants. All others must show
good character and understand the du-
ties and obligations OF citizenship UNI
der a republican form OF government.
The board sits as a court. takes evil
dence and puts the applicant on oath.
Its discretion Is absolute except as to
the soldiers and their descendants. All
others must come up to whatever stan
dard OF character and understanding
may be set by the board. An appeal
lies to the Circuit and Supreme Courts,
but this is designed to satisfy the popu-
lar ideas OF justice rather than for
practical operation. There is wide dis
trust OF registrars with judicial powers,
and hence the limitation of their life
to single year. They are created mt
all only to meet the pledge In the
Democratic platform that no white
voter shall hc~ DISTINGUISHED. After
January their places will be taken by
other registrars with ministerial powers
After January /. 1903. a voter, first
I \
stitution OF the United States In the
English language, and, second, be able
to show that he has been engaged In
some lawful occupation for twelve
months preceding. and third be able Il
show who have been his employers FOL
five years; fourth. II he cannot read and
write he may nevertheless vote II h,
owns forty acres of land or pays taxes
on $500 of assessed property.
Under this plan there is no discrimi
nation contemplated between the races
A new registration plan will be provid
ed by the Legislature. but the registrar;
cannot add to nor take from the quail
fications named. The requirement tina
a voter must read and write English
affects only few men in Alabama wh'
read and write any other language. Al
effort may be made to amend this, a
II might affect immigration OF labor a
some time when it may be worse need
ed than now.
Qualification No. 2 is aimed at gam
blers and dead-beats, nearly all o
; whom in this State are white. Quail
fication No. 3 is aimed at the larg
class OF wandering negroes and a small
err class of whites. who go from mill t
mill, mine to mine, camp to camp an
, never have n local habitation and ofte
not a name.