The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-01

Of government different from ours, ul< der form of government that we con- sider oppression, under form Of Gpy~ ernnent that we consider to be d1~ rectly in opposition to all that we hold dear in this country, that he can- not by simply filing a declaration ok His intention to become citizen of tIlD State or this Union thereby acuuifo sufficient Knowledge to exercise t1es franchise as 1t should be, no matter how, much he has acquired in tho schools or universities of his native land. There has been g. requiren1e1t fixed by the United States Congress that a man should live in this country for five years and that he should have a good moral character before hc be- comes a citizen. There are ma ny th.n68 that might be said along this line, but I do not desire to- take uo tiie time of this Convention. 1 hope in justice to all our citizens, in justice to oon republican institutions, in justice to our State, that this vote will be reconsld- cred and that this amendment will be stricken out. r.9 H r Mir. Boone-I rise to favor tie mo- ltion to reconsider and shall only 6e- tain the Convention very few naII3- utes. I desire to call the attention of the Convention to a personal experiences of how this would work, if Section i stands as it is. Under that Section any man who has declared his ir.ten- ton to become a citizen of the uJite6 States has the right to vote. New, sir. take the county which have the honor to represent. There are numbers of Spaniards there who came from Cer- vera's fleet who cannot write the Spar1- ish language, to say nothing of any requirements in the English language or any requirements in our republican form of government or any krowledge of the duties required of them as citizens vf Ala bama. Many a time I, have seen a man taken up in our City Court and naturalized for the purpose of voting who did not know anything in the world about our government, it's the- ories. the rights of citizens, the ciff- zen's duties or obligations to the gov- ernment. or anything of that kind. Now. gentlemen. I thought the main question we are here for was to ele- vate the electorate of this State and to purify the ballot. It is nonsense to tell me that simply because . man comes from Poland. Russia. Austria ar Italy into this State, who has no knowledge at all of our theories of government. can land at Mobile; on a ship, go up and declare his intention to become a citizen of the United States. generally through an interpre- ter. and then can go down immediate- ly and cast his ballot. Is that right, just or wise? I.-.-. -.a
 MT. Oates-Not citizen of this StaAe but of the United States.
 MT. Boone-Not of this State, but declares his intention to become . citizen of the United States, yet. al- f1NapI nat oit nT FSr< citizen of the United States, igno- rant of our language, ignorant of our conditions. he can go in and cast his ballot the same as a man who had been here all of his life and knew all of the conditions and theories surrounding that election. -e E9
 Mir. Beddow--I would like to ask the gentleman from Mobile if the County of Mobile has suffered much from those people having been allowed. to vote heretofore when they send such repre- sentatives to this body as yourself and others.sr
 Mr. Boone-It Is not whether we sue- fered in the past. We would have suf- fered if there had been a sufficient v0l- ume of such immigration.
 Mir. Beddow-Doesn't the gentleman understand that it is the same men who voted then that will vote when the Constitution is ratified?
 Mr. Boone-No. l. do not; 1t woul4 before the ratification of this Constjt rution..i ,=9'- e,a-. -fs'r am
 Mir. Beddow-Those that are not here MT. Boone-Yes. not here today, bsY may come in here next week. sE
 MT. Beddow-Does not the gentlemat know that they can declare their in tention at any time now? Don't yoi know that they still have their right to declare their intention and vote ups on this question and on the ratificat tion of this Constitution. ns
 Mir. Boone-No. sir; do not. l say the scheme we are making here is the permanent scheme not only for this daN,r not just flor the ratification i9f this Constitution. but we are putting down for years to come. .j1
 MT. Beddow-Does not the gentle man know that this will not be the permanent scheme until 1t Is ratified by the people?
 MT Roone-I know it will not be the law until ratified but the object Is to keen out any such fellows as that who have no knowledge of the Constitution promised the Convention that would only occupy a few minutes and l move the previous question on the motion to reconsider.
 The President-The gentleman from Mobile moves the previous question on the motion to reconsider.
 MT. Coleman-I believe l have the right to close.
 The President-The question is shall the main question be now putE
 Mir Cunningham-I had wished to say few words, will the gentleman withdraw? g
 MT. Boone-No. sir. I insist upon the motion. oes
 Jrpon a vote there were 55 ayes and 32 noes and the previous question was ordered. qrNr. Cunningham-I move to lay the aSstion to reconsider on the table ana on that I call for the ayes and noes.'
 The call for the ayes and noes was sustained. l., the motion to table the motion to re- consider. ,,
 The roll call resulted as follows:
 AYES.
 peddow. Leigh.
 3ethune Lomax.
 p 5tIn,ru1eu Long (Walker). ProokS Macdonald,
 t3rowne Martin. 9,rnett Merrill,
 of Col Murphree
 N"i bart Parker (Cullman). Carmichael. of Golf Parker (Elmore)'
 fee. Pettus.
 Cobb. Plllans.
 Cunningham, Proctor' Davis. of Etowah. Porter; >r,..>