The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-20
SUFFRAGE IN ALABAMA.
The Report Looked on as an I'm tssi " proved Plan.

Pittsburg Post (Dem.) .-.. ., The majority report of the commit tee of the Constitutional Convention, in session in Alabama, establishes a suffrage system. which is likely to be adopted by the Convention and the peo- pie of the State. It is free from the ob- jection of discrimination against the colored race. It provides that after January l, 1903. all men, white or black, must qualify themselves for the elect i've franchise by paying their poll taxes; being able to read and write; showing that they have engaged in lawful occupations for twelve months, and naning their employers for five ye2rsaS As an alternative to the last named provision they may qualify by showing that they pay taxes on $500 worth of property or own forty acres of land., There seems to be no objection to this plan. It will certainly secure a more thoughtfu1, provident and intelli- gent class of voters than under the manhood vote.
 In carrying out this program the ma iority of the committee provides that during 1902 a Board of Registration of three members shall sit in every county of the State and make up the lists of voters. Upon these lists shall be inscribed the names of all old sol oiers (of all wars( and of their descend ants. All others must give proof of such character and of understanding the duties of citizenship. Once on the lists. the name of the voter must be kept there for life unless he shall fail to pay his poll tax. If wrongfully kept off the lists he can obtain redress by appealing to the Registry Board after 1903. or from the boards to the courts. Among the crimes and misdemeanors that disQualify for the suffrage are wife beating and vagrancv. As evil dence that this plan Is not aimed at the blacvks, it is mentioned that the provision as to lawful occupation is meant,to reach the gamblers, nearly all of whom in Alabama are whites.
 While 1t Is probable that under these regulations the negro vote will suffer most. it Is undeniable. if the questions of ignorance, vagrancy and the other minor crimes and vices are to he dealt with in establishing a new rule of suf- frage this would follow as a certain result. In this negro vote the South has problem to deal with that has never confronted the Northern people. Race antagonism is not a mere senti- mental fancy. but rests on solid
 
 governing race the world over. and ai- ways will be, so far as we can now see. The negroes. within certain bounds, are aIsubject race, controlled and directed by the whites. In some respects they are incapable of self-government. and the best results that have come to them have come through their associa ton with white intelligence and energy. Their futue is involved in the cultiva- tion of habits of virtue, family affec- tion, industry thrift and the necessary industrial training. In their condition this is more important than the school house, although they should go with each other. The trouble has been that since the war the all-important ques- tion has been that of "book learning" and in great degree. it Is the general testimony, 1t haE enlarged vicious hab- it's among the young negroes.