The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-20
NOT AFRAID OF NEGRO
HARDwICK's DIsFRANCHIsEMENr
BILL DEFEATED.
THE VOTE WAS ia TO II.
WRIGHT DIsPENsARY BILL IN SEN
ATE TODAY.

MIR. HardwfclS Made an Urgent APP
PEAL for His Measure, but Met
with Little sympathy-DecIare6
That Fifty-nine Counties Have
Black Majorities, and That This
Gives Negroes Balance of Power.
The Atlanta Depot Committee
Makes It's Report.
Atlanta, Nov. 19-There appears to
be no disposition on the part of the
Legislature to disfranchise the negro.
The bill by Mr.. Hardwick of Wash
ington to amend the constitution to
this end was defeated a second time
in the House to-day by a vote of ia
to II.
Two years ago when the measure
was up it received only three votes in
support of it. Mr.. Hardwick feels
therefore that it has gained some
what in popularity.
The disfranchisement bill provided
that no citizen should be allowed to
vote unless he could read and construe
a section of the state constitution, but
that the provisions of the amendment
should not apply to any who were
qualified voters on Jan. 1, 1887, or to
the descendants of any such.
It came up as the special order inn
mediately after the reading Of the jour-
nal. Mr.. Hardwick made a ringing
speech in behalf Of his measure. He
said he offered it in no spirit of malice
toward the negro. but because he knew
the white people of Georgia wanted II.
1.-The people of the county I repre-
sent have returned me to this Legis-
lature in spite of predicted political
defeat and Oblivion. because I intro
duced this measure" Mr.. Hardwick
said. THE people of Washington
county want this bill passed, the peo-
pie of the Tenth district want it, and
am satisfied it is the desire of. the
people of the entire state"
Mr.. Hardwick said that universal
suffrage is neither wise nor desirable.
He explained the details of the bill and
asserted it would not affect a. single
native white voter Of the state. He
read extracts from Gov. Candler's
message against negro suffrage. He
declared SO counties of the state had
majority of negroes in their population.
and said the negro held the balance of
power in all of them. There might be
harmony now, but harmony in the
party is not always assured, and such
a balance of power is dangerous.
Mr.. Franklin of Washington. spoke
for the bill. and Mr.. Taylor of Hous-
ton. spoke briefly against it.
Mr.. Stafford of Camden also declared
against 1t. saying the state had voted
to give the negro the right to suf-
| frage by adopting the 18th amendment
to the constitution of the United
States.
docs the gentleman know that that
amendment was adopted with bayonets
around our ballot boxes?" asked Mr..
| Hardwick.
Mr.. Stafford did not think that al
| tered the case.
"Did not negro oppose the gentle
man from Camden and contest his seat
in this House?" asked Mr.. Franklin
THAT is true" Mr.. Stafford said,
but shall not vote to hang the state
of Georgia up in disgrace on account
| of it,"
The vote was then taken on the bill
with the result stated.
All of the members from Chatham
voted against the measure.
Fight on the Depot Bill.
There was a sort of preliminary fill
clustering skirmish on the depot bill i'm
the House. Chairman Bower of the
| Western and Atlantic Railroad COM
| mittee made several Intellectual at
tempts to submit the favorable report
of the committee on the Atlanta depot
bill. Fanally Mr. Gress of Wilcox
moved that the session be extended
two minutes for the purpose of ruling
| the report.
One Of the filibusterers called for the
| ayes and nays, and on the vote the ses-
sion was extended by 50 to 19. then the
filibusterers tried to adjourn, but the
| motion was voted down.
Several other dilatory methods were
| employed, but when the business before
the House was disposed of the commit
tee report was read and the bill went
| upon the calendar.
Dull Time in the Senate.
The day in the Senate was dry and
| uninteretsing one. After the lengthy
discussion on a measure requiring rail-
roads to erect separate lavatories for
males and females at all depots in the
state, under penalty of $500, the meas
ure was re-referred to the COMMITTEES
on Hygiene and Sanitation.
A number of unimportant local bills
we're passed.
1t is expected that tomorrow will be
an interesting day in the Senate. The
| Wright diSpenSary Dill is tne Speclal Or
der before that body for 10 o'clock, and
warm debate is expected.
There are several senators who OPP
pose the measure, but the general inn
preston is that IL wall pass by good
majority.
Several important Senate amend-
ments have been submitted and these
also will be acted on. Perhaps the
most important is that requiring a pc
t.tion from one-third instead OF one
fifth OF the qualified voters before an
election can be called.
This also amends the local option
law OF the state. which AZ present per-
mita an election on prohibition al the
request OF one-tenth OF the quaiIned
voters.
CIVIL sEnALCE ExrENnEn