The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-03

for registration after January 1st. lsoe: | and 1t will, in no wise, affect those who | shall have~ registered under the tempo rary plan ONCE REGISTERED UNDER THE TEMPORARY PLAN. THE ELEC- lTOR IS REGISTERED FOR LIFE But | the ability to read and write will not, of | itself, entftle the elector to vote. He | must have paid his poll tax, if under 45 years of age. It is a we'll known fact that the white voters pay their poll tax, under existing laws, and they will con- | tinue to pay it. It does not require any | one to pay tax who is now exempt Negroes Do Not Willingly Pay Poll Tax.
 | It is also we'll known that the bulk or | the negroes do not pay the poll tax re- quired by existing laws, and the new l Constitution makes it felony for any | one to pay another's poll tax in order to
 influence his vote. and 1t is expressly provided that no process of any kind can issue for the collection of this tax. In osher words, its payment is voluntary, and 1t must be paid between October and February of each tax year. The purchas- able element of our citizenship will be confronted with the proposition. that in- | stead of being paid to vote, they must qualify themselves in advance, by having paid for themselves their poll tax.
 Negro Literates.
 To the argument of the opposition that the negroes in the Black Belt who can read ard write will outnumber the whites.
 we reply that the only evidence they have of the number of "literates" among the negroes in that section is the Fed eral census report, based upon statements l made by the negroes to the census taker. | The latter asks the negro If he could read and write, and the negro said yes. | No test wal made to ascertain. And be-
 Nig able tokwrite ones name is a very
 Uffersnt proposition from being able to | Vffite "any article or clause of the Con- | stftution." Besides this. those best in | formed believe sthat these provisions of | the new Constitution will have the cf- | feet of diminishing the negro vote in the
 black Belt. as we'll as elsewhere.
 White Supremacy Secured.
 Those who, from prejudiced and inter ested motives, are so vigorously declaim- ! ing against the operation of the perma- nent plan and its effect in the negro coun- ties, overlook the important fact that un- der the temporary plan white supremacy is absolutely secured and if the evils
 which these prophets of ill-omen predict will occur, should present themselves, there Is still left, by the terms of the new Constitution, the right of amending it, and the amendment would be voted on by the then qualified electors. This is a white mans government and it will
 continue to be so. White men will see to
 1t that they will continue in the ascend | ancy. They have always been equal to the demands of government and its main- | tenance. and they will not be less vigilant | in the future than in the past
 Negroes Have Organized.
 The negroes have organized against the new Constitution. The ''literates' among l them have read the hand writing on the | wall, They fear its operation. They have l appointed their committees to raise mon- | .ey to defeat it. Prote sta tions of the op- position campaign management of no I sympathy with the negroes will not avail. | They are fighting on the side where the
 negroes who are already threatening the
 Democratic party with the Federal Su- l preme Court, are found to be. We have
 heard of Federal interference before and | we are not to be daunted now. Brave l men and good lawyers framed the new l organic law and We have no doubt 1t will
 withstand all assaults.
 Suffrage Committee Supporting Con- | stitution.
 The Committee of the Constitutional | Convention who were charged with the duty of framing the Suffrage Article in
 the new Constitution, was composed of
 twenty-five members from all sections of | the State and included some of our best | lawyers, two of them having been Su- preme Court Judges. This Committee | and indeed the whole membership of the | Convention. were acting under the sanc-
 tity of the oath of office. they had each 1 taken when the Convention was organ ized, to support and maintain the Con- t-ti ion, md Ioxx If fhn TptN Cfo4
 This Committee, after the most careful ! study, reported the plan which is incor-
 porated in the new Constitution Five
 members of this Committee joined in a
 minority report, based upon one clause
 only in the plan, namely, that clause in
 the temporary plan, which authorizes the
 registration of the lawful descendants of
 soldiers" On the balance of the plan,
 the Committee was agreed. The Conven-
 ton having heard the discussion upon | these reports, adopted the majority re-
 port. The distinguished gentlemen who
 composed the minority of that Commit | tee are now, to a man, supporting the
 new Constitution. We repeat, we believe l the Committee took secure ground. Mis-
 sissippi. Louisiana, North and South Car olina have freed themselves from the in-
 cubus of the ignorant negro vote. Ala
 bama can and will do the same.
 Motto.
 Catching the spirit and the purpose of | the new constitution, this committee has
 adopted as It's motto: White Supremacy, | Honest Elections and the New Const- | tuition. One and Inseparable.'' Under
 this banner. we will fight the battle of
 the Democratic party. and under it, We
 urge all white men to align themselves.
 Product of Democratic Party.
 The new constitution is the product Of
 the labor and thought of the Democratic
 party, in calling the convention and elect
 ing great majority of delegates to seats
 In 1t. Whatever of good is found in it.,
 is the result of the work of Democrats. | That party. ever watchful of the interests
 of the white people of this State, decided
 that we should have new constitution.
 Party Has Kept Faith.
 To hold the convention, 1t fought the l good fight TnMards its pledges made