The age-herald., 1901-05-21
Qualification of Voters.

prepared plan for solving the suffrage problem, and he backs it up with an elaborate argument. His services on this account are wholly voluntary, and on that account all the more patriotic and praiseworthy. The State needs at l this juncture all the advice she can get, and Senator Morgan is doing his full duty in that respect.
 His plan is, in brief, this: All offices in the State are to be filled by whites, and all voters in a precinct are to be registered by board of registrars, to be appointed by the Court of County Commissioners for a term of four years. Their successors are to be elected. These registrars are to de- eide who shall be registered as voters. They may examine any applicant. Ap- plications must be in writing, and ''the Legislature may alter, amend or re- peal any part of the duties" of the registrars.
 This plan is reasonable enough and efficient enough while there is but one white mans party, but if two should arise then there would be hullabaloo in each contested county. It will be observed that the board of registrars are sole judges of electors. Whom they register shall vote, whom they do not register shall not. These arbiters hold the power of the State and county in their hands, and to say that they would exercise that power conscientiously and impartially in heated contest is asking rather more of men than they are accustomed to furnish.
 At present about dozen counties in the State are controlled by the Popu- lists. Perhaps two dozen are controlled by the Populists and Republicans. The registrars in these counties wl.l be apt to see with a favorable eye the op- ponents of the dominant party, and vice versa This form of control of the voting privilege Is good when prop erly exercised, but no man can guaran- tee that it will be so exercised in all contingencies. Besides, it really calls for violation of the fifteenth amend ment, although it is not so nominated in the bond.
 This proposed interference with and supervision of the voter is unnecessary and unwise. Here is the same tempta- tion to fraudulent practices at the places of registration that the Missis- sippi "understanding" clause invites. Here is the same hidden declaration that the negro shall not vote. Here is the same opportunity for creating prejudice against the State. Senator Morgan's plan is to all intents and pur- poses the Mississippi plan, because it enables the board of registration to ac- cept or reject applicants at will.
 A poll tax is much simpler and would be fully as effective. There could be no fraudulent practices under the lat ter plan; there is sure to be fraudulent practices under the former. When a voter must present a poll tax receipt, obtained at least year before, to the man at the ballot box all taint of fraud disappear. The dlsfranchised would be disfranchised by themselves-be- cause they will not bear their part of the public burden. All such should be disfranchised until they are willing to do their part. If to poll tax be added a good primary election law-such a law as all now demand except the poli- ticians-there is no need of Senator Morgan's elaborate scheme of regis tration or of any other scheme equally complicated and equally open to par tial and unjust action at critical peri ods among white men.