The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-30

his descent from an ancestry over which he had and has no control, and which is impossible of attainment by any exertion on his part.
 We submit that the test required is not q rule or condition to which al citizens similarly situated may conform. This. we understand from the decisions of the United States Su- preme Court is necessary to make il valid.
 For these reasons we believe this clause to be violative of the 18th amendment to the Federal Consjtu- ton, in Its necessary operation. with out reference to It's administration It can only be administered in one way, and can affect, materially, only the two classes established bytt.
 By adopting this provision we invite an attack upon our suffrage plan through the courts, which may declare it void. and also, give Congress an op- portunity to reduce our representation in the Lower House, and our vote in the electoral college. and It seems that the minority are not alone in the ap- prehension that something of this kind may occur.
 1 The committee itself has expressed it's want of confidence in the validity l OA tllS oIucIuc, Dy TGCOullnenu1nR the adoption of Section 19, which provides that if any section of the article should become imperative and void by reason of the decision of any court of compe- tent jurisdiction the Legislature might remedy the defect caused by suc1 de- cision-an unusual and extraordinary conception. l Win any member of the committee, or any other candid man. maintain that this scheme is not intended to discrim- mate in favor of one race and against | the other?
 Aside from the Constitutional obiec. | tions. there are other weighty reasons | why this provision should not be in our Constitutions: .. | First-It establishes a permanent, | hereditary, governing class, whita is undemocratic, unrepublican, and 'un- l American. Second-It is not in keeping with the dignity of progressive, just and en- | frightened State.
 Third--It insults the white men of Alabama and proclaims their infe.i- ority to the negro by requiring of them. as euffraSnns. a lower standard cs ca . pacity and intelligence than that re- l quired by the negro.
 Fourth-It Ia impracticable of ad- ministration, owing to the impossibil- ity of establishing, with any certainty, descent from remote ancestors. The field of speculation into which we are carried opens wide the doors Of fraud and perjury.
 Fifth-It is not necessary. The bal lot can be secured to the honest and capable without resorting to this sub- terfuge.
 Sixti,-Out of respect for the opinion of thoughtful and fair minded men ev- anywhere. we ought not to incorporate in our Fundamental law this unwise and questionable scheme. 1t will re- tard the investment of capital, and check the flow of immigration to our State. Alabama should take no back ward step.
 Seventh-The adoption of fair and honest suffrage plan would secure the sympathy and confidence of our fel- low citizens in every section of the Union.
 Eighth--By accepting this novel de- vice we are launching the ship of state upon unexplored seas. We had better pursue the course our fathers traveled aud use the helm with which they steered.
 We adhere firmly to the Jacksonian Democratic doctrine of equal rights to all, special privileges to none.
 Hence, We recommend that the afore- said subdivision ? of Section { be stricken out.
 Respectfully submitted, N.
 Frank s. White, z
 ... s. H. Dent, -r..
 George r. Harrison,
 William c. Oates.
 The President-The Chair will call the attention of the Chairman of the committee D the fact that the rules do not apply to the printing of reports, and it will be necessary to have a mo- tion, if the committee desires the re- port of the committee to be printed.
 MT. Coleman (Greene)-We desire the report to be laid upon the table and printed, and taken up at such time hereafter as may be the pleasure of the Convention.
 Mr. Lomax-How many copies did. the gentleman provide for?
 MT. Coleman (Greene)-Five hundred.
 Mr. Lomax-I would make 1t a thou sand.
 Mr. Spraggins-A question of inquiry. How many copies will be printed?. would suggest that thousand copies be printed so that there may be six copies for each member of the Conven- tion.
 MT. COIemdn ((IreeueI-1ne COHlInlL- tee has no preference and accepts the proposition.
 The President-The gentleman moves that a thousand copies be printed and six copies delivered to each member.
 Mir White-I suppose that includes the minority report?
 Mir Coleman (Greene)-My motion covers both. I think it is but just to the whole committee to say that we never heard the minority report read to us as a minority report, though we have heard 1t frequently in the speeches before the committee.
 Mr Oates-It is because we wrote the report last night and did not have an opportunity of showing it to the C. '-mlrree.
 MT. Proctor-I move to amend the motion that thousand copies be print ed. and make it two thousand. It costs but very little more for the two thou sand than for one.
 Mr. ONeaI Gauderdale)-I would like to know about what will be the additional cost of a thousand copies? The President-The gentleman from Jackson says that the cost.will be very little more. Mir. Proctor-But very little. it is just the cost of the paper and the work to do it. MT. Coleman (Greene)-The Chair | man of the Committee has stated that he has no objection; whatever will fa- cilitate a public understanding of the | matter. Mir Samford-I ask that the further