Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-30
SUFFRAGE, NORTH AND SOUTH.

Ex-Governor Merriam, Of Minnesota,
director Of the United States census,
writes on Suffrage, North and South"
in the December Forum, with special
reference to the limitations imposed by
various states on the right to vote. In
view OF the movement already made to
deprive the negro of the ballot, his OBJ
servations from statistical standpoint
are important. He says In part:
1t is fortunate thing that we are
able to give the fictual figures concern
ing the very interesting conditions in
volved In the whole plan Of suffrage at
this particular time. 1t Is well that the
discussion should go on, and that the
whole country should realize that while
attempts are being made In certain
southern states to limit the privilege of
exercising the ballot, the same end has
already been obtained In some northern
Another very impor-
ltant fact to be gathered from the statis-
tics published by the census bureau is
the large number of people who are en-
titled to avail themselves of their polit-
zeal privileges and who fail to do SO. 1t
is evident that the spur should be used
to induce people to take advantage of
the rights accorded them under the con-
stitutfon.
The population Of negroes turnout the
entire country has increased practically
In the same ratio as the white popula-
ton, there being S,s407ss as against T.
4ss,7ss in the year 1890. The growth is a
4 ca N N q l.
lily seen that the racial question is likely
to be with us for years to come; for
there is not the slightest probability
that the negro will occupy an uninlpor-
tant place in our civilization. What to
do with him is the problem.
The training Of the school is Of couis Sc
a valuable factor SO far as his future is
concerned, The data thus far gained are
a sufficient evidence that literacy
among the colored race has made quite
an appreciable increase during the last
decade. For example In Alabama 72.2
per cent of the colored people were IL
literate in 1890, and in 1900 the number
vas reduced to sos per cent; in Virginia
the reduction was approximately little
over IA per cent; in Mississippi 1t was
the same. Turnout the I'VE states in the
south containing the largest aggregate
population the average reduction was
about per cent, showing hopeful gain
in the number Of those who can read
and write. These facts have an iInpor-
tant bearing upon the question of sIf-
frage in the principal southern states,
for the reason that in most common
wealths the educational qualification is
a usual one, thus indicating that in the
decades to come the colored man, by
reason of his rudimentary instruction,
will have more or less to say concerning
the conditions OF government.
The question as to just what occupa-
ton seems to be best adapted to the me-
gro Of the future is open to discussion.
While the school system gives him
many advantages in the way of high
err standing among his fellow men, 1t is
debatable whether he can put them to
any practical use in the way OF gaining
a livelihood, save in 80 far as he utilizes
his ability to read and write. There
does not appear to be much opening for
him in the field Of clerical work, social
distinctions making It impossible to give
him the fullest opportunities In this di-
rection The suggestion made by Mr..
Booker T. Washington, that he learn
the trades, would apparently be the
most practical solution OF this yexing
question. The colored man can be. a
good carpenter, good stone-cutter, a
good builder, and good machinist; and
from any one of these sources he can
obtain respectable livelihood. There
seems to be really no satisfactory solu-
ton Of this most complex, and at the
same time interesting, problem in our
social life, time apparently being needed
to determine what results may be final
Ily accomplished.