The age-herald., 1901-07-07

To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
 The report of the suffrage committee, in my judgment, presents the best and fair est solution of the suffrage question which has been offered by any of the Southern States. I sincerely hope that 1t will be adopted by the convention sub stantially as reported, and I feel sure of it's subsequent acceptance by the people of the State.
 Only one provision of this report has been directly assailed, and that relates to the grandfather clause" This In itself is a great tribute to the care, patience and ability of the committee. This particular provision is assalled by only four members of the committee; the report being unani- nous in all other respects.
 Are the Platform Pledges Binding?
 There has been some confusion of ideas recently in some quarters in regard to this matter. Among other things some of the best and most respectable newspapers of the State have insisted that the conven- tion is not bound by the pledge of the Democratic platform, to the effect that no white man should be disfranchised ex- cept for crime This is based upon the supposItion that the platform was hur- riedly adopted without due consideration, and does not represent the real views or desires of the people of the State. Whether this theory be true or not with reference to any other provisions of the platform and if true whether a demurrer to it would not lie, a little reflection will ic VI uI,,lx- frtta xxyifh reference to his particular provision. The proposition that no white man should be dlsfranchised except for crime was part Of the Democratic platform of 1898. It was again, by unanimous vote, made a part of the platform of 1900, and Governor Sanford, who was nominated at the same time, received the largest majority of any Democratic nominee since the days of Governor Seay. It was again put in the platform of 1901. So we see that thre< conventions successively, in each instance by unanimous vote, have given this as- surance to the people of the State.
 Secuted the Charge.
 It was charged by the opposition that the platform was not binding and would be repudlated These charges were scout ed as absurd at the time by those same newspapers, and as proof positive that
  ence was repeatedly made to the high character and standing of the Democratic nominees, who stood responsible for these pledges. And at a meeting of the State Executive Committee in Birmingham, at which all the nominees, State and county, to the convention were invited, and many of whom were present. held on the 3d day of April 1900, these nominees by d rising vote again renewed their pledges to abide by the partys platform, and the State Committee made the same pledge during the campaign. I know of nothing myself more binding on a man of honor than his word, but if there be any case which could be held more so. it would be found here.
 The object of the convention. without which 1t would never have been held, is ta purge the electorate of the great mass of corrupt, ignorant negro votes. and this Is declared in every platform adopted by the Democratic party since this question came before the people. This at once puts all the negroes against us They congtitute 45 per cent of the voters of fraction over 1S per cent of the male white population over 21 years of age is flliterate. If an effort Is now made to purge the polling lists of all illiterate whites these whites and the negroes alone would constitute 0 majority sufficient to O6ledL tHS pTONlS1O1 Ut IIe pOllS. put they would not be alone To these negroes and illiterate whites must be added: First, those whites who from principle are op- posed to any regulation of the suffrage; second. the few whites who oppose any regulation except such as they them- selves suggest; third. many others who at all times prefer the large side to the right side; and lastly the kinsmen of H. literates, who themselves being qualified are yet unwilling for their relatives to be disfranchised merely for illiteracy. Against these odds success would be i'm possible
 Democrats Honor Bound.
 The argument that the Democratic dele gates to the constitutional convention are | in honor bound by the platform is re- | inforced by the proposition that they are compelled to obey 1t, whether they want it or not, if we are to have any relief | whatever from existing conditions. We arc thus confronted with the propo- | sition whether 1t Is better to have some | restriction of the suffrage or none; | whether we should decline to disfran- | chise the great body of negro voters | whom we know to be incompetent and | unfith for the suffrage merely because we | fear a few whites whom we think may | be incompetent may not likewise be dis | franchised. It seems to me that the | question answers itself.
 | But 1t is said that this clause Is un- | constitutional. and will be set aside. | This 1 deny, but it will do no harm and | those opposed to 1t will have exactly l what they want They should not so | seriously object to some words being in- | serted In there which can have no possl- | ble effect.
 | But against the proposition that it is unconstitutional 1t can be further added that the original grandfather clause (not the one inserted in the Alabama plan). was framed by no less dlstin- guished a jurist than the Hon. Thomas J. Semmes of Louisiana, perhaps the best lawyer of the South. It was accepted after months of discussion and bitter at- tack by the Louisiana convention as the best possible solution of the question. The Vote in North Carolina. The Democrats of North Carolina sub- stantially adopted these provisions. and took the question directly before the peo- ple of that State. In normal times the Democratic majority in North Carolina over the Republican vote was only about 20. 900 and from the time of Popuism url- til 1SsS it was in a clear minority. Some E @ In These Days of noonv winaa all claiming