The age-herald., 1901-07-26

 misses and the committee has provided simple formula of temporary character whereby the white voters shall continue to enjoy their franchise and the negroes who are qualified may get in.
 At the end of this short time begins a new era when different set of conditions will apply. Under the temporary plan be- sides soldiers all who have good charac- ters and understand the duties of citizen ship can register The minority contend that this is unconstitutional, or rather that 1t is contrary to the spirit Of our laws. A great deal has been said as to the opinions of our two Senators, but while I respect their opinions am not bound by them. Senator Morgan does not say that this plan is unconstitutional. He ohlyaobjected on a broad scale to the gen. eral idea of an hereditary voting class. He then read to show that the Senator favored hereditary schemes, from his suf- frage plan where he advocated that no of- flee should be held in Alabama except by descendants of white persons. tApplause.)
 At this point the;convenrion adjourned until 8: 30 Q clock
 E,e Afternoon Session. sgs s,3 TIie:conventioh reassembled at ass1 with 130 members present. MT. Wea<hefly cunf tinued by saying that the State'vnerely ires trained from taking away the right 10 vote from a soldier and his descendant and they referred to that as "heredity." As to the constitutionality, the fifteenth amendment conferred no right of fran chise. It merely said it should not be taken away on certain grounds Now the discrimination must be on account Of race. What Is the test of discrimination! It might put the test of the right to vote the question whether man is engaged in some. lawful occupation. Yet if the req soning of MT. White was followed to It's logical conclusion we could not adopt this test. Yet we know that we can. Then why can we not make the soldier test? :? Is there anything capricious or arbitrary in that? The State of Alabama can still select a group of her citizens who are entitled to honor on account of their serv- | ices and give them political privileges. | Because the negro was so situated that | he could not render such services, would | that prevent the State from rewarding | them? There are 5000 negro pensioners In l Alabama today and their descendants number about 20. 900. all of whom can vote. Besides this provision, there Is charao- | ter test which will allow every negro to | vote who ought to vote. He himself could only qualify under the good character I clause, if he got In at all, as he had no |
 The plan may show an intent to conf1ne the suffrage to those best qualified. but the facts show, by allowing many negroes | to vote. that there was no intent to legis- | late against the negro because he was | negro. | about the grandfather clause as being short lived, and said 1t was not an un usual thing for parents to have ah' means at hand for supplying such a va cancy. It was a wise provision or nature And if the negro can not qualify undel the character clause there are 15,00o ol them who can qualify under the grand father clause. The opponents of thii clause offer us nothing practical. Senator l Morgan's plan about a perpetual board O registrars with unbounded discretion t very simple, but one that Alabama would never adopt. Neither would Governo Jones' plan of secret elections by tn grand jury, be adopted. The poll tax plal is simple enough, but it would leave tn Black Belt in the same condition as 1t now and would disfranchise many whit people in the middle and northern part of the State. It is empracticable an
 would never be adopted. In the main h
 thought the majority plan would accom-
 plish what was desired.
 Major Handley of Randolph.
 Major Handley of Randolph spoke in praise of the Democrats of the Blacl Belt He said that the negro occupied different position, however, in the whit
 counties. In Randolph for instance ther
 were intelligent Republicans who kne, their rights. The only unfair thing abou
 elections in Randolph was that the negr vote was for sale. Both Republicans an
 Democrats had to buy them and it mad it quite expensive Qaughter). He himsel had never bought a vote, but he ha | clipped in to the campaign fund Qaugh
 ter). Negro votes had gone to s10 piec and, MT. President. 1t makes it awful o our people (laughter) Asked of some ne groes did not bring $100 he said they nigh but he wouldn't prize them that hig | himself Qaughter). The Republicans ther are as anxious to get rid of the negro a
 we are (Applause) He said he had tray elled around and the grandfather claus
 was the most popular feature of the suf
 frage plan, Applause) He hoped the con
 vention would hurry up and get through The people Were tired of the convention and he was ured of 1T himself. Daughter.
 Let's take a vote and get through worked twenty days on the committee an, nearly killed myself. Uaughter) had t
 go home, but I'm all right now. He con
 ciuded amid great applause. /
 Mir. Jones of Wilcox.
 Il General Jones of Wilox said 1t mad personally little difference to him whethe
 there was lconvention or not, as in few years he would pass away, but h.