Evening star., 1901-07-22
THE DANIEL PLAN
Proposed Amendment Of the Virginia
Constitution.
Observation-Disclosures
Two Objectionable Clauses Criti-
cised.
DEMOCRATIC ADVANTAGE

Ex-Representatfve William E. Gaines of
Virginia now president of the Southern Re-
publican Association was asked today
what. in his opinion. would be the action
Of the Virginia constitutional convention
on the suffrage question
oh said he, something like the plan
Just submitted by Senator Daniel will be
adopted The convention do nothing
openly against the franchise. The federal
Constitution places that body in an un-
enviable and trying position The state
must Of necessity respect the federal Con-
stitutinn or pay the p.nalty-lose represent
tation in Congress and in the electoral coll
Iege. Major Daniel is a recognized authori-
ty on federal law. and his plan is no doubt
the product of most profound search and
mastery effort to do in manner least
offensive what the federal Constitution for
bids
The good people OF Virginia are tired of
preserving civilization by fraudulent election
returns. making necessary the hiring out of
the polls to an irresponsible class, who
make returns to conform to the amount of
money paid. She is just longing to be good.
The word Christian Is to remain in the
bill of rights. Still, the old state must be
made democratic against all her interests.
and permanently democratic by constitu-
tional law. purposely evasiye and operative
by the usual election methods. What a
pity the organic law of the nation stands
in her path, Will she outwit the federal
Constitution? Yes. for a time only.
senator DanieIs' Plan.
Here is the plan: AS outlined by Sem
ator Daniel, the proposition calls for resi-
dence of two years in the state. one year in
county or city and thirty days in precinct.
Property to the value of $500 is to be held
by the voter. his wife or father; poll tax
OF s. is compulsory; who have done
military service to the state government or
the United States are exempted as are also
persons over the age of sixty years; no per
son is to be exempted from payment of poll
tax who draws pension from the state or
the United States, and persons who receive
salary or stipend are to be required to
pay poll tax. Persons of recognized good
character and education to be exempt
ed in discretion of local boards from the
property qualifications.
The milk in the cocuanut is TO be found
in the last clause of this plan and in the
one making eligible all persons sixty years
OF age. There are thousands of demo-
cratic voters in Virginia who do not own
500 worth of property and who never did
military service. but are educa tionally
qualified. This class of democrats can go
before partisan local board and be made
eligible voters No negro or white republi-
can for that matter, can avail himself of
iniS al-saVirg clause, because partisan
boards must pass on both character and
education
The Sixty-Year Clause
Taxing up the sixty-year-old clause, Col
Haines said that more than a year ago he
had written that the democrats of Vir-
ginia would not disfranchise the old and
iliterate colored vote. for in 1896 fully
1000" of this class went to the polls to vote
for Mckinley and left thinking they had
done So. when, in fact, he said, the official
democratic ticket marker had prepared
their ballots in a manner making them
vote for Bryan.
Nothing is easier than this" said Col
Gaines
I'm the first place no one is allowed
WithIh several reet of the polls while the
voting goes on, except the election cffi-
cldis and one voter at time Now, the
old illiterate ex-slave takes his turn
stepping up to the polls betraying fear
and intimidation. he is handed an Off
cldl ballot by the judge sitting at the box
Ihis ballot contains, perhaps the names
OF more than half hundred candidates
Ahe law requires that the voter shall
whom he does not wish to vote. Can this
man do this clerical work without knowing
one letter from another? Certainly not
Ine law provides that one of the judges
selected by the other two-shall perform
this service for the flliterate voter who
has two and one-half minutes to prepare
his ballot. This ballot marker takes the
other eye can see or ear hear, and marks
his ballot Read the evidence printed in
the three contested election cases in Con-
sress from Virginia growing out of the
election of 1895. and be convinced that in
the state at least 10000 illiterate votes in
tended for Mckinley were given to BRYAN
then You can understand why republican
managers advise illiterates to stay away
from elections And at the same time YOU
VIII understand why persons over sixty
years of age are to be exempted from all
restrictions. Nearly all ex-slaves are six
ty years or more of age. And are indis-
pcnslble TO democratic success Yet 80 per
cent of this class as honestly reDubU-
can as can be, resisting every termination
to desert their party
No.. said the colonel that conyen-
ton Is cunning for the man who has suf-
hclent education to mark his own republi-
can ballot and not for the illiterate"
The Property Clause
Or the I'D" property clause. the colonel
said the old colored man with 500 of
property and seven sons would have eight
votes representing $3.50 each. While the
one with $3.50 worth could not vote at all
and the 100000 man with no sons copId
only cash vote.
Colonel Gaines said: The negro Of the
south was to all intents and purposes dis
franchised when federal supervisors We're
withdrawn from the polls and it rests with
Congress to say whether or not that race
should be rehabiltated as citizens or lose
forever all voice in state and national gov
eminent. IT. said he THE nation js af,er
tnlrty years trial convinced that IL was
mistake 10 give them the right of suf-
Irdse. why then-stand aloof and the uues-
tion is settled. and the fourteenth and ff-
ieehtn amendments are made-inoperative
by consent
The convention does not WORRY me-
things cannot be made worse than they