The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-04-04

ed Into the Attempt Of Political Mana
gers to Regain or Retain Control by
Preventing Voters OF the Opposition
Party from Exercising the Right OF
SufTrage-t IL No Longer n Race or
Sectional Matter.
Washington Post.
"The ballot law which it is pro-
posed to pass in Maryland is very
likely to bring to the attention of
Congress various sO-called disf'ran-
chisement laws, and open up the
whole question Of representation In
Congress on the basis Of men who
are not legal voters under State laws
This statement was made yesterday
by Senator Burrows, who will be-
come the chairman of the Senate
Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions.
Congress does not DESIRE" con-
tinued Senator Burrows, 'to discuss
these subjects, but in my opinion,
the questions will be- forced upon us
for determination by the unwise
action of some of the States. Sec
tional sympathies and prejudices
must be ltid aside to- get clear un
derstanding of the importance ofthe
subject. 1t Is fact that there has
been some indulgence and liberation
In the past OF the efforts of certain
States to avoid negro domination,
Perhaps sympathy had more to do
with permitting the South to main
tain representation in Congress,
which in many cases was on the
basis Of disfranchised citizens, than
justice or fairness. All this may be
laid aside to consider the more ser
iOus phases Of the situation.
awe now have before us the ex-
ample of great State endeavOring
to disfranchise some $4,000 citizens
in order to give one political party
the control of the legislature of the
State. There is no fear of negro
domination. That is not the excuse
for the law. Certain Democrats
seek to control the affairs of the
State, and to accomplish this propose
to disfranchise a sufficient number
of the opposite party. 1t is nothing
more than this.
WHAT REPUBLICANS MIGHT DO.
at is just exactly the same as
though the Republicans in Illinois
should pass law giving high-class
education test for voters in order to
dist'ranchise the illiterate laborers of
Chicago. 1t may be assumed that
more of these are Democrats than
Republicans, and that, therefore,
such a law would be to the political
advantage of the Republicans. The
Pennsylvania legislature might pass
such a law affecting the illiterate
coal miners. Massachusetts, already
has such law, but do not know
how many it affects or what political
party gains an advantage, if any.
"The Constitution declares that
when the right to vote is denied any
male inhabitants over twenty -one
years Of age in any State the basis of
representation shall be reduced in
proportion to which the reduction
shall bear to the whole number.
This question has been passed over
once, but it will not be neglected if
political parties deprive citizens of
their votes solely for the purpose OF
securing control, independent of 9th.
or considerations. In the State OF
Mississippi the test for illiteracy in
wolves the ability to interpret as
well as read the Constitution. i dc
not understand that the census will
disclose the number who are denied
the right to vote because they can
not construe paragraphs of the Con
stitutiOn. But the census will show
how many males over the age of 3
cannot read or write. If such per
SONS cannot vote, the census will
show absolutely the reduction. Con
gress not only has the power, but i
is demanded of Congress that it re
duce the basis Of representation pro
portionately. The reduction mus
he made in all States alike, and al
ways on the census showing. Sue
is the command of the Constitution
The present reduction need not stan
for ten years if Congress wants t
change it. A new apportionmen
may be made for every Congress.
SEATS OF SENATOR'S INVOLVED.
Furthermore, there is the que:
nf inC Rh
legislatures which were elected
States where large number of cit
Zens were disf'ranchised to enabl
the party to regain or retain cOntro
At first the Acknowledgement W,
for the purpose of preventing negr
domination. Gaining courage b
being let alone, political manage
attempt the same thing to win pa
tisan success at the polls, regardle
Of negro domination. 1t requir
no strong prophetic vision to see tn
strong party organizations in 9th
States will devise plans to strengt
en- themselves by DISTINGUISHING
large number of their opponents
they know that no one will puni
them.
cat present the question is pl
senting three interesting phases: T.
effect Acknowledgement has on &
basis Of representation in the low
n House, the prOpriety of acceptil
Senators in Congress who have be
elected by the legislatures select
after large number of voters we
. disfranchised, so that the legis