The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-01

 a smattering of learning or great deal of learning. nevertheless Ares unworthy and useless members of society who will do nothing, who have no occupa- tion or employment. The object of the amendment I desire to offer, Is to en- able worthy men who have the quail fication of reading and writing and who are
 MT. O'Neal-Does the gentieman-
 MT. Pilians-I would have liked to finish that sentence. I may finish 1t later. F
 The President-The Chair would sug- gest to delegates when they wish to interrupt a speaker that they rise and address the Chair. The Chair will try to get permission for them.
 Mir. O'Neal-I did, MT. President.
 The President-The Chair recognizes that fact.
 Mir. Pillans-I only wish to finish the sentence. The object of the amend ment offered is to enable worthy men who are good citizens and who can read and write. who are not of the class intended to be excluded by the com mittee. Who can doubt that the man trying to get work should receive the same credit as the man who does work?
 MT. o'Neal-I wish to call your at- tention to the word Employment" in websters Dictionary, which I think covers young men from school. It says the act of employing or using, state of being employed. that which engages or occupies. that which consumes time and attention. Now, if young man is engaged in anything that consumes time and attention. he is engaged in some employment.
 MT. Pillans-That can be the inten- ton of the Committees report. but I suggest that a mans time and atten- ton may be employed in flirting with girls.
 MT. Boone-or gambling,
 MT. Pillans-That Is not lawful em- poyment, but paying attention to the ladies is lawful employment; amusing society, walking on the streets, idling through life is perfectly lawful. provid ed it does not fall within the vagrancy statutes. Now, the proposition is this, a man Is not within the clear, plain and manifest meaning of this section unless he is engaged in doing some thing for his people and himself.
 MT. Weatherly-May interrupt the gentleman?
 The President-win the gentleman yield? c
 MI. CS, Shs
 Mir Weatherly-Will not your amend ment have the effect of increasing the objections made by the gentleman from Jefferson? Your amendment. as I understand it. provides that he should have made diligent effort to procure work.
 MT. Pillans-Yes.
 MT. Weatherly-Now. the objection of MT. Be6dow Is. when persons are out on strike they do not want to make diligent effort; they want to stay on strike until they accomplish their ob- ject and that, as the section now stands. does not conflict with the idea of the gentleman from Jefferson. but. If amended according to your idea, I think it will conflict; 1t will bring on the very thing that he desires to ob viate.
 MT. PilIans-It is with the greatest respect that I receive any suggestion from my learned friend, for know his ability, his care and thoughtfulness, and the care he has given to this sub ject when, on the Committee. but I cannot agree with him as the effect of the words used by the Committee. I do admit. however. that they might conflict with the privilege of striking to some extent. but I do not believe
 
 a provision that would give to the H. literate person who wilfully declined to work in this State a right to vote-an absolute right to vote-along with those engaged in some lawful business or ern- ployment; and so far as I am con- cerned, and believe I speak for the people who think in the State. I would rather give to the man who seeks to be thrifty and to employ the time which God has given him, in the exercise Of some lawful occupation and the accu- mutation of something for his old age and those dependent upon him. would rather give it to him than to the man who will wulfully decline to work I think that the object of the Committee was to reach those who will fully or Intentionally decline to work So far as I am concerned, I think the amendment is a proper one and good one. and ought to be adopted, not only for those who labor, but those who en- deavor to labor to get upon the regis tration.
 MT. Howze-I desire to call the at- tention of the Convention to the fact that these incidental conditions in which these parties may be placed does not deprive them of the right to regis ter. The argument seems to be based upon the idea that this provision. Sec ton 5. Is simply providing registra- tion for and abridging the election. and should these parties be deprived Of the vote at that time, 1t does not take away from them the subsequent right of elective franchise, and I take 1t that this Convention cannot arrange plan to meet all the incidental conditions that may arise prior to any election in this State. Many men are deprived or the right to vote at an election by req son of ignorance. by reason of absence at the time of registration, and If these conditions exist prior to the reglstra- tion by which certain parties may be deprived of the right, it does seem to me 1t should not affect the plan upon which we propose to act in regard 10 these matters. Now, MT. President, 1t does seem to me that we have estab- lished a principle here which Is wise and a good one. We are striking out the ignorant, the vicious and the idle people of this country. and of this State. In other words, we want to elevate this suffrage. the right to exer- else this suffrage in this State, and If conditions should exist at any time prior to the election by which some people may be deprived of the right at that time it Is of course an incident, and something which could not prob ably be prevented but should that deny us the right and the duty of establish ing a plan which Is wise and just and proper in order to prevent the very thing which we are called here to pre- vent Now, I do not think that these conditions, these indicental conditions should keep us from placing In our .I, @f Nkt Nh n-