The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-24
BANKHEAD ON VOTING
TIT CONGRESSMAN ENDoRsEs
 MAJORITY REPORT.
0ses No Objection to "orandfather
 clause'' and Hopes the Article < Reported Will Be Adopted without Change.

xreH<man from the sixth CongreSsionaa District, was in Montgomery Saturday. he was asked by representative or ] The Advertiser for an interview on the Suffrage Article. now pending before the Constitutional Convention. Mir. Bankhead was busily engaged, and eaid that he would write his views for The Advertiser.
 'E Since he has returned to his home, the following statement has been pre- pared by Mir. Bankneaa:
 Il have read the report of the Committee on Suffrage and tdections. I first saw 1t in the Pacific coast papers and was greatly pleased by the favora- ole comments of both Democratic and Republican papers. may have over looked some of the minor details, but the main provisio.-s have the full ap- proval Of my judgment.
 T believe in standing by the pledges \ aof the party. and especially when the delegates after being nominated, re- uewed these pledges, and every speak CT who went on the stump and asked the people to trust the party ana reiterate them,
 .I can see no objection to the so- called grandfather clause. There can be no conflict with the Constitution Of xhe United States. It does not dis criminste oil account ot race, color pr previous condition of servttude. Whife and black come under it's pro- vision alike.
 ..ft is recalled that the State of Ala hama by a special act of the ieeisla- lure curing the Civil War, several companies of negroes were organized and accepted by the Governor. be'ides many negroes from Alabama enlisted 1n the federal army during the war Many of these same negroes now live In Alabama and their descendants are quite numerous. They all come under the provision of this clause on an equal footing with the white man and their descendas1ts who served in any of the wars named.
 .Sonis gentlemen seem to think that to confer the right to vote on the des- cendants os soldiers tends to create a governing class. and establishes here <1itary and all the other evils that fol- low white supremacy in Alaba ma. l fail to see where a lower standard Is prescribed fer the white man than is required of the negro. The only diff ference is that more white men will te benefited than negroes. To this l do not object. If the State by its sover- eign power can confer the right to vote OF those who have served their country IT. war the State can also con- fer the right or piivilase to vote on the descendants ot these soldiers, provided the State does not discriminate on &C., count of race. color or previous con H. tions of servitu6e. I have not been able to discover a line or word that can be construed into discrimindti )n. l believe no one has been so bold as 10 say the State cannot confer the right upon an old soldier, because ne was a soldier, if that clause is Constilu- tionai the descendants provision is also good.
 .'I know of no class to whom the State can commit its future with more { confidence and composure than to those who were willing to give their Hives in defence Of the State. If ta+re is a badge that should entl.le q man to the highest privilege that the Stote can confer. it is an empty sleeve or a wooden leg. If misfortune met in the service of the State has prevented these men from qualifying their sons to have the right to vote confer red upon them by the other provisions of the Constitution, than any other pro- vision that the ingenuity Uf man can devise can be resorted to. If this is heredity, I am in favor of 1t. If 1t establishes a governing class, am in favor of them, provided the class is composed of my white fellow citizens.
 sIf there had been as many negroes served in the wars mentioned as there were whites and their descendants were as numerous, would any body say that the clause discrimlnated on account of color? I think not. Then 1t m ist be question of numbers. If the right to vote is conferred by this clause Cn } more whites than negroes without dis eliminating on account of colCt So much the better.
 ..The Convention was called 10 frame a Constitution which the intelligent and virtuous could govern without resort ing to questionable methods. The Con- vention is pledged to do certain things and not to do others.
 If these same delegates had met fifty years ago te frame a Cunsti.ution they would have proceeded on entirely different line. They are now confront ed with 8 condition and not theory. Those who fail to recognize the changed conditions will he disappointed at harvest time.
 ..We are making a Constitution un- der which two distinct races must live; one vastly superior to the other; one created to rule and the other to be governed. Are we going to consume time in discussing theories that ara old or will we meet conditions that are new. The past is behind. the future As In front of us. Shall We look ahead and build a great State or look back ward and chain ourselves to theories that are at war with present condi- tions: The progress and prosperity cf both races depend upon the future gov ernment of the State. Wherever the white man has set his foot he has dominated and controlled. He will control Alabama in spite of theories and constitutions.
 ''The suffrage clause was reported by committee of able earnest, Thoughtful. patriotic men. They have 6evoted much tune to it's preparation.
 ''The Constitution of all the States and of the United States have been ex- anined, all the decisions of the courts have been consulted. As architects they have made the plans of house in which the people of the State can live in peace and security,
 'I sincerely hope that the report of the Suffrage Committee will be accept ed without material change. The work sn hand is too important to hurry. Discussion develops weak points and gives opportunity to avoid mistakes. The convention should take time to complete the work"