Evening star., 1901-07-06
VOTES IN THE SOUTH
Progress of the Disfranchisement
Movement.
FOLLOWING EXAMPLE OF MISSISSIPPI
Alabama and Virginia's Proposed
Changes.
NAY COME BEFORE CONGRESS


II is expected that by the time the next
Congress meets Alabama and Virginia will
have amended their state constitutions to
disfranchise a portion Of the negro vote.
The attention Of the public will undoubted-
ly be directed in an increasing measure to
this subject, especially there is pros
pect that Georgia will soon follow the ex-
ample set by other OF her sister states OF
the south.
The extent Of the disfranchisement OF the
negroes, actual and prospective is interest
ing the politicians in no small degree and
1t is likely that the question will receive at
tention in the next meeting OF the national
legislative body
Mfssfssfppi Led the Way.
A review OF the subject shows that Mis-
sissippi led the way in the southern dis
franchisement movement. In 1892 a consti-
tuition Was adopted containing the oualif-
cation that after january, 1892 every
elector. in addition to other requirements.
should De ''able to read any section OF the
constitution Of this state or 80" to under
stand the same when read to him or give
a reasonable Interpretation thereof" This
provision was carried through the state
courts and ultimately to the Supreme Court
Of the United States. In the latter it was
upheld, and this language was used:
The provisions in section 244 OF the
constitution Of Mississippi making the abil-
ty to read any section Of the constitution
or to understand it when read as necessary
qualification to a legal voter do not amount
to denial Of the equal protection Of the
law secured by the fourteenth amendment
to the Constitution, and 1t has not been
shown that their administration was evil
but only that evil was possible under
them"
South Carolfna's Action.
South Carolina next came into line with
an amendment to the Constitution. 1t
provided that after January 1. 1898. all
males of voting age must be bound. In ap-
plying for registration, by the following:
''The applicant must be able to read and
write any section of the constitution sub
mitted To him by the registration officer
or show that he owns and has paid taxes
collectible during the previous year
property within the state assessed at $500
or more
Louisiana in 1895 made still more rigorous
requirements. The educational test m
volved the writing out an application for
registration In an elaborate formula of
seventy-fye words, and a property option
similar to South Cardinals was fixed
There was the further requirement op-
Grating to the advantage of the illiterate
white man, which allowed three and one
half months for any man to secure his reg
istration as voter for life, who, while
possessing neither the property nor the ed
ucational qualifications. could prove that
ION January /, 1857. or any date prior
thereto, Ee was entitled to vote under the
constitution or statutes OF any state of the
United States wherein he then resided or
that he was the son or grandson of some
such person not less than twenty-one
years Of age at the date of the adoption OF
this constitution"
Requirements In North Carolina.
North Carolina then followed with dis
franchisernent amendment to her constitu-
tion. Last August it was provided that the
candidate for registration must be able to
read and write any section of the constf-
tuition In the English language. unless he
was legal voter January /, 1867 or "a
lineal descendant Of any such person"
Lineal descendants are allowed until JAM
uary i. 1868, for registration.
Extent of fDisfranchisement.
The extent OF the disfranchisement under
these provisions is only question OF esti-
mate. as absolute figures are not obtain
able. In Mississippi the colored male popu-
lation Of voting age was in 1890 150, ,436. Un-
der the new constitution the registered COL
ored vote fell to 1924 The white vote
was IL, ,5o4 and this fell to 100, ,337, show
Ing plainly. however that the negroes suf-
fered a great deal more than their white
neighbors.
In Louisiana In 1897 there was a registra-
ton Of 13O.344 colored electors, which de-
creased, under the operations Of the new
constitution, to 81, 402. The white registra-
tion fell from 164, ,OSS to "A, 133.
1t is evident, therefore, from the expert
ence In these two states that the colored
race will lose the elective franchise to a
degree In excess of the loss suffered by
the whites and this win be accentuated
in the case of North Carolina, where the
grandfather clause" prevails. 1t has not
yet been decided whether the states of Vir-
ginia and Alabama will be radical in
their action as North Carolina
Experience in Maryland.
In MARYLAND the white and colored Hitter
ates were put practically upon the same
basis, but al 1t worked out in the last cleo
ton, the negroes really had the advantage.
because, acknowledging their ignorance.
they were willing to be taught and learned
the simple formulas necessary to mark their
ballots while the white men, scorning to
admit their iliteracy, resented efforts to
prepare therl to exercise the franchise.
BY the time Congress meets, the census
bureau will have prepared statistics, called
for at the last session, showing the possi-
biities of the operation of disfranchise-
ments acts, and it will be possible to obtain
therefrom clearer ideas Of the effect of the
state legislation
Gen. Cha6ee's Stan Announced.