New-York tribune., 1901-07-08
SUFFRAGE TESTS IN ALABAMA.

Southern opinion seems TO be still wrestling
with the profundtles of the suffrage article now
before the Alabama Constitutional convention.
Whatever else may be said of this new scheme
of suffrage restrictions it certainly lacks neltner
ntricacy nor ingenuity In framing it the
revisers of Alabama's constitution have had
recourse to all the expedients for disfran-
chising the negro voter hitherto employed
by neighborng States. Devices which had
their origin In Mississippi, Louisiana and the
two Carolnas crop out Enthusiastically in the
plans brought forward at Montgomery to limit
suffrage by test or tests involving, in appear
ance at least no conflict with the guarantees
Of the Federal constitution. but in reality
enforcing q system of determinations between
black and white. In no other State however,
has so strenuous m effort been made to becloud
the true distinctions on which eligibility is to
be based; and no earlier scheme of restriction
escapes rs fully perhaps, as the one now pro
posed in Alabama-the challenge of open repug-
nance to the race, color or previous condition
of servitude" clause of the Fifteenth Amend
ment.
The suffrage article now before the Alabama
convention contains some decided novelties.
Military service Is resorted to to create claim
to suffrage on the part of that fraction of the
white population which could not meet an illit-
who took part in the wars which have been
fought since Alabama became a State-service
on the Confederate side from 1861 TO 1865
included-and the descendants OF such persons
are put in an absolutely privileged voting class.
With them in a second privileged class are
grouped all other citizens "of good character
who understand the duties of citizenship and
1.-The obligations of the elective franchise.
These two classes of voters can obtain registry
up to January /, 1908, without subjecting them
selves 10 any test whatever. Thereafter all
voters applying for registry must show certain
qualifications-ablity to read and write among
them-and possession of these qualifications
must be established quite apart from the
exemptions granted prior to January !, 1903.
By the terms of this article. therefore, Alabama
will after 1908 enforce restrictions on the
franchise which are not binding on all classes
of citizens. But before this equal and unobjec-
tionable system of tests Is put in operation
MANY thousands of voters otherwise ineligible
will have gone on the registry rolls by virtue Of
a grandfather clause from whose benefits the
negro citizenship of the State as such is clearly
barred.
This departure from equality aside, the pro-
posed suffrage article shows several definite
advances on the schemes of disfranchisement in
operation in other Southern States. In theory,
at least. it confesses that there are circum-
stances under which the white man should he
dsfranchised equally with the black. Crime.
lliteracy and failure TO pay stated yearly
poll tax will after 1903 prevent both black and
white delnquents from voting. This is a
decided step forward, and should he welcomed
as such by those who admit that the Southern
States are quite within their powers in requir-
ing a restricted suffrage, but who contend that
such determinations made should follow
other and wiser lines than those of color or race.