The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-31
IlLITERACY AMONG VOTERS.
Columbian Law Students Discuss an
Important Suffrage QuestiOn.

The question whether the representa-
tion in Congress of those States which
have restricted the right of suffrage
should be reduced proportionately' was
ably discussed before a large audience by
members of the Debating Society of the
school Of law of Columbian University
last night. The affirmative side of the
question was maintained by Ralph l.
Smith, Luther NJ. Walter and Samuel
Herrick, while the negative was support
ed by Clyde l.. Rogers, George L.
O'Eryon. and Eugene II. Pitcher. As
judges acted Justice David J. Brewer, J.
J. Darlington, and z. w. Parker The
decision. which was based on originality
of thought subject matter of speech, elo-
quence and manner of presentation, was
given To the negative. First and second
honors were awarded to Luther NJ. Wal
ter and George f. O'Bryon, respectively.
The first speaker on the affirmative.
Ralph L. Smith, based his argument of
equal rights to all and special privileges
to none on the Fourteenth Amendment to
the Constitution. He said it would be
wrong to allow one class to steal the
privileges Of a certain class Of people be-
cause of their illiteracy. Ii this practice
was allowed in one State, he said, there
was nothing to prevent all the STAGES fol-
lowing suit. Mr.. Smith argued that the
Constitution was not aead letter, but
should be enforced in all of its sections.
He said that in Mississippi there were Il
per cent. in Louisiana 40 per cent, in
North Carolina 80 per cent, and in South
Carolina - per cent of the citizens who
We're denied the right of suffrage He
contended that the representation of
these States in Congress should therefore
ht. gDrTcSpOndiugly reduced.
Clyde l.. Rogers. for the negative. ar
gued that the second section of the Four
teenth Amendment of the Constitution
Should be openly annulled or repealed. He
said that Il party that existed from the
support of the illiterate vote should be
wiped ont of existence, and claimed that
ii was impossible for two races of UNI
equal Intelligence to inhabit the same
land in peace and with equal civil rights.
The speaker argued that negro domina-
ton was attended by corruption and vice
and that restrictive measures were JuSLl-
fed.
Luther NJ. Walter. for the affirmative,
followed with the assertion that an Hitter
ate voter had the same interests IN pubic
affairs as millionaireS; that the former.
by paying rent for his habitation, was in
an indirect manner adding his support to
the maintenance of the Government. He
said that when the Fourteenth Amend
ment was framed il was because it was
believed it would be best for the con-
sorvatiOn of the nation. Mr.. Walter based
his argument mainly on constitutional
rights.
George L. OBryon, for the negative
claimed that almost every State had some
restriction placed upon its citizens regard
ing their rights Of suffrage. Some, he
said. require the payment of poll tax
some a property tax, and some educa-
tional qualifications. He also claimed that
the negro in the South is educated at the
expense of the white man.
Samuel Herricl<. the last speaker for the
affirmative, summarized the case as pre-
scented by his colleagues and predicted the
downfall of the Republic u the present