The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-22
Address the Suffrage Conference.

The suffrage conference was largely
attended last night, and two excellent
arguments were made. Mr. Turnbu1l led
off with an hours address in support
OF ana an explanation OF his sunrag &c
plan, and Mr. Alexander Hamilton had
spoken half an hour in support of the
,paiority plan when the hour for adj
journmcnt arrived. lie WIZ conclnoo ms
argument tonight. when Mr.. Flood VIII
follow in behalf OF the report made by
the Suffrage Committee
Mr. Turnbull accurately and impress
sively outlined the conditions existing III
counties having a large negro population.
He said that an effective suffrage clause
was absolutely essential, not only 10. the
protection Of the negro from himseif, puI
to prevent actual collision between the
races as the older ones of each dled out.
He said the suffrage law in MISSISSIPPI
had absolutely removed all friction be-
tween the races; that since the negro mad
been eliminated from politics he had be-
come n. useful and industrious citizen.
He further asserted that the border
counties were being overrun by negroes
coming from North Carolina TO escape
The suffrage law there, and unless fir-
cinia had some such provision the White
people of those counties would soon nave
TO evacuate.
HIS PLAN EXPLAINED.
He then showed how the plan proposed
bv him would let in all white people
who were at all entitled to the suffraG
and would eliminate all unworthy ne
rroes A property qualification OF 500
would shut out all the negroes OF the
worthless kind as effectually as wouid
"a $500 qualification. The provision of his
pan would let in all the old soldiers and
their descendants for five years, and all
the sons of property holders to the
amount of 500 for the same length or
time After that, everybody who was mt
10 vote would be able TO read and write
would pay their poll taxes and wou!d
possess $l60 worth of property. lie tod
the members from the Piedmont and
Southwest that white people in the black
belt did not sell their votes. and said
from what he had been able to learn, the
so called great white counties needed a
suffrage law as bad as the black belt.
for it was correctly reported that one
fourth of their white citizens did not pay
any capitation tax at all. and bartcred
votes like any other article of commerce.
Mr.. Turpbull made rafting speech
and was warmly congratulated and APP
plauded
MIR. HANIILTON'S ADDRESS.
Mr. Hamilton spoke but for a short
while but made a profound impression.
He contended that those who had worked
men who knew thoroughly conditions in
The sections most affected by negro ma
toiities. and that they had been driven
by stern necessity to agree on the n"r-
snanent understanding clause He said 1t
WAS useless to waste time discussing q
property. qualification, for the people
would not have it, and members from the
Ill white sections would never consent to
It. The grandfather feature was clearly
unconstitutional, and the alternative was
left of a permanent or temporary under
standing clause or nothing. lie tnen
Showed how the temporary understanding
principle was as wrong III morals as the
permanent, and then strongly maintained
tho position that an understanding
provision was an ideal suffrage qualities
ton. lie warned members that it was
useles for them TO expect the black belt
to be able any longer to pile up Dem
ocratic ,najorities to elect Democratic
State officials. The hting 10 do was to so
purge the electorate that no matter who
was elected the State would be guaran-
teed wise, economical and honest gov
srnment
Article on Taxation Complete.
zion completed consideration OF all meas
rres, before it yesterday afternoon. After
adopting the last two sections of the
fourteen sections printed exclusively in
The Times or yesterday, it went over
passed upon. 1t rcconsidered the vote
struck out that provision concerning the