The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-15
PROPER Y TAX AS
AN Al 'EI.R|'NAT TIVE {:
THIS Principle Engrafted on the
Glass Suffrage Plan.
GORDON CARRIES HIS POINT
As.,tl.n Of His Amendment Causes conster-
ssties. aad Aiiernoon speat
Discussing The Motion
to Reconsider.
GORDON CARRIES HIS POINT

The suffrage conference spent four
AolrD yesterday discussing an amendment
70 the permanent part Of the Glass plan,
which provides an alternative property
qualification OF $500 for all voters not
registered under the temporary under
Napding clause Soldiers and their de-
asendants, and the sons, husbands or par
ea.te Of persons possessiong $500 worth
OF property are exempted from the quali-
Ncailon. The amendment was adopted
Just at tho close Of the morning session
ard produced consternation In the ranks
OF the Glass temporary understanding
advocates
This is the same amendment which was
offered to the temporary section Of the
plan and defeated Wednesday. For two
SotnH and half the debate was contin-
ued in the afternoon on a motion made
ny Mr.. Glass to reconsider the vote by
which the amendment was adopted No
vote was reached, an effort to force a
vote before the adjournment by the
Glass-Daniel forces being badly de-
Tested. The debate will be resumed this
morning.
The fate Of the Glass-Daniel plan Is
recognized as hanging in the balance, for
&c the amendment Sticks the former
friends OF the pan will attempt to de-
. hat it. and the original opponents will
stsnd by it unless they get something
better. The plot thickens. and members
are warming up 20 their work beyond
q doubt.
The Morning Session.
There were Eixty-six members Of the
convention present yesterday. wh,n
Rev. f. w. Troy. Of the Christian Church.
offered prayer.
The suffrage conference was called in
few moments after the reading Of the
journal and the granting of many leaves
Of absence.
Mr.. Glass resumed his speech begun
on Thursday.
He began by going in detail into the
objections made against the poll-tax pre-
requisite and contended that the history
of other Southern States ana in Virginia
twenty years ago showed that negroes
4 would not pay the poll-tax for the priv
iiege of voting. He claimed that It had
worked well in South Carolina and read
q letter to this effect from the Governor
of that State. Referring to the
property qualification he So G it
was the worst, the most un-
necessary and the meanest test Of true
manhood. He declared that ii a
property qualification was Embedded
in the Constitution the whole in
rtrument which was calculated to
do such inestimable benefit to
Virginia, would be ignominiously reject
ed il submitted to the people and would
not receive thousand votes across the
Blue Ridge mountains.
He claimed that even in al alternative
form it would enable the adroit enemies
Of constitutional revision, either for po-
lftical or mercenary reasons to SO mis-
represent this provision Of the new Con-
stituticn
Mr.. GoRDoN's AMENDMENT.
Mr. R. L. Gordon offered an amend
nent to section of the Glass plan pro-
viding that when person had filed his
application to register in his own hand
writing he should be registered, "provid-
ed he, his wife, or his parent be the bona
fide owner of property to the value of
500 assessed for taxation against him.
his wife or his parent, but such prop
erty qualification shall not apply to any
soldier mentioned In section or to the
descendant Of such soldier"
Mr.. Gordon explained that his amend
{ ment would give some permanent protec-
hon against the negro vote and would
exempt almost the whole of the white
population from the property qualifica-
lion He said he could not think of a
White man Of his whole acquaintance
who, after being admitted to registration
under the temporary understanding clause
who would be affected by the amendment.
It WAS intended to act as protection
against NEGROES who failed 70 eet reeiS-