The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-27
IN ALABAMA P[AN
Joseph C. Manning OF Ala
bama Makes Speech
ON SUFFRAGE QUESTION
Thinks Constitutional Liberty
Has Been Usurped


hama. before the Middlesex Club OF Bos-
ton. he gave the following account OF the
working of the laws regulating the suf-
frage in Alabama:
1.-The election TO ratify the present con-
stitution of Alabama was held November
II 1901. The vote counted for Its raul
fcation was 108,61S. The vote returned
AGAINST its ratification was S1,734. The
,o+al number of males Of voting age IN
Alabama is 30. 2s4 whites and lSl'4h col
ored making in all 1875. The vote
counted for the constitution being lOS'0lS'
the voting population being 4lS,16'' II ap-
pears that the S,734 votes returned
against the constitution plus 22276 votes
that failed or refused TO vote upon this
vital issue Of government gives the total
Of 3O4142 votes which, 10 say the least,
were not in sympathy with or in com
roand of the leaders who returned the
los. GLE ballots that were counted 10 dom
mate the states future organic policy
1t is quite interesting TO inspect the char
tory of the SIS votes returned in ap-
provaI of an organic law involving the
rights and liberties of a free people. Let
Us analyze. for example, the vote Tor
and against the present constitution ef
Alabama as returned from the six coun-
ties of Chambers. Dallas Hale, Macon
Perry and Wilcox. The vote returned
from Chambers county for the consn-
tuition is 1905. and that as returned
against the Constitution $50. The white
voting population of Chambers county Is
3.57, and the colored is 1886. Inasmuch
as the total vote returned for the constl-
tuition. 469. less the total white VOTE
3.457. leaves l,l47 votes, the conclusion
naturally follows that LA colored votes
we're recorded as having voted TO dis
franchise themselves. The colored vote
of Chambers county prior to the ratin-
cation of the constitution being $3.50,
If we deduct from this number the 1,li'
votes counted for the ratification OF the
constitution we find that 2,223 negro voters
must have remained away from the polls
70 aid and abet the avowed movement 10
disfranchise them. or else $50 of this num-
Der voted against the constitution. There
can readily be found however, white
voters TO the number of 553 in Chambers
county who will lay claim to having
cast these ballots against the ratifica-
ton OF the present constitution OF Ala
bama 1t is of further interest to note
that the present registered vote, under
the new constitution, in Chambers county,
is 1850. or l554 votes less than the 4.6f
votes returned for the constitution, and
also 407 votes less than the white voting
population of the county. 1t must
appear strange it is peculiar, in fact, II
is rather suspicious that i,64 both white
and black patriots are on record as haV-
ing marched to the slaughter of liberty at
the bid of the oligarchial autocracy, and,
If they did so. 1854 of that number failed
10 be enrolled on the books of registration
and have destroyed their liberties by their
own folly. The evidence. however, is too
apparent that outrageous fraud reeked in
the returns for the constitution from the
county of Chambers.
The county Of Dallas. with a white
voting population of 2.525 and colored
voting population of ISL, returned SIPS
votes for the ratification OF the new con-
stitution and 2S5 ballots against it. The
registered vote Of Dallas county IS now
229l In Hale county the vote returned
for the constitution was 1898; against the
constitution. %. The colored voting pop
ulation Of Hale was $3.50 the white voting
population 1855. The registered vote Of
Hale county. POS. is l79 votes less than
the white population Of Hale county Of
the voting age. The vote OF Macon coun-
" for the constitution was 1913 and 100
against it. The present registered vote Of
Macon county is 9S0. The colored male
popula ton Of voting age in Macon county
Is S.72. It is in Macon county that is To-
Gated the famous Tuskegee Institute.
which of itself alone is an achievement
of the colored race that stands out an
irrefutable demonstration Of the wisdom
Of Republican party policy and condemns
before the civilized world the man or
party that would blockade or impede the
progress Of such a people because OF an
uncharitable and an ungodly political pre-
tudice,
Perry county has a white male popu-
lation Of voting age TO the number of
1859 and returned S,2o9 votes for the con-
stitution and IS against it. The colored
The vote registered in Perry county IN
der the new constitution is l.556. The last
OF these six counties under consideration
Wilcox. has a white voting population OF
1.7G7 and a colored voting population Of
$3.50. The vote returned from Wilcox for
the constitution was 4,652 and rs against
its ratification. Through the list OF the
black belt counties in Alabama may be
cited. one after another. just such a
showing as has been presented in the ex-
asnples used. The returns from these six
counties alone. based upon glaring fraud.
would have reversed the majority OF - SD
II il could have been contested, upon
which rests the ratification Of the consti-
tuition Of Alabama, and these instances
given establish the fact that a state has
aggressed upon the federal constitution
by the unholy hand Of fraud and usurpa-
ton. Not only has constitutional liberty
been taken from men Of Alabama hut
there has been put upon them before the
country. the insulting insinuation and the
base SANDER that they voted for their
Own thrallco-n
The registered vote Of about Isl 900
voters in Alabama, out Of a population Of
the voting age Of sIs.7s5. is notice TO the
country upon the part Of the governing
power Of this state that a majority Of the
voting population Is without a republican
form Of government. for - $50 citizens @.
voting age in Alabama have. with but
scant exception. been. Illegally. unjustly.
and outrageously deprived Of suffrage
OF the number Of registered coiored voters
there are not Soao. The report Of the De-
psrtment Of Education OF Alabama states
that go colored male teachers drew mon