The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-26
STEVENS DISCUSSES
hEGRO'S FRANCHISE
Says Penalty for Dlsffsachis-
ing Voters Is TO Reduce Rep
resentstIon Ia Congress

sas9 sOAEsS - ~ tACOuSG &AGVs
resentatIoR Ia Congress
Congressman F. G. Stevens yesterday
told the members of the Mems Sunday
club, composed OF colOred people and
meeting in the Pilgrim Baptist church,
that the constitution of the United
States and the prevailing conditions
warrant but one hope OF remedying
the alleged conditions in the Southern
states whereby colored voters are said
to be denied the rights of franchise.
This, he said, was the power conferred
upon congress to reduce the congress
sionM representation in proportion to
the number of persons Disseminated
against.
In the same connection he warned
his hearers that an Investigation would
likely result in a showing that might
affect some of the so-caIled Northern
states, asserting that the constitutional
provision in Mississippi, against which
there has been considerable agitation
upon the ground that it disfranchises
some colored voters and illiterate
whites, is practically copy Of one
that has long been in force in Massa-
chusetts. His contention was, how
ever, that in the North these proyi-
sions are applied to all alike, although
he asserted that in Mississippi and
other states it is impossible for whites
to vote in many instances.
Mr.. Stevens took fer his subject the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments
to the United States constitution, the
first comforting upon the negro the
rights of citizenship, including the
privilege of holding property and maxi
ing contracts. He held that this was
found not to be SUFFICIENT to confer the
franchise on the coiored people, and the
fifteenth amendment was passed. This
assumed to take from the states the
right to give the franchise where
thought desirable, although the states
had previously enjoyed the privilege OF
fixing the conditions whereby persons
would be entitled to vote.
Only One Remedy
The Southern states had, however.
passed constitutional amendments to an
extent abridging the rights of the fran
chise. and these amendments had been
upheld by the supreme court OF the
United States. He contended that this
makes it necessary to fall back upon
the fourteenth amendment to remedy
the alleged evil. there being provision
that puts it within the power of con-
gress to reduce the congressional rep
resentation of those states. This. he
held. is the only penalty that can be
inflicted. Mr.: Stevens said in part:
The men who drew the Fourteenth
amendment did not know their. bust
ness and failed to realize the conditions
that we would encounter else they
would have been more explicit in max
ing provision to compel the states to
give to every male person Of more than
twenty one years the right of franchise.
The provision will not be repealed, even
though the Democrats should be in
power and make an effort SO to do, as
1t would require a thirds vote of
every state legislature and two-thirds
vote of both bodies of congress. 1T
cannot be amended for the reason that
the Republican or any other party cam
not control congress by such ma jer-
ity and at the same time have all the
legislative bodies in favor of such
amendment. 1t is therefore necessary
to face the situation as we find It.
There are, know, many patriotic Dem
ocrats in the South who are doing all
in their power to remedy the evils, but
unfortunately they are in the minority.
"All that can be done Is to call for
a census on this subject, securing as
nearly as possible the exact number OF
persons DISTINGUISHED in each state, and
thereby establish a basis whereby it
will be possible to inf1ict the only pun
ishment provided for such an offense-
reduce the congressional representation
of the offending states.
Not Race Question
'This is not a race question. It is
one for Americans; one for the white
men. In solving it there must be
brought to bear exact and indisputable
facts, carefully prepared. and laid be-
fore the people.
1T may be found that some of the
Northern states are offenders. but in
all cases it should be kept In mind that
it viii be difficult to establish when the
rights of citizenship have been denied
and where they have been neglected. 1t
must be remembered that but 50 per
cent of the males over twenty-one in
the state of Minnesota voted at the
1900 election. We have a number of
constitutional provisions fixing the
qualifications of voters. 1t is neces-
sary to have lived in the state six
months, in the precinct thirty days, and
to have had second citizenship papers
for ninety days in addition il foreign
born.
eve say that persons under guar
dianship and those insane shall not
vote. Under the provision Of the con-
stitution it would seem that we have
no right to prevent such persons from
voting. 1t is serious question whether
our law requiring registration does not
come within the constitutional PROVE
sion permitting congress to inflict the
penalty of decreasing the congressional
representation"
! Charles Miller president of the club,
presided, and Mr.. Stevens was intro
duced by w. T. Francis. 1t was de-
| cided to postpone the annual election of
officers until next Sunday.
| TOADSTooLS POISON
WEST SIDE FANNY