The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-24
''QuBicans May Attempt to Throw Out Certain South-
 ern States
NORTHERN STATES HAVE
 ALSO DISFRANCHISEO MEN
1t Is Urged Ina: Democratic Speakers Go Into Doubtful States, Present
 Negro Question and Force Republicans to Answer
BY BOHEMIAN c. BULeER.

BY BOHEMIAN c. BULGER.
 Since the adoption of what is commonly known as the negro plank in the repub- ilican platform there has been consider able discussion among political leaders in the south as to the advisabiity of dem ocratic speakers forcing the issue to the front in such states as Indiana, Iowa, Illinois. New York and Maryland. It sseems to be the general opinion that the Republicans should be confronted with this question and forced to answer it on the stump.
 { It is said to have been the idea of MT. Roosevelt and the republican leaders In inserting the negro plank in the plat form that it would catch the negro vote In Indiana and other close states and that such votes might be needed to car Try the electoral votes in those states. The democrats believe that by forcing }the issue and presenting the situation in the south as 1t really exists that the people in those states will see the dan ig ger of the Roosevelt position, regarding the negro and the negro plank will have the opposite effect from which it was intended
 Tilden-Hayeo Repetition Feared.
 Another reason for forcing the negro question and compelling the republicans to clearly state their position Is SCI lous pne On account of the numerous attempts of Mir Crumpacker, and other republican leaders to cut down the representation of the south In congress on account or the disfranchisement of negro voters, and of ATr m jeet 1t Is feared that there might be a repetition of the famous Tiden-IIayes af- fair and that some of the southern states might be thrown out of the electoral col lege on account of the dlsfranchisement of negroes At the time of the Ttden- Hayes affair when the choice of the peo- pie was voted out of office on a technical ity, the people of the south were just recovering from the effects of the war and reconstruction and were not in a po- stion to protest against the fraudulent seating of Hayes with strong or united action. Such Is not the case now.
 If the votes of the states of Alabama. South Carolina. Mississippi and other Etates which have removed the negro from politics, should decide the presidency many political leaders are free to admit that they would not be surprised at an attempt on the part of republicans to throw those states out of the electoral college and declare MT. Roosevelt elected. The result of such an action would be far too serious for idle contemplation. 1t would almost annihilate business rea- tons from Maine to the gulf and fur ther than that one dare not prophecy.
 For this reason leading democrats be- lieve that the race question should be rtrongly presented to the voters of the country and that the republican party should be forced to make its position known on that particular phase of the question:
 Other States Disfranchise.
 If an attempt should be made on the part of the republicans to throw out cer- tain states on account of the disfran- rhsementsof the negro the question natur- ally arises as to which states should be selected for the sacrifice Many white men have been disfranchlsed in Alabama as well as the northern states The four teenth and fifteenth amendments to the United States constitution arc bar to the consideration of race color or prev Ious condition of servtude and if white men are disfranchised the logical con- cluson wquld follow that negroes should not be debarred from enjoying the same privilege. In other words if there Is to be no discrimination between the races MT Crumpacker and others have erred in their attempts to protect the negro alone. Democrats believe that whites should come in for just share of con sideration.
 Voting L
 The laws of M 1nf Pcnnsylvana Ca Iaaa are are very stringen H for voters and if tht the southern states out Why not those ned as we'll? During sion of the disfranchi the .uoctrinaircs or cc lake public mention of affairs an .... out side of the south.
 It is a recognized principle that all states have the right to fix the qualiica- tions of voters on certain conditions In practically every state in the union per- sons convicted of felony or infamous crimes and persons non compos mentis are denied the right to vote. It Is urged that if the states have a right to exclude voters for these reasons they have the right to exclude for other reasons. This brings up the question of states rights which is too vouminous for consideration in this article.
 In Massac sachusetts those only who can read and write are allowed to vote and the law IS rigidly enforced. In Vermont all persons are excluded, ''who have not obtained the appreciation of the local board of civil authority" This is quite as severe as the Alabama law which
 
 not stand the educational test and vag- rants. Delaware requires the payment of k registration fee and Georgia requires the payment of all taxes since 1S77 In Tennessee every voter must have paid his poll tax for the next preceding year. Ala nama also requires the payment of poll tax.
 The Virginia Law.
 The law in Virginia is practically the game as that in Alabama and South Car plina and is herewith given in full:
 First, persons, who prior to the adoption of the constitution, served in time of war in the army or navy of the United States or the confederate states, or of any state of the United States or the confederate states: or. second. a son of any such persons: or. third a person who owns property up- on which in the year next preceding that in which he offers to register. state taxes aggregating at least s1 have been paid or fourth. person able to read any section of this con- stitution, submitted to him by the of hcers of registration, and to give reasonable explanation of the same. or if unable to read such section, able to understand and to give a reason able explanation thereof when read to him by the officers"
 Tn most of the southern states the sol dier's son. or grandfather clause. are