Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-08-24

ezs1 kpn applicanss for registration
be}cz % tbs class of men.
TE< <Aa< they we're qualified vos-
ers - H4re - the United States On
Januzz J, 1zFa. or earlier. entities
them zh<af mora. 20 registration.
~ NAie Second Clause the suffrage q
rresez<&4 - alI white men throughout
the rnt1u Who possessed Il On January
!, Isl p earlier.
b. a. negro can come I'm under this
c1nnsa unIess Dc was . qualified voter
O. Jan'z6Fy !, 1853. o. prior thereto. In
ttl>e kz'zA whsre ne then resided.
rF<rose and effect Of this Second
ClaNse f8nd we shall presently see Of
the Sz>f<1 C1anne a1so) are TO relieve
tbs rf1Eoatsd amendment from conflict
VIE y zfteenth Amendment 20 the
Co1lssisTsss<4 oL ths United States.
Limitation Of Grandfather Clause.
Coming now to the Third Clause Of
the Amendment we nnd that Il pre-
serves suffrage 70 the lineal descend
ants born not later than 1885 OF all
male citizens OF the United States who
were qualified voters on January 1, 1869,
without distinction of race, color or na-
tionality, and without any test except
the uniform and impartial test OF lineal
descent and birth prior to the year 1885.
ANY adult male descendant Of any
man who ON January /. 1859, was q
qualified voter In any State OF the Union
may be registered on that ground alone,
whether white or black. lfterate or illit-
crate. native born or naturalized, pro-
vfded. first. that he have the necessary
qualification OF residence In Maryland,
and. second, that he be 81 years Of age
or over In the year 1906.
This clause operates with equal force
In law upon all such adult male lineai
descendants.
No man, whether white or black. can
come in under this grandfather clause
unless he was in esse in 1885. and con-
sequentiy at least q years old in 1906.
But all may come in under this clause
who were born prior to 1888.
The lineal descendants born after the
year 1885 OF those who voted on Janu-
ary l. 1869. cannot become registered
voters In 1907, or afterward, except un-
der the educational test prescribed by
the First Clause OF the Amendment.
for the obvious reason that In 1906 (ths
specific date designated) they will not
be q years old.
BY this simple provision the grand
father clause" viii gradually cease to
be operative, and no male, whether
white or black. who shall arrive at age
after 1906 can become registered voter
unless he possess the qualification pre-
scribed by the Educational Clause. But
no man, white or black. who was Q voter
on Jasissafy I. 1863, o. who II . lineal
descendant of such voter and twenty.
one years OF age or over In 1906, can be
denied registration because of his ina
bility to meet such educational test.
From the Virginia Constitution.
This clause Is taken from the present
Constitution Of Virginia and represents
the result Of the deliberations Of the re-
cent Virginia State Convention upon
the subject aided as these deliberations
were by careful study Of the provisions
OF the several Southern States upon the
question Of negro suffrage and by the
successful and satisfactory practical op-
GRAFTON OF such provisions in those
States.
1t thus reflects and adopts the latest
and best views Of the strongest men Of
the South.
Recurring TO Its precise language, we
find that It confers the right to regis
tration (as the indispensable prelimi-
nary 70 the right to vote) upon every
adult male possessing the prescribed
qualification Of one years legal resi-
dence in Maryland, who is able to read
and give a reasonable explanation Of
any section OF the Constitution of Mary.
land submitted 20 him by the Registra-
tion Officers; or. II such adult male 10
unable to read, then the right TO regis
tration is given IL he "is able to under.
stand and give explanation" OF any Sec
ton Of the Constitution when read to
him by them.
II the applicant is able to read and
give a reasonable explanation OF any
section Of the Constitution, when thus
submitted to him, he Is entitled to reg
istration.
This standing alone would fairly
mean that the applicant must be able
both TO read and give a reasonable ex.
PLANTATION Of the section submitted to
him. But the succeeding words Of the
clause show that such cannot be its
meaning. for these rucceeding words
declare that II the applicant cannot
read, but can understand and give ex-
PLANTATION of the section when read 20
him. he is In that event entitled to reg
istrafion.
From this examination of the whole
clause IL is clear that no more is re-
Quired OF any applicant than an ability
70 give Q reasonable explanation Of any
section OF the Constitution, whether
read by him when submitted by the
Registration Officers. or when read to
him by them.
The literal language Of the second
part OF the clause does not require that
the explanation shall be reasonable"
but inasmuch as the applicant who Ii
unable TO read Is required both ''to un-
derstand and give explanation" the ex-
PLANTATION exaeted from him should fair
~ be construed to mean reasonable ex-
planation. Indeed. the word reason
able found In the FIRST part Of the clause
should doubtless be treated as implied
or understood. although not actually re-
peafed In the second part Of the clause.
IL ID found in the present Constitu-
ton OF Virginia, from which the whole