Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-03-30
VOTE TEST is SEVERE.
literates, Whether White or
Black.

| I
into effect Nov, %. 1901. 1t define.
the qualifications toI voters. whic,
are so severe as to snut out the great
minority of the negro citizens ami
lAr5e number on U VI cs from the polls
"a order TO woe m"n must shoN
registration scrtiiicato as evidehc
that he has fulfilled the require
ments Of the law ani receipt sauw
ing that he has ua'a the pen tax ui
Sl5p each year. IN SIZE and appear
auce the certificate resembles q
greenback note. Il is printed from a
plate coyere. wiki seumetrical design
upon indestru, tbl, porer and ia nj
convenient size so that IT may be
carried in pocketbook
Up to the LIST of January, 1908. all
citizens had the privilege OF reglstra-
ton who could Snow that they had
honorabiy served in any war or were
he lawful descendants of honorabiy
DISCHARGED soldiers, and All person
who are OF good character and vino
understand the duties and obligations
of citizenship under republican
| form OF government" The latter
| clause was intended to shut out the
negroes, and It succeeded in doing so.
| Only about 10000 persons were al
lowed to register, of wnom about g.
GoO were Coored. Every person who
| applied for n certificate was question.
ed ms TO his understanding of the du
ties and obligations of citizenship I'M
| der republican form OF government
and the judges mad the authority to
decide whether he answers Indicated
| a sufficient degree of Intelligence to
Justify them in granting the appli.
| cant the right of suffrage. 1t was
good deal like civil service examin-
alton, but so far as | can learn the
rules were applied to illitorate whites
as well as TO illlterate negroes.
Registration certificates are yer,
highly priced. Thousands of citizens
nave framed and hung them upon the
walls of their houses. Others put
them away in strong boxes. as If tney
were stocks and bonds, for If they
are lost duplicates are difficult to OBJ.
tain. The colored people prize them
most 1t Is considered n distinction to
hold a certificate. A man who has
the right 10 vote in Alabama. of what
ever color, is looked up TO as a su-
perior being. because the law shuts
out all rff-raff and tramps. white as
well as black Toe defenders of the
new constitution consider this very
important Thsy think It will stim.
ulate the aspirations of many negroes
to secure an education and acquire
property.
After the LIST of January. 1903 the
requirements for registration were
made more strict than before, and
now include educational. employment
| and property qualifications. In order
to obtain voting certificate since
that date n man must be able to read
and write any article OF the constitu-
lion OF the United States in the Eng
lish language: he must have been
regularly engaged In some lawful Sni'
ployment business occupation, trade
or calling for the greater part of the
twelve months preceding the date 'ne
applies for the privilege of registra-
lion unless he is physically unable to
work or he must be the owner, in his
own right. or the husband Of wife
who Is an owner In her own rignt, OF
forty acres Of farm land or real OF
personal property assessed for taxa
tion at 5000 or more; and he must
show evidence that the taxes upon
such property have been paid He
must also show that he has paid mis-
poll tax of sl.50 for every year since
ne lst Of January. 1902, or since he
became of age.
There is also a long list OF disquaii
fcatious. No man can vote who has
been convicted OF crime or misde'
meanor. or who lives in adultery, or
whoever sold or offered 10 sell his
vote. or ever bought or offered TO
| buy the vote of another, or was ever
| convicted OF election frauds, either at
The polls or the primaries. And any
person who pays or offers to pay the
poll tax OF another person or ad-
| yances him money for that purpose, IL
not only debarred forever from voting,
| but must serve from one to Ave years
/ in the penitentiary. The registrars
of election are required to publish the
lists annually and to revise them for
ne purpose of striking out the names
of persons who shall die or remove
frnm the county or become disquall'
ded for any reason.
II will thus be seen that the right
Of suffrage is restricted In Alabama
TO a very small and select body of cit
izens, including only those who ear
read and write. those who are en-
Gagged in steady employment. ant
those who pay taxes It is estimated
taat from l5O, 900 to 100000 citizens o
lawful age have thereby been deprived
OF the franchise. II is declared. too
that the number OF voters Is decreas
ing annually, and Will continue to de
crease because Of the accumulativ'
2 roll tax, which must be paid volun
, larily every year before the lst o
February, whether there Is an election
T or not. A great many people forge
or neglect to pay. because there is n
. one to officially remind them when
, Is due There are means by which