Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1905-04-07
CHAIRMAN vANDIvER EXPLAINS
AMENDMENT.
THE SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT TO
THE coz lilUTION.
WHAT Vt PROPOSES AND WHY 1T
SHOULD BE ADOPTED.
FROM THE VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION

| This clause is taken from the present Con-
stitulion Of Virginia and represents the re-
suit of the deliberations of the recent Vir'
ginia State Convention upon the subject, aid.
cd as these deliberations were by careful
rs4dy Of the provisions of the several South
ern States upon the question Of negro SUI
frage and by the successful and satisfactory
practical operation of such provisions In
those States
It thus reflects and adopts the latest and
best views Of the strongest men OF the
South.
Recurring to itS precise language, We find
that 1t confers the right to registration las
the Indispensable preliminary to the right to
Votel upon every adult NAL possessing tn Q
prescribed qualification OF one years legal
residence in Maryland, who 10 able to read
and give reasonable explanation OF any
section Of the Constitution Of Maryland sub
mitted TO him by the Registration Officers /;
or, II such adult male is unable to read, then
the right to registration is given il he ''is
able to understand and give explain ation" OF
any section 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 20 him, he
10 entitled 10 registration.
Ahho phnudiub hAouo WYNN AsAJ sAeNo
that the applicant must be able both to read
and give q reasonable explanation OF the
section submitted to him. But the succeed
ing words Of the clause show that such can
not be Its meaning, for these succeeding
words declare that II the applicant cannot
read, but can understand aud give explana-
ton Of the section when read TO him, he is
in that event entitled to registration.
From this examination Of the whole clause
II 10 clear that no more 10 required Of any APP
plicant than an ability to give a reasonable
explanation Of any section Of the Oonstitu-
ton, 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 sxpla-
nation shall be "rea sonable," bat inasmuch
IS the applicant who 10 unable to read is re-
quired both ITO understand and give expla-
nation" the explanation enacted from him
should fairly be construed to mean reasonable
explanation. Indeed, the word reasonable"
found In the 6rst part Of the clause should
doubtless be treated as implied or Understood
although not actually repeated in the second
part OF the clause.
II 10 found in the present Constitution Of
Virginia, from which the whole clause 10
taken, and it cannot be supposed that the
omission Of this word treason BILE" was in-
tended to effect the Interpretation Of the
| clause.
INABILITY TO READ,
The right to registration conferred upon
men able TO understand and give explana-
tion," while not able to read, is not made
10 depend upon an inability to read from
physical defect, such as blindness, but is
conferred absolutely upon them without re-
gard TO the cause Of their inability, whether
the same arises from want Of sufficient edu-
cation or any other cause whatever.
The right, In other words, 10 made To de-
pend upon the fact of the inability 10 read,
and not at all upon the cause Of such inabil-
iy. Hence the practical and substantial test
Of admission to registration or exclusion
from Il under this whole clause Is the abil-
Ivy or inability Of the applicant TO "under-
stand and give reasonable explanation" Of
any section of our State Constitution read to
him by the Registration Officers. No greater
or different test Ia required from the man
who can read and the man who cannot read
Both are required 10 be able TO give req
sonAble explanation of any section submitted
By the Registration Officers. The man who
| can read and give Q reasonable eXplanat ior
Of the section which is submitted to him To
be read by him 10 put upon the same plane
precisely as the man who cannot read, but
can understand and give reasonable expla-
nation OF the section read to him.
And 90, too, the man who cannot read the
section submitted 10 him to be read by him,
but 10 called on TO give q reasonable eEplana
ton Of section read to him by the Registra
ton Officers 10 put upon the same plane pre-
cisely as the mau who can read the section
submitted to him by the Registration Officer
to be read by him.
Starting, therefore, with this plain inter
probation Of the meaning of the whole clause
viz, that any illiterate man, whether white
or black, who can understand and give a
reasonable explanation Of any section OF the
Constitution which may be read by him to
the Registration Officers or read TO him by
them, 10 entitled 10 registration, the ques
| ton Is whether, In con meet ton with the other
clauses Of the Amendment, II Is good and
desirable amendment 10 the Constitution o.
Mary and, as such, should be adopted
| BY the people, or whether IL is the bad prop0-
sition which some Of its opponents proclaim
it to be, and, as such, should be rejected
NO RACE DISCRIMINATION.
In passing upon this question we must con-
slider ct the very outset whether II violates
either the Fourteenth or Fifteent tn Amend
ment 70 the Constitution Of the United States
The Fifteenth Amendment declares that
"the right OF citizens Of the United States "a
vote shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States, or by any State, on account
Of race, color or previous condition OF serVi'
tude"
Looking 70 the language Of the clause I'M
der consideration, II 10 manifest that II ap-
plies equally and Impartially alike TO both
white and black citizens of the United States
No discrimination 10 made for or against any
citizen on account OF race or color, and hencs
there 10 no possible room for the suggestion
that the Fifteenth Amendment stands as 81
obstacle In its way.
Taking up the Fourtesnth Amendment, vi
End that It's frs, sect on has been repeated
held BY the Supreme Court Of the Unitet
States TO have no application whatever to th'
question Of suffrage, and this must now b.
treated Is absolutely settled.
As 10 the second section OF the Fourteenth
A mend ment, the utmost that has ever been
suggested 10 that an educational qualihca-
tlon may subject the State imposing 1t 10 a
reduction Of It's representation 10 Congress
and 10 the Electoral College, but Judge
Cooley clearly shows 10 his principles o.
Constitutional Law" page 292, that % re.
| uulfo hullNy W Tthu 10 w VI ouuEebOl
and hence that such denial cannot be VIC.
latIon Of the second section Of the Fourteenth
Amendment.
All objection to this educational test claus
a. con trary to either the Fourteenth or FE
tenth Amendments being thus eliminated
we have only to consider Its sIpediency un
der our existing political conditions In Mary
land
To Judge this properly We mu ascertaiI
whom 1t will reach and control and how I
will operate.
Taking II 10 connection with the other
sections OF the proposed amendment, 1t Il
clear that II does not affect or touch in thu
registration Of the year 1905 any native born
white man whomsoever who voted anywhere
In the Union 90 January, 1869, or earlier,
nor the llneal descendant OF any such nativ'
born white man. II will not and can no
apply 70 or exclude any such men.
Nor will 1t apply 10 any naturaliEed eiti
, gen Of the United States who on January
1859, or earlier, voted anywhere IN the Union
nor TO the lineal descendant Of any sucl
uaturAlised citizen
Nor will II apply 10 any black man who
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