The log cabin Democrat., 1907-03-21
TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION
Drastic Changes Proposed by
 MT. Simpson.
Educational Qualification With "Grand' father" Clause, Registration and Other
 Restrictions on Ballot.


 Restrictions on Ballot.
 Representative w. E. Simpson of Washington county, graduate of Hendrix College we'll known here, has introduced a resolution in the legislature proposing drastic changes in elective franchise, to be obtained by constitutional amend ment.
 In speaking of the resolution MT. Simpson said:
 "The present general assembly should submit constitutional amendment upon the elective fran chise. The supreme court has virtually declared the polltax amendment not constitutionally adopted. Its invalidity was claim ed unofficially by the attorney gen. eral and other able lawyers during the last state campaign, and the then chief executive repeatedly promised pardon for any election officer who might possibly incur the penalties of the law for com pliance with the terms of said poll tax requirement.. Failure on our part to fully guard and protect the franchise may let loose upon us in the next general election a horde of irresponsible nigger voters. While we are submitting an amendment to cover the polltax proposition, we should seize the opportunity to take advanced ground for the purpose of honest elections and cleaner politics. Nearly all the Southern States are much in advance of Arkansas in their constitutional requirements regulating the elective franchise. All of them provide for registration of electors, and nearly all an edu- cational qualification. Without question, the ballot should be in the hands of citizenship, intelli gent, patriotic and identified with the interests of the state. The amendment proposed may have de- fects, and some changes possibly should be made by the committee on constitutional amendments, but without question it should receive serious consideration from the leg islature, and we should give to the ballot the greatest security, se- curity that will safeguard us against the contingencies of future immi- grafton, whose use of the ballot might be subversive of good gov . ernment, and of ignorant negroes, while protecting every good citizen in the full and free exercise of his electoral rights.
 The Proposed Amendment.
 Section I. All elections by the people shall be by ballot; but the general assembly may enact laws authorizing the use of printed devices of symbols to indicate an electors choice Of candidates for public office, and laws permitting the use of voting machines in elections.
 Sec. 2. Every male citizen of the United States, native born or naturalized, of the age of 2I years, who has resided in the state two years, in the county one year, and in the voting precinct three months, next preceding any cleo ton in which he may propose to vote, shall be an elector and en- if possessing other constitu- tlonal qualifications, to vote at all elections by the people; provided, that removal from one precinct to another in the same county shall not operate to deprive an elector of the right to vote in the precinct from which he has removed until three months after such removal.
 Sec. 3. Every person offering \ to vote shall be at the time leg ally registered voter in accordance with the terms herein prescribed and hereafter provided by law and the general assembly of the State of Arkansas shall enact general registration laws to carry into effect the provisions hereof. Educational Qualification. Sec. 4. Every elector offering to register and vote, in addition to other qualifications prescribed by this act, must be able to read any section of the constitution of this state, or he shall be able to under stand the same when read to him and to give reasonable interpreta- ton thereof; provided, no male person who was on January T., 1867, or any time prior thereto, en-