The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-02-07
Amendment
To Disfranchise the
Negroes
Voted Down in the Senate
by Strict Party Vote of
Twenty-Five to Four

levidence in the senate Friday morn
resolution proposing an amendme mt
to the constitution the intent and
purpose Of which is to disfranchise
the colored people. After several
speeches had been made the resolu-
ton was on motion Of Senator Blue
laid On the table.
Senator Bailey was first to attack
the resolution and he offered a mo-
ton that 1t be referred to the COM
mittee on mines and mining. Sena
tor Campbell objected, stating that
there was no question involved on
which the mining committee could
properly render a verdict. He made
a facetious reference to Senator
Johnson, who is chairman of the
mining committee, and who comes
from county in which there are a
large number Of colored voters.
Senator Bailey said that the pro-
posed amendment strikes at a vital
principle Of our government and as
sailed it in vigorous terms. He call
ed particular attention to the educa-
tional qualifications required, that
understand some one section of the
constitution, and pointed out that
even the courts had such grave
doubts as to the construction of GER
tain sections that even the patron Of
the bill might be diSfranchiSed.
Senator Kidd interrupted with a
question as to whether the supreme
court would not be diSfranchised,
animated that the court had at times
misconstrued the constitution. SEN
ator Blue said he could not see the
use of frittering away the time Of the
senate with. such a resolution and
that rs the republican members were
ready to vote it should be taken up
at once.
Senator FOrman then threw some
grape-shOt into the democratic camp.
He said the constitution of the state
had been made by his friends, the
democrats, and that he Supposes
they are now dissatisfied with it. He
said the resolution had been intro
duced in the hope Of making political
capital, although he believed its au-
thor was sincere in his desire to have
1t passed.
Senator Campbell said it is true
the dempcrats framed the cOnstitu-
ton, but that at the time it met the
situation. Senator Forman inquired
Of him if the situation did not then
demand such a provision.
Il think not replied Senator
Campbell. The criminal classes"
he continued. 'have been shipped in
to this state in such large numbers
hat they practically control the cleo
tiOnS, at least they hold the balance
of power. The last federal census
| showed 1900 negroes Of a voting
| age in this state and this number is
supplemented as exigencies require
and that more are brought in on the
eve of election. This element con-
| trolls in this section.
AN illustrated journal in the east
SOME time ago pictured the chief Of
police Of Charleston in the laudable
undertaking of buying Negro voters
on the street as one would buy sheep.
One Negro in the election in which
our governor was making such a
fight for supremacy raised a disturb
ance because he had been promised
81 for each time he voted and after
voting % times had received only
90"
He probably had a ticket for the
other dollar" said Senator Kidd.
'NheSIol DthAlCy lIlCll WlIlulS" Ills
motion, stating that not one Of the
republican members was afraid to
meet the issue. Senator Blue then
moved to lay the resolution on the
table and this carried by a strict par
ty vote Of % to d. Senator Little
page was not in his seat when this
vote was taken. He is the only
| democratic senator who has much of
a COlOTed constituency to contend
with.
Following is the full text OF Sen
ator Campbell's resolution:
Senate joint resolution No. ID, by
Mr.. Campbell, proposing an amend
ment to section l of article of the
constitution of this state, concerning
the right of suffrage.
Resolved by the Legislature OF
West Virginia, two-thirds of all the
members elected to each house
agreeing thereto, that the following
amendment to section 1 OF article &
of the constitution Of this state ne
and the same is bareby proposed. to-
wit:
That section I Of article or the
constitution as the same now is II
be stricken out and the following be
inserted in lieu thereof:
section !. Every male citizen Of
the state, Of the age Of q years Or
upwards. who shall have resided III
this state for one year and in the
county in which he shall offer to vote
for sixty days next preceding the
election at which he shall offer tc
vote and who is not Of unsound MIND
or pauDer, or under conviction OIL
treason or felony or Of bribery in III
election, and who, moreover, is duly
registered as qualified voter a!
hereinafter provided. shall be emit
l tied to vote in the election preCinc
in which he resides, at allgelcctioni
, hereafter to be held in this state 70,
the election Of representatives II
, congress, senators, delegates, stat,
, county, district and municipal on
S GERS or for any purpose for which ~
: ! g GGt inn ~. LalA L..