The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-08-08
WILL BAR NEGROES
Disfranchisement Bill Passed
in Georgia Senate.
ONLY SIX VOTES AGAINST
House is Expected to Concur and Meas.
ure Viii! Later Go to People for
Ratification-Summary Of Its
Provisions,

The Felder.Williams disfranchise-
menr bill was passed by the Georgia
state senate Wednesday morning by a
vote OF 81 to 6. This being more than
a two-thirds vote, required to amend
the constitution, the bill will be seat
to the house, and when passed by
them will be submitted to the people
for their ratification.
All Of the senators were present
when the votes were cast. The six
who voted against the measure were
Senators Crit:enden Of the eleventh,
Hawes of the thirtieth, Lashley OF
the fortie:h, Mattox of the fourth,
Skies OF the tenth and Weaver Of the
forty-frs:. All others voted for the
bill.
Several amendments were lntroduc
ed in reference to the property clause
by Senator Hardman, to striking ou'
the good character clause, aad the
educational qualification by Senator
Taylor, and to strike out the time
limit by Senator Boyd. All these were
lost, and on point of order by Senate!
Fielder the amendment introduced by
Senator Dobbs, in reference to white
male citizens, was ruled mot german, -
and declared out of order by the pres
ident.
The measure was passed practically
as it came from the senate committee
and none of its important provisions
were eliminated by amendments
though many were offered. Prest
cent Akin who favors the bill, did
not vote.
Patterned after the suffrage plank
Of the Alabama constitution, the bill
,s designed to disfranchise the venal,
ignorant, illiterate and vicious ne
gro. preserving to the white man the
right of suffrage, regardless OF edn'
cational or property qualifications. 1t
conforms to the suffrage plank OF
the Macon platform, and meets
souarely the demands Of the people
as indicated in the recent guoerna'
torial campaign.
The passage of the bill indicates
the prevailing sentiment of ma
iority Of the present legislature 20
make good their promises to the peo'
nle Il presages the ultimate success
Of practically all of the reform legisla'
,;on required by the platform and
demanded by the people, and shows
that the upper house of the general
assembly is in thorough sympathy
with the present administration.
The bill fixes as prerequisite 10
the right to vote certain require
ments or qualifications, which 1t IS
known every white man in the stats
can meet, but which few OF the ne
sroes will be able to comply "lth
Az ia name indicates, it is dis
reimbursement measure, and Will dis
franchise the negroes or very large
per cent of them.
In order to vote a man must own
or pay tax on $500 worth OF prop
erty or be able to read and write
paragraph OF the constitution OF Inc
state or the nation.
If he canont comply with these
provisions - and few negroes can
he is entitled to register and vote II
he is descended from any man "ns
fought in any of the wars in Wnlcl
the United States or the Confederate
States have participated.
Lastly, he is entitled to register anc
vote if he has a proper conception o.
his duty to his state and the nation
Under the last named provision
every white man in Georgia will reg
ister and once registered he vii
have a life certificate, and will th7l
have only to pay his taxes to enjoy
the right of suffrage.