The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-09
SUFFRAGE BILL HDEFEATED Florida Fails to Disfran- chise Negro. LACKED TWO THIRDS VOTE Senator Money Made Plea For 'sWhite Supremacy. Lower House Also Decides That er- Governor Jennings Dia Net Receive Excessive Fees From Internal
 Improvement Fund.
 
LACKED TWO THIRDS VOTE

q ]. Tallahassee, Fla, May s.-The joint resolution for the disfranchisement oi negro voters in Florida was today de- feated by the House of Representa-. tives.
 The resolution passed the Senate sev- eral days ago. Notice was given that motion to reconsider today's action In the House win be made on Mon- day because there were eleven ab- sentees from today's session. The feature of the discussion was q speech by Senator H. D. Money of Ms sissippi. favoring the Florida resolu- ton and attacking the Fourteenth Amendments to the Federal Constitu- ton.
 The Joint resolution by Senator John s. Beard. proposing an sIneudment to the constitution relating to suffrage better known as the Beard disfran- chisement resolution" came up as a special order In the House of Repre- sentatives and United States Senator H.. D. Money of Mississippi and State Senator John s. Beard addressed that body
 This resolution. which passed tha Senate last week. contains the clause, Every white male person of the age of 2i years and upwards who shall. at the time of registration. be . citi- gen of the United States" etc;. shall be deemed a qualified eleetor at all elections under this constitution, which language Is fin direct connlci with the Fifteenth Amendment to the Federal Consultation.
 The principal opposition came from the prohibition forces, who were strongly opposed to this measure be- ing submitted to the people at the same time as the Statewide prohibit ton resolution.
 Senator Money made q plea for swhite supremacy" saying: "The Florida Senate is the only body that has had the eourage to challenge the validity of these aiieendmeefa ttns Fourteenth and Fifteenth to the Fed eral conatitution. This is the oppor- tune time for this agitation. To re- main without agitation means ataann' tion. Are y0u KoisiR teA sik etiAis eqiss tent to let well enoueh alone when you see these dark clouds looming up on the horixon7 I challenge you to show me a single instance where su- perior race has allowed an Inferior race to share equality with them. How long will 1t be in Florida before you WAil pc BeekiHG the VotS VI biAS AsSo " to carry through certain measures? How long before you'l be bidding for his vote under the present law?
 "When you fail to take up q move- ment that Is demanded by local and patriotic sentiment you commit a Rrieyous crime. Under our present law, we have excluded from the ballot the moral element--woman--an taken in another race"
 Senator Money. in speaking of he sentiment of the North regarding the validity of these amendments to the Federal Constitution. said:
 .aThere is profound revolution weighing In the Northern mind today regarding these amendments. The Fourteenth Amendment. however. seems to be guarded cautiously by number of newspapers.
 aThe North is ready to look into these amendments. but they expect us in the South to at least take the in- itiative step"
 when the roll was called. each mem Der responding aye. receivea great anplause. The supporters of the res- oiution entertain high hopes of re- csiving the requisite three-flfths vote upon the reconsideration, as they say there were more than enough members absent to effect its passage had those absentess been present.
 The vote was thirty-two for the res- olution and twenty-four against, tho measure being lost by lack of two- thirds vote in It's favor.
 The question whether excessive pay mAnt had been made to former Cow ernor W. s. Jennings by trustees of inc internal improvement fund was decided by the House of Representa- lives early this morning in favor Of The former executive. The matter was argued until long after midnight, and former Governor Broward was one, of the speakers. explaining that the pay ments to MT. Jennings had been for attorney's fees. During one year. Mir. JenntnEs was paid S1s.ooo. and Mir. Eroward was asked why such a large navment was necessary. He replied That a vast amount of State property was at stake, and added:
 1T would rather be ceusured for sav- ipg a State than to be censured for losing a State"
 If was during Governor Broward's term that some of the payments were made.
 The Senate is yet to act on the report which the House disposed of thls morn