Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-08-04
GRANDPA" CLAUSE
 FOR ARKANSAS Tentative Form of Suggest ed Amendment to Our
 Constitution.
 BY HON. JOE HARDAGE Educational Qualification to Be Pro.
BY HON. JOE HARDAGE
Educational Qualification to Be Pro. posed as Part of EIec-
 ton Law.

Philadelphia, Aug. 3,-If Represent ative-elect Joe Hardage, of Clark county has his way, the electors of Arkansas will vote in 1912 upon a
 grandfather clause amendment to the state election law, similar to that which was adopted yesterday by the people of Oklahoma.
 While the form of his proposed amendment has not been finally drafted, it has been tentatively drawn and ill it the educational oualifica- tion is the strong feature. By it's terms no white man otherwise prop srly qualified will he denied a vote, whether or not he is able to read or interpret the constitution. but any other must be able to read and in ierpret, or interpret when read to him-any section of the Constitution of the State of Arkansas It rests with the judges of election to decide whether such interpretation qualities such persons to become electors. The amendment is so drawn that no racial distinctions are mentioned and the the terms, white man. or "negrev are not used
 NThe adoption of this amendment would certainly remove the last ob- jection to the consolidation of our state and national elections
 Below is the article of the Consti- tuition as proposed after the insertion of the amendment, the new words and phrases being printed in capi- tals:
 Article XXI:
 Every male citizen of the United States, or every male person who has declared his intention of becoming a citizen of the same, of the age of 21 years, OR UPWARD, who has resided in the state 12 months, in the county six months, and in the precinct, TOWN or ward one month next preceding any election at which he may propose to vote, AND WHO IS ABLE TO READ AND INTERPRET, OR IN- TERPRET WHEN READ TO HIM IF HE IS PREVENTED FROM READ INC THE SAME BY REASON OF ANY PHYSICAL DISABILITY, ANY SECTION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, ex- cept such persons as may for the con- mission of some felony be deprived of the right to vote by law passed by the general assembly, and who shall exhibit poll tax receipt, or other evidence that he has paid his poll tax at the time of collecting taxes next preceding such election, shall be all lowed to vote at any election held in the statte of Arkansas, BUT NO PERSON WHO WAS ON JANUARY 1, 1866, OR AT ANY TIME PRIOR THERETO ENTITLED TO VOTE UNDER THE STATUTES OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES
 
 AND NO MALE PERSON OF FOR EIGN BERTH WHO WAS NATURAL FEED PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION -0F THIS ARTICLE AND NO LINEAI. DESCENDANT OF SUCH PERSON, WHO SHALL POSSESS THE OTHER QUALIFICATIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS ARTICLE, SHALL BE DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE BECAUSE OF HIS INABILITY TO so READ AND INTERPRET SECTIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE PROVIDED, that MALE per- sons who make satisfactory proof that they have attained the age of 21 years since the time for assessing taxes for the year next preceding THE YEAR IN WHICH the election AT WHICH HE MAY PROPOSE TO VOTE IS HELD, and possess the oth- CT necessary qualifications shall be permitted to vote; and PROVIDED further. that the said tax receipt shall be so marked by dated stamp or other written endorsement by the judges of election to whom it may first be pre- scented as to prevent the holder there of from voting more than once at any election.