The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-04-26
OKLAHOMA ELECTION LAW.

OKLAHOMA ELECTION LAW.
For the benefit of those who may
not fully understand the election lnW
of oklahoma. We give the following
statement from Fred =. Branson. chair
man OF tho democratic state central
committee.
The election law in force IN Okla
homa at the present time is the olo
passed by the first state logislHtu,
ol Oklahoma iu the spring OF 1905
and Us found iu Suidcr's Oklahoma
statutes. The second legislature.
which met Boa January 1903, passed =
now election law known as the Tay.
lor bill. which would have repealed
the 1905 act had it ever become cf.
leCthc. Il never became effective for
the reason that the republican party
had the same referred under the ref
cruudum provision Of our law To a
vote Of the people. thus suspcnding
the same until after it could be- voted
upon. Before an election for the rat
ification or rcpcction OF said act was
called. said act was repealed by tho
legislature In the special session of
1910 and what is known rs the Bryan
election law was passed. The new
law, which Is now I'm effect, on and
after June is. 1910, provided that ref
crendum petitions are not filed ask.
ing that the same be referred for rati-
iication or rejection OF said act was
II Is referred, the old election law first
above referred 10 passed by the first
legislature of Oklahoma will remain w
fun force and effect.
The special session of the second
Oklahoma legislature of 1910 passed a
resolution recommending To the peo,
pie OF the state that am amendmcn
to the constitution of the state S7
initiated under the provisions of oul
law for initiating amendments TO the
constitution. relative to suffrage the
amendment 20 be section AZ tn Art
OF the constitution, and Is in words
aud figures As follows. to-wit
No person shall be registered IL,
an olcctor of this state. or hc allowed
To vote I'm any election held herein
unless he bc able 20 read aad writ,
any section OF the constitution of In,
state of oklahoma, but no person
who was, ON January lst. 1866, or a
any time prior thereto. entitled {,
vote under any form of govcrnmcn,
or who at that time resided in som,
foreign nation, and NO liucal descend
ant OF such person, shall be dcnie,
/ the risht To register aud vote bccaus,
OF his inability to SO read ana writ,
section OF such constitution"
Il Is clear from reading this that III,
same does not put any qualification
upon the right OF any white man %
Indian citizen To vote. II will merel!
operate 70 exclude the initerate color
/ ed population of this state, many o
whom are flockiug 10 oklahoma {,
make this their home, for the rcasol
. that other states from whence thcl
come have deemed II advisable an,
Tor the best interests OF the state {,
put similar qualification in effect
This committee shall highly appreci
ate IL il through the columns OF you
paper YOU will make It clear To th,
people OF oklahoma that this amend
men, TO the constitution of the stat
viii not in any wise affect The righ
of suffrage OF any white or mdia'
citizen iu ,his state. I'm compliauc
with this resolution OF The lcgislatur,
recommending the same initiative p,
u ion I'M conformity 10 the state q
Oklahoma have been sent out owe
,uc state to be signed for the purpos
of initiating this amc- dmpnt TO IA
,Oust tuition of oklahoma Il is q,
pcCtcd that the same will Dee sigur
no once ana returned. SO that the sam
may be filed M once and the clcctio
called upon This proposed amendmer
/ To the constitution as early as prap
ticah,c II is expected that the sam
j car be gotten in shape SO that m
- election on the same may be called o
| the date OF the primary, August
j 1910, thus ayoidius the expense OF a
extra election