The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-02-02
PATTERNED AFTER PLAN or
TAYLOR ELECTION LAW
Measure Designed to Place q
Check Upon The IgnQT-
ant Vote

10 submit direct 10 the people OF
The state the question whether the
electorate provisions OF The constitmE
ton should be protected by an educa-
tional clause, and giving them the op-
pcltunily to initiate measure mi,
posing such qualification on the,
voters OF the state; to pass a bill in
eluding in itself solely all that is nee
essay TO put into force and effect
the initiative and referendum proyi-
sions OF the constitution. and to re-
model the Old election law sufficiently
10 correct few deficiencies which IL
has. will be the work OF the special
session Of the Legislature in election
law matters.
The last item Of these three mat
iers has been wo. ked out by the Dem
ocrats in caucus, and Senator l.. K..
Taylor, author Of the election laws
Of the state, has the bills ready 70
introduce as soon as Governor Has
kell shall open up the question with
a message.
The initiative and referendum
elnc.io law will be the name Of the
new bill providing a method OF hold
ing elections and originating the
same under those provisions, and viii
differ but little. except in one impor-
tant ra ticular, from the provisions
relative thereto, included In the Tay-
lor election law passed by the Sec
ond legislature and which has been
suspended by the effort OF the Repub-
+ licans to initiate it.
The new idea in this bill will pro
vide that the legislature, whenever
i ii desires to ascertain The sentiment
Of the people Of the state may pro
pose an amendment 10 the consiitu
tion. by concurrent resolution; and
that the people may then within
1 twelve months take up the matter
( proposed and initiate such a meas
ure, and that the ballot for the elec
7 tion on such proposed and initiated
matter shall not be voted yes OF
mo- as will be the usual case. bu
will be voted by no mark whatever
if the voter desires 10 approve tbs
question, or by obliteraiing by a pen
Gil, II he desires to disapprove, ht
following words For The amend
ment This clause is 10 immediate
ly follow and he a part OF the sami
iypog aphical arrangement az The II
tie OF The matter voted on. in th'
same time. and set oui from II j
no way whatever.
By such d ballot. the Democrats
hope 10 eliminate The voter who's
educational qualifications are so poo
that he cannot read the words to b.
stricken out, and ihus prevent tn
negro vote exercising much inhu
ence in the election unless It ca
. read
The Democrats will then. as sooi
. as the new referendum and electio
law bill is passed and approved, pre-
pose direct to the people that the
initiate law for an educational. an
possibly a grandfather" clause i
the constitution.
The educational clause, also th
2 grandfather clause. is aimed direc
/. " al The negro Republican vot
r which exercises such an unwholt
q some influence in the First and Thir
: NS'f7i NN7iolial t'lStl i1tN ~ Si'~s
/ tent. and In other districts 10 smal
. er deg ee The Democrats are yer
frank in their declaration that sue
an elimination of the ignorant negro
who is voted by his Republican hos
in herds, is absolutely necessary fo
the purity Of the 0allot in Oklahoma
, and cite the example Of Louisian
and several other Southern states
, where politics was distinctly "ro
ten until the negroes were disfral
' chised.