Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-02-05
TAFT FAvORS
LIMITED VOTE
President Thinks Universal Suf-
frage A Failure Calls For
New Organic Law.

Washington, Jan. 20. President Taft
has gone on record in favor Of limiting
the right of suffrage in Porto Rico by
an educational and property quail
fication" in order to avoid the dangers
Of an illiterate electorate.
In special message transmitted to
Congress today the President urges that
Legislation be adopted, as result of an
investigation by Secretary of War Dick
inson, for the purpose of cutting down
the right to vote in Porto Rico. The
system now in vogue there is manhood
suffrage" established under the terms
of the Foraker Act of 1900.
In his special message the President
says that. as a very large percentage
of the voters are unable to read or write,
'the electorate is not one which should
be entrusted with the government of
the island"
The recommendations of the President
and of Secretary Dickinson for an edu-
cational and property test in order to
purify the electorate in Porto Rico will
probably attract considerable attention
in Maryland and in the Southern States,
where limitations have been placed upon
the elective franchise for the purpose
of eliminating the negro vote. Southern
members are already contending that
the conditions at which the Admins
tration is aiming in Porto Rico are SINH
lar to those which have led to disfran-
chisement in the South.
As to the proposed limitations upon
the elective franchise, the Taft special
message says:
after a certain date the right to
vote and to hold Office is to be confined
to American citizens, and only those
American citizens are to enjoy the fran
chise who can satisfy certain education
al or property qualifications.
eat present there is manhood suffrage
in theisland, and as a very large percent
age of the voters are unable to read or
write the electorate is not one which
should be entrusted with the govern
ment. 1t is much better in the interest
of the people Of the island that the suf-
frage should be limited by an education
al and property qualification.
The bill forwarded by the President
provides that after the general election
of 1910 the qualified voters for any cleo
ton shall consist only of those citizens
of the United States, who. with such
other qualifications as are required by
the laws of Porto Rico. are able to read
or write; or on the day of registration
shall own taxable real estate in their
own right or name, or who are on said
day bona fide members of a firm or CO.
partnership which shall own taxable real
estate in the name Of such firm or CO.
partnership; or on the day of registra-
tion shall possess and produce to the
Board of Registration tax receipts show
ing the payment of any kind Of taxes
for the last six months of the year in
which the election is held.
Secretary Dickinson, in his report op-
posing universal suffrage, says:
MANY men. both Americans and
Porto Ricans, of such education, charac-
ter and general konweledge Of affairs in
the island as to make their judgment
entitled to great weight are of the
opinion that such system would be dis
astrous to the health and economic and
political welfare Of the island. would
jeopardize investments, retard healthy
development and would eventuate in
forcing the United States in the no
distant future TO withdraw power i'm
providently granted and set back, on
account of having travelled too fast. the
realization of local self-government.
"They represent that it was unwise to
grant general suffrage to a people,
vast majority Of whom have neither the
education to vote intelligently sor the
property interests to make them deeply
concerned IN the administration Of pub
lie affairs.
"From careful inquiry from many
sources | am satisfied that many voters
simply record the dictates Of political
leaders or of their employers.
"Many believe that il was mistake
to confer generally the right to vote
upon a population Of which about so per
cent. were illiterate. cannot but re-
gard il as great menace to the politi-
cal and material welfare of the island. "