Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1910-07-03


governor. prescribed an educational
qualification. II did. is II not one Of
the prerogatives, is IT not one OF
the rights of the people of a terri
tory or a state 20 determine that
question for themselves! Does not
every state in the Union determine
the question as TO whether or not
the electors of that state shall be
required 70 be sufficiently educated
to read and write? That is a local
question. a domestic question to be
determined by the people of each
territory or state in accordance with
their judgment.
Maine provided such qualifications
/ In 1898. Other states have educa-
tional qualifications. Massachusetts,.
as is suggested to me by my friend
on the left. has an educational quail
6cation. and other states have II. II
is a question for their determination.
Each state must determine that ques-
ton for itself. II knows its environ
ment IL knows the needs OF the
people. II knows the peculiar charac-
ter of the population OF the state or
territory. and whether that kind OF
a qualification IS wise one.
II Is not for me 20 say. Mr.. Presi-
dent. that as an original proposition
II had been a member OF the legis-
lature Of the territory OF Arizona [
would have supported that kind OF
a measure. II Is not for ussto say
whether we approve OF u as an orig
inal proposition. 1t is sufficient for
US TO say that the people o. Arizona,
through their accredited representa-
tives. passed the law and it stands
today on the statute books OF that
territory. The people OF Arizona are
TO be the judges of that question. not
the congress OF the United States.
Mr.. President. according TO the tes-
timony taken before the committee OF
the senate this educational qualifica,
ton II enforced viii not disqualify
exceeding 1900 or 1000 citizens OF
that territory. Mr. Smith. for many
years the delegate from the territory
to Congress, able. astute. careful
thoroughly informed as to the con.
Gitions and needs of the territory
testified before the committee that
in his judgment. It would not dis
franchise more than a thousand
votes.
What is more. Mr.. President. the
charge that It was a partisan enact
ment, that Il was passed by {
democratic legislature for partisan
purposes. can not be maintained
Why? Because the testimony o.
those who favor II as well as o.
those who oppose IL. the uncontra
dicted testimony OF all the people
who came here 20 represent the peo
pie OF that territory. is that this ed
ucational qualification Will disqualif!
about as many democrats as repub
7 licans. Every one OF these witnesses
testified that It would not disqualif,
more Of the voters Of one party thai
Of the other.
There is a good and sufficient rea
son which doubtless influenced tn
legislature Of Arizona TO pass tina
: act. They passed It, because alonl
~ the southern border OF Arizona Their
is a stretch Of country 200 mile
long bordering on a foreign natioT
/! In Arizona there are employed on tn
great works in progress there, build
= ing railroads. opening mines. an
reclamation works. many thousan
= Mexicans. who are not citizens G
, this country. Mexicans who can nc
read OF write. Mexicans who are sui
jet to the influence of money an
Il other improper Influences in ele'
tons. and who but for this statut
9 could be influenced by corrupt me
: to vote in the elections OF Arlzoni
II was to prevent such Illegal votin
e and TO insure honest elections ths
that act was passed.
Mr. President, the testimony {
Z witnesses before the committee a
. substantiate the proposition ths
. this law was enacted for the purpos
: Of saving Arizona from the CORFU
ton that would follow the import
- ton OF that floating population whic
was coming across the border. Tt
people of Arizona are an educate
people Their ratio of illiteracy
lower than that of almost any sta
OF the Union. They have been loo
ing up to the time when they wou
have a population OF educated. pr
gressive people. and they have flxs
the qualifications of the electors
encourage a still more general educ
ton. and TO protect the territory fro
corrupt elections which would resi-
from the importation Of ignorant al
purchasable Mexicans. and to pI
vent the Illegal voting of those tel
porarily In the territory engaged
the public works being carried
there