The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-06-28
GOVERNOR
EVOLVES A
NEW CLAUSE
REGARDING THE GRANDFATHER
CLAUDE = HE SAWS STATE HAS
EDUCATED HER NEGROES FOR
BETTER CITIZENSHIP.

OKlan0ma CITY, June Ex-Governor
Williams has been ponderng over
the decision OF the United States su
preme court as to the grandfather
clause" Just as the Missouri Com
promise, which was later declared to
have been wrong in principle, served
a purpose in preserving the union, so
has the grandfather clause" been
of great benefit to the state of Okla
homa during the formative period of
the policies of the state, he says 1t
has served a good purpose and it is
viewed in its passing as having been
worth while.
oklahoma has been educating its
negroes" said Governor Williams,
and the result is seen in the greater
literacy among the young people of
the colored race. We have good dom.
mon schools for the negroes, and in
addition they have an agricultural
and normal university and several in.
stitutions for care of detectives, and
now the state is building a reform
school for wayward boys of that race.
Education of the negro in this
state has gone forward while the state
has been enforcing restriction
against suffrage that was salutary in
its effects, regardless of the fact that
it has now been declared to have been
in violation of the fundamental law
of the land The state has added
much to the capacity of its colored
citizens, and it has tided over a per-
iod that was fraught with danger by
limiting the franchise to those who
had attainments sufficient to justify
their using it. The Missouri Com
promise did good in its time, and the
danger to the union was in part past
when the theory was exploded"
Governor Suggests Plan.
While he is not committed to the
plan, Governor Williams advanced
the theory that an elective franchise
limitation that would serve every pur-
pose which had been sought by the
grandfather clause" could be framed
by the states that have need of such
provision by making a literacy test
such as that Oklahoma sought to en-
force, with exceptions to cover per-
sons and their descendants who par
ticipated on the side OF the colonies
in the war of the revolution: who
participated in the war of 1872; in
the war with Mexico on either side
in the war between the states; on
the part of the union in the war with
Spain and persons who are members
of the national guard
An asalysis Of this limitation will
disclose that it would reach most of
he illiterate negroes. Governor vii. |
iams is convinced that it would meet |
he test of the supreme court, and |
he has an idea that it would be a
good provision for the southern states
o insert in their constitutions.
Interest in the decision of the su.
)reme court in the grandfather |
,lause" is tagging in this state, and
he situation has not caused much |
comment, since the first day If the
legislature Of Oklahoma shall be as
embled in special session on the rev.
niue matters, which seems probable,
here is no doubt that Governor vii.
Jams will submit TO them the cleo |
ion question. 1t may be that some
amendment to the constitution, such
IS outlined, may be attempted 1t is
that some sort of general
iteracy test without exceptions will
'e enacted by the legislature if they
hall meet