The Washington times., 1915-06-23
DIXIE UNCONCERNED
BY OVERTHROW OF
GRANDFATHER ACT
Decision Of Supreme Court Not
: Likely to Upset South's
Laws, Says HardWick.

The overthrow Of the grandfather
clause" of the Oklahoma constitution
by the decision Of the United States
Supreme Court. will have little effect
in Southern States, In the opinion of
Senator Thomas w. Hardwick. OF Geor-
gia.
Mr.. Hardwick, when member or the
House, made several efforts to bring
about a repeal of the Fifteenth Amend
ment to the Constitution. which the
Supreme Court holds the grandfather
clause" contravenes. AS a student Of
legislation directed at restricting the
illiterate vote in the South, Senator
Hardwicks views are of interest In
connection with the countrywide dis
cussion Of the courts decision. Senator
Hardwick says in a telegram to The
Times:
Decision of the Supreme Court in
the Oklahoma case effects very few
other Southern States. For instance, in
Georgia, we had educational and prop
erty qualifications with exemptions
therefrom In favor of persons who have
rendered military service to State or
Federal Government and to the descend
ents Of such persons. This is without re-
gard to race or color. and applies i'm
partially to both races.
Is Not Obnoxious.
II am sure it is not obnoxious to the
Federal Constitution under either letter
or spirit of the Oklahoma decision. My
information is that Alabama occupies
the same position as Georgia, and that
temporary limitations in the constitu-
tions of other Southern States. such as
Louisiana and North Carolina, which
might have been obnoxious to the prin-
cipals laid down in the Oklahoma case
already have expired by time limit in
these constitutions themselves.
Il am sure that the Oklahoma case
does not affect the situation In Geor-
gia. and do not believe 1t will have
any considerable effect in other South
ern States"
A movement has been begun in Okla
homa to call g. special session of the
legislature to devise means Cor meet
The Daily Oklahoman editorially as
serts that the issue must be met and
that Oklahoma must forever remain
white mans State"
Served Purpose Well.
The Southern press generally does
not take pessimistic view of the sit
uation raised by the Supreme Courts
decision. 1t Is argued that the grand
father clause" was but temporary ex-
pedient and served its purpose we'll.
The negro has grown unaccustomed to
cordng to many Southern spokesmen.
and the poll tax and literacy tests.
which are within the Constitution when
applied indiscriminately, are deterrents
SO far as negro control are concerned.
That the Supreme Court decision
means the colored man will become a
political power in the South is not the
accepted view by that section. White
illiteracy, 1t is argued. is rapidly de-
creasing and the methods followed ten
ana ntteen years ago can now be su-
qualifications and poll tax requirements
"hicn the undesirable class Of colored
men cannot meet.
1t is expected. however, that the de-
ns,on or the court will increase the op-
position in the South to woman suf-
frage.
Fea- of Race Problem.
The reluctance of the Southern States
10 accept woman suffrage has been
largely attributable to fear of COM
phcatlng the race problem. 1t Is con-
ceded by well-informed observers that
re southern viewpoint will be more
lnlmical than ever to unlimited suf-
1raSe. which would permit the vote of
lie white woman to be offset by mat
r. an unlettered colored woman
discussing the decision of the highest
tri3unal and its effect upon Oklahoma,
This means that Oklahoma must
Hct. The pathway, both of duty and
,xpaGiency, Is simple and straight The
Frandfather clause was inserted in its
place for the express and unconcealed
urpose of eliminating the illiterate
negro vote. With that clause uncon-
Htitutional, as claimed and adjudged by
the tribunal of last resort then there
must be submitted and passed an
amandment that Is constitutional. That
amendment must bn one that provides
Tor Literally test, and the execution of
provisions must be placed in the
hGnas of officials who realize that this
is white mans State and that n
must forever remain a white mans
state.
"A test of this kind would not inter
fere In the least with the constitutional
rights Of any voter, no matter what his
coior race, or previous condition OF
lie.
There are two methods of putting
such an amendment in the constitution
one Tor the people to initiate 1t; the
other, for the legislature to Immediate
" assemble in extraordinary session
lde the text of the amendment, and
re'er 1t to the people for ratification.
Would Be Clumsy Way.
limitation by the people would appea,
to be the clumsier method of the two
since there is in existence no organiza
ton to handle the arduous work of pro-
curing the many thousands of name!
legally necessary, nor Is there a way
provided for raising the funds inciden
TO this expensive method. 1t will b,
much easier and simpler for the Stat,
legislature to get together without tn,
loss OF any unnecessary time. and TAX,
such action as will result in establish
ing the iteracy test
No stickler for constitutional rights
could find technical flaw in a meas
ure such as that. 1t would carry ou
the provisions Of the Constitution t,
the letter, and at the same time |
would guarantee to Oklahoma the onl,
sort of ballot which should control tn,
conduct of its affairs--the sort of bal
lot we mus. have"