New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-27
Literacy Test Killed
bV Vote of IT to 81
From star Correspondent Of The Tribunsl

From star Correspondent Of The Tribune.l
Albany, Aug. 26.-With the aid of
Elihu Root, the foes of the lteracy test
for voters proposal offered by Charles
II. Young, of Westchester, was killed
in the Constitutional Convention to-
day by a vote of n to 81. The debate
was marked by an appeal by Meier
Steinbrink, of Brooklyn, which many
believed would nave turned the tide
but for the missionary work of the
president Of the convention. Mr.. Stein
Drinks speech was in the nature of a
reply to Louis Marshall, of New York,
who declared that the amendment if
adopted would be taken as an insult
by the Hebrews of the state.
This is purely an American ques-
ton" said Mr.. Steinbrink. "Considera-
tons of race or creed have no place
in its discussion. We have been sent
here TO prepare a constitution for the
100000 people in this state.
"lf this proposal" said Mr.. Stein
brink, denied to any man who now
enjoys the privilege of voting. the con-
tinuance of that privilege would OPP
pose it. To those who are approaching
the time when they may vote this pro-
posal gives two years in which they
may learn to read and write English
At present the immigrant must live in
this country for five years before he
becomes a citizen. Is it unreasonable
to expect from him that in that period
he will acquant himself with the Lam
guage Of the land sufficiently to enjoy
the privilege Of voting? My analysis
Of the proposal convinces me it is
sound"
The Republicans stood pretty solidly
behind Mr.. Young despite the efforts
of some Of the leaders 10 switch them
from him. To-day he had sixty-four
Clearwater, George W. Wickersham,
ST., and three Democrats, Dykman,
Griffin and Weed.
Forty-four Republicans, mostly from
cities, and thirty-three Democrats
voted against the proposal. Among the
measure were frederick c. Tanner,
Jesse s. Phillips, Superintendent of In
surance; George E. Greene. Excise Com
missioner; John Lord O'Brian, Tax
Commissioner; Martin G. SAKE and
Lemuel Ely Quigg.
Mr.. Young in addressing the conven-
tion declared that If il had the courage
Of its convictions il would vote with
him. Nineteen states, he added, had a
Eteracy test, many severer than his,
which merely requires that after jan
uary, 1918, one who wants TO become
voter would have to write and read
English.
an every one of these states the
amendment was carried by overwhelm-
ing majorities," said Mr.. Young. John
Lord O'Brian said that the real evil
was not illiteracy among the voters
but the indifference Of voters, this, he
added, being largely confined to the
educated classes.
Frank Mann, the German American
delegate from Brooklyn, who stirred
the convention with his pro-German
speech yesterday, declared to-day that
the real patriots in this country are
not the people who read the news
papers printed in English, but those
who read the newspapers printed in
foreign tongues.
"The people who read the foreign
papers are not a menace, as has been
said here" he declared. "By reading
them they prevent the jingos and
those who are not so patriotic from
rushing the country into war"
Mann then asked to be excused from
voting on the proposal, but Lemuel E.
Quigg, of Columbia County, objected,
and Mann voted against the proposal.
Quigg took the same stand on the vote.