Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-04-29
SAY LITERACY TEST
NOT DEMOCRATIC
Chairman of Republican
Committee Enters Strong
Protest in Argument.
A POLITICAL MOVE
Would Disfranchisc Citi-
zens and Lead Toward
Oligarchy.
Special TO The World.

Special to The World.
OKLAHOMA CITY. April 2S.-The
following argument against the pro-
posed literacy test amendment 10 the
Okla homa constitution was filed to-
day with the secretary of the state by
Arthur II. Geissler chairman of the
Republican state committee.
''The literacy of educational test
amendment to the constitution pro-
posed by the legislators, subject to
vote of the people in the August pri-
mary, is in direct conflict with the
spirit of American institutions.
The plain purpose of the proposed
literacy test amendment to the con
stitution is to make it possible for the
precinct registrars appointed by the
state administration to have legal
excuse for DISTINGUISHING whatever
number of voters it may be necessary
to disfranchise in order to keep in
power the combination of men who
at present rule this state Supporters
of this amendment claim that 1t VIII
serve only to disfranchise the mt
crate negroes. of whom there are
about seven thousand. But the pro-
posed constitutional amendment states
very plainly that it may be applied to
all voters egardless of race or color.
This means that cvcrybody's right to
vote will be passed upon by the pre-
cinct registrar If at aEy time man
does not vote t. suit the admlnlstra-
ton. whether in u primary or gen
cral election. the county registrar
may under the registration law have
that mans name stricken from the
list of voters on the ground that the
registrar Is not sufficiently satisfied
that the man is a soldier or the son
Of a soldier, and that the voter can
not read to the satisfaction Of the
registrar. Always provided that the
proposed literacy test amendment is
ratified in the August primary.
2S.7O7 Can't Read.
There are in Oklahoma, according
| to the census. 2S,707 men of voting
age who cannot read or write. By
| the way. the number of illiterate
negroes is 1895. OF the white Hitter
tates all but 1000 are natives, and
MANY of them were born in the ter
ritory comprising the state of Okla
homa. The fact that they were
not in their youth taught to read and
write is reflection on state which
failed to enforce its compulsory edu-
cation laws. And yet, many OF these
patriotic citizens and well qualified to
vote with discrimination.
"Jf the literacy test amendment is
adopted. then under the registration
law everybody will have to register
again in September. 1916. At that
time he must be able to satisfy the
precinct registrar that he is entitled
| to q certificate of registration.
| Soldiers Couldn't Read.
| "Under the proposed litoracy test
amendment anyone who served in the
land or naval forces of ary nation,
state or territor". or of any Indian
tribe. or who is a lawful descendant
of any such person, need not be able
| to read and write in order to be en-
titled to vote. Always provided, how
ever, that he can prove 1t TO the sat
isfaction of the registrar that he is a
soldier or the descendant of soldier,
so to speak. All others nay be re-
auired by the registrar to read and
write "any" section of the constitu-
ton II the literacy test amendment is
ratified In August.
"Supporters of this amendment
claim that the applicant for certifi-
cate Of registration need In that case
only read or write few words OF
the constitution, but the proposed
constitutional amendment does not
read that way. Under its provisions
a man desiring to register could be
required to reed and write any sec
ton OF the constituticn". say for In
\ lstance Section of Article II. which
Scovers 10 pages Of the revised stat