The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-05-21
PRESENT PLEA FOR BALLOT
In LOUISIANA CONGRESS.
Bishop Jones in Powerful
Speech Presents Claims Of
Disfranchised Citizens And
Asks Relief.

Baton Rouge, La. May 19.--In the
termined effort to prevent the Negroes
of Louisiana from voting under the
Of Colored men, headed by r. e.
Jones. Methodist Bishop of Louisiana,
and Walter Cohen, a Republican Party
leader among the Negroes, appeared
committee of the constitutional con-
vcntiOn, now in session here. and made
a plea for the ballot. on the basis Of
educational and property quallfica-
tions, and for better education for the
race Bishop Jones, in his address to
the committee. said, in part;
I'VE come to plead that the suf-
frage plank which shall find place
shall be applicable and shall be ap-
piled to all alike We believe in an
intelligent electorate, and, in spite of
the handicap which is naturally ours,
because of the poverty in our ranks
and the large percentage of ignorance
in our race, we subscribe to the prin-
ciple of Intelligent suffrage. asking
neither special favors because of our
because of ""r noverty.
1--WE ask for the ballot on educa-
tional and property qualifications: we
are satisfied with those qualifications,
but we do not look with favor on the
understand clause. which Is a two
edged sword, and will cut both ways
against; the whites as well as
against the blacks"
The understand" clause, mentioned
by Bishop Jones was. compiled by
Judge Philip S. Pugh of Acadia, Louis
lana. who is one Of the leaders of the
forces attempting to prevent perma-
TnentlY the voting of the Negroes in
"He or she shall be able to read
any section of the. Constitution Of this
state, or he or she shall be able to
l,v Io rhnv, 70
Interpretation thereof"
The Negroes claim, and with them
stand considerable number Of whites,
that this clause not only Will bar the
average Negro, even though he be
able to read and write and be posses
sed of considerable property. but also
will eliminate n large number of
After explaining the. opposition. to
this understand" clause, Bishop
Jones continued.
I'VE desire the ballot because It
means protection and progress. and
it is held by some that American cit
iZenship and the ballot are inseparable.
We base our plea upon our numbers.
of the entire State of Louisiana is Ne
gro. Not that all would vote under
any sort of constitutional provision,
even though it were literally inter-
preted in our favor but that there
should be a total Acknowledgement Of
100000 human beings who occupy
such a place as we do in the industr-
ial, agricultural, commercial and do
mestic life of the state should not be
possible in this day Of progress and
democracy.
we base our plea upon our aggre-
gate wealth. During the past year the
Negroes have been operating $500
which 1.466,eO7 acres are improved
and producing s150.0OO,OOO worth of
crops every year. We own and oper-
ate four statewide benefit life. in
surance businesses making a total an
nual collection in premiums OF more
than S750,000. Fully 80 per cent of
male adult Negroes, and rs per cent
of female adult Negroes are occupied
with regular. gainful occupations.
I'VE have one state business league
and are engaged in more than 10 diff
ferent kinds of business enterprises
outside of farming. We have six col
eyes of our own in the State OF Louis
lana, with 20 agricultural. Industrial
and manual training schools, and a
number of primary and denominational
schools, as well as 10 farm demon
stration agents. And these figures do
not include the public school for Ne
groes, nor the attendance at them.'