The Alaska daily empire., 1923-04-03
(Continueo rom rage sQne.)

yers," declared Senator Chamberlln in opening the fight for passage of the b1ll. Fer myself 1 do net worry about the constitutionality Of the bills presented. The things 1 take into consideration arc whether the bill is right and whether it's provisions are just to tho people of all of Alaska" he declared. The literary bill, he added, is one that is designed to safeguard the interests of the Terri tory and violates the rights and privileges of nobody.
 Aldrich Admits Mass Voting
 Tho Indian vote, largely subdued in Senator Chamberlins remarks, cropped out again whom Senator Al drich, for the second time took the floor in further explanation of his opposition. He admitted that the In- dians voted lin mass in tho election last November, citing the Rake pre- einct as particular instance. He quoted the Suzcr Act of 1915 which he described as safeguard against tho voting of illiterate Indians. If that law was rigidly enforced by Federal authorities. he declared, it would cope with tho situation. The fault, he added, is not on the h. dians' side, but is chargeablo to the officials.
 .Dimond Answers Critics
 In tho lcngthies. speech of the 2 y,aftf, nit,,inpd ri6nln6 tho claims of the opposition that the Legislature is going outside of it's province in attempting to pass the Fostcr bill. Already, he declared, a previous Legislature has enacted a law which changes every one of the nine matters covered in Section 5 of the Organic Act, which particular section the opposition claimed con taincd the inhibition against the sub jcct covered .n tho bnl. Only one of the provisions of tn, Legislature, he addcd, had been over-riddcn by Congress and that @le had been passed contrary to the advice of then Attorney General Grigsby. All of this, however, he continued, is beside tho mark in view of the amendment offered which leaves it with Congress to validate the Lcgis- lature's action on literacy require ments for electors.
 He refutcd statements that per sons unable to read and write Eng fish could vote intelligcntly. He re- cited instances of mass voting or Indians in the Third Division in a delegate election several years ago, out of which a contest grow. Tn attempting to examine Indian Wit ncsscs in the contest proceedings through interpreters. he said. it was discovered there are no words in their language to express "Delegate or Attorney General Senator and ,Reprcsontativc." Hc denied thaj under such circumstances 1t is pos sible for Indians to cast intelligent ballots.
 "If such person can exercise the right of franchise 'intelligently, then it upsets tho whole theory of demo cratic government he asserted
 which hc added is based on an in telligcnt ballot and electorate. The assertion that they do cast intelli Lgcnt ballots gives tho lie to oul theory of democratic government. Il is fallacious argument"
 l MT. Dimond did not attempt tt
 eyadc tho issue brought up by tht opposition that 1t would deprive man,
 Indians of the privilege of voting. |
 does strike largely at tho Indians, ht
 said, hut that is moro incident ant lis truc by reason of the fact tha lit is the Indians among which Hitter
 a,cy is largely prevalent, but it strikes
 at the illiterate of all raccs,s white
 yellow, rod and black.
 Paul's Abject Confession
 \ Senator Dimond characterized thu \ |statcment made by w. L. Paul, In \ dam leader. on the floor of th' II House recently, to the effect cha y passage of the bill fould defeat Deie