Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-10-25
Alabama Votes
On Restricting of
Negro Voters
by HAROLD u. HINTON
In the New Yofk Timsa

FLORENCE, Ala.--An amend
ment 10 the State Constitution de-
signed 10 restrict the registration
Of Negro voters In the most contro.
verEial matter on which the voters
Of Alabama will pass Judgment at
the general elections Nov. 0. Its
chances Of adoption appear 10 de-
Dend on whether It's opponents will
take the trouble TO 30 to the polls
and vote against II.
Known aH the Boswell amend
ment, named for It's author, State
Representative u. G.. Boswell. Of
Geneva, II would establish NJ
qualification for registration a. n
voter In Alabama either tho
ability 10 read and write, or 20
explain the Constitution Of the
United States. II would aupplant
the present requirement Of being
able TO read or write, or Of pos
aeasing property 10 the value Of
$500.
The property qualifications. az
an alternative 10 literncy, was put
In the State Constitution In 1901.
In the postwar prosperity which
IL prevailing In most of Alabama,
II IL no longer sufficient 10 dsbar
the great mass Of Negroes, since
even u tumble down ialopy can now
be valued at $500.
In common with Governor elect
Eugene TAlmAdRe In Georgia, and
Senator Theodore q. Bilbo and Rep
resentativs John Rankin In MlasiA-
aippi. advocates Of the Boswell
amendment In Alabama interpret
recent decisions Of the United States
Supreme Court 10 fOreHhadOw the
end Of white supremacy" In the
South unless steps are taken TO cir
cumVent them.
A fair sample Of their arguments
" being given by former Governor
Frank II. Dixon. who In stamping
the State for the amendment. lie
included the following IN n speech
last week.
ut II my firm belief that We
The Boswell amendment was
adopted by the lD4B Legislature
with little opposition, and the
Democratic organization Of the
State, under Chairman GssAner 7.
MeCOrvey, appears 10 be commit
ted 10 ita AdoDtiOn.
Governor Jim Folsom has
announced his opposition 10 the
proposal, but the present Governor,
ChAuncey Sparks, favOrS II.
Most Of the States large news
papers oppose Il. Resolutions call.
Ing for It's defeat have been
adopted by the State Republican
Convention. the Political Action
Committee and the Montgomery
Junior Chamber of Commerce.
face the elimination Of our EsRTe-
gnti1n laws, 81 our coming laws:
that We will see our children In
mixed schools Of whites and Ne
grOes, our Legislature with strong
Negro minOritiea, our JuTies Of
mixed races: many Of our city and
county governments either manned
by Negroes or largely dominated
by them, should we fail 10 pass the
Boswell amendment"
Other Salts Believed on Way
The immediate cause for alarm
among the proponents IN an award
by the United States Supreme Court
" 81, 900 In damages against reg
istrara Of Macon County. the
population u which II more than
30 per cent Negro. for failing 10
register Negro voters considered
eligible under existing require
ments 0f the State Constitution.
Mr. Dixon says that sixteen test
cases are being prepared by the
National Association for the Ad-
yaneemsnt Of COlOrsd People In
Jefferson County. where Negroes
constitute 81 per cent Of the popu.
IatiOn. and that similar suits are
being attempted In six other
counties.