The citizens of Iowa have never had any sympathy with slavery, though in the early days, previous to the Missouri Compromise, some slaves were owned here

(73). 200.

Lease of Lands.-Sec. 24.

No lease or grant of agricultural lands, reserving any rent, or service of any kind, shall be valid for a longer period than twenty years.

It is a very interesting fact, but one not very generally known, that farm lands may not be leased for a longer period than twenty years. At the end of that time, if desired, the lease may be renewed.

201. Reservation of Rights.-Sec. 25. The enumeration of rights shall not be construed to impair or deny others, retained by the people.

What is the object of this section?

202. Prohibitory Amendment.--(Sec. 26. No person shall manufacture for sale, or sell, or keep for sale, as a beverage, any intoxicating liquors whatever, including ale, wine and beer. The General Assembly shall by law prescribe regulations for the enforcement of the prohibition herein contained, and shall thereby provide suitable penalties for the violation of the provision hereof.)

(The foregoing amendment was adopted at a special election held on June 27, 1882. The Supreme court, April 21, 1883, in the case of Koehler & Lange vs. Hill, reported in 60th Iowa, page 543, held that, owing to certain irregularities, the amendment was not legally submitted to the electors, and did not become a part of the constitution.)

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

1. How was prohibition of the liquor traffic secured, when the prohibitory amendment proved a failure?

2. What is the Mulct Law? The Manufacturer's Bill?

CHAPTER XVI

203.

ARTICLE II.-RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE

Qualification.-Section 1. Every (white) male citizen of the United States, of the age of twentyone years, who shall have been a resident of this state six months next preceding the election, and of the county in which he claims his vote sixty days, shall be entitled to vote at all elections which are now or hereafter may be authorized by law.

(Amended by striking out the word "white" at the general election in 1868.)

Show by outline the qualifications required in a voter in Iowa.

Qualifications for voting in Iowa:

1. Sex.

2. Citizenship.

3. Age.

4. Residence.

(a) In State.

(b) In District.

When it was proposed to pass a law giving women the right to vote, the opponents of the law said it was unconstitutional. Is there anything in this section forbidding the legislature to give women the elective franchise? The General Assembly finally passed a law giving women the privilege of voting on financial questions in city and school elections. Is this law any more in accordance with the terms of the Constitution than the law first proposed?

The statutes of the United States require a residence of five years before a foreigner can, by naturalization,

become a citizen of the United States.

Every state

is allowed to decide for itself what shall be the qualifications of its electors (voters), and many states allow aliens to vote as soon as they have declared their intention of becoming citizens. See the World Almanac for 1896," pp. 110, III, for a statement of requirements in a voter in each state in the Union.

204. Privilege from Arrest. Sec. 2. Electors shall, in all cases except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest on the days of election, during their attendance at such elections, going to and returning therefrom.

If it were not for this provision in the Constitution, men might be deprived of the privilege of voting by an arrest on some unimportant or even feigned grievance of a private nature. Notice the nature of the exceptions to this exemption from arrest.

205. Exemption from Military Duty.-Sec. 3. No elector shall be obliged to perform military duty on the day of the election, except in time of war or public danger.

If the militia were required to be in camp on election day, it would work a hardship in connection with their voting privilege; but in time of a riot or other public danger, the militia must be available to protect society.

206. Residence of Soldiers and Marines.-Sec. 4. No person in the military, naval, or marine service of the United States shall be considered a resident of this State by being stationed in any garrison, barrack, or military or naval place or station within this State.

The vote of soldiers in barracks in a small town would be a menace to the wishes of the residents while the soldiers would have no vital interests at stake.

207.

Disqualifications for Elective Franchise. Sec. 5. No idiot, or insane person, or person convicted of any infamous crime shall be entitled to the privilege of an elector.

An idiot is one who has been weak-minded from birth. An imbecile is one who has become weakminded through disease or accident. An insane person is one whose mind is in any way seriously unbalanced. Such people lack the intelligence necessary for the safe use of the ballot. They would become the tools of politicians. By an infamous crime is meant one punished with imprisonment in the penitentiary. Criminals of this class certainly should not be trusted with the ballot. Provision is made, however, for the restoration of franchise to such parties through the action of the governor, and this is commonly done in the case of criminals who show promise of permanent reform.

208. Good Time of Prisoners. In this connection it is interesting to know that the law grants a reduction of the time of a prisoner's sentence, if he observes all the rules and requirements of the prison where he is confined.

reduced to eleven years and three months, and a

twenty-five years' sentence may be reduced to thirteen years and nine months. Good time may be forfeited by the breaking of rules and other misbehavior, two days being lost for the first offense, four days for the second, eight days for the third, and so on in geometrical ratio. In consequence of this good time, or on his own judgment, the governor may restore the franchise to a criminal. Code, §§ 5703-5706.

209. Elections.-Sec. 6. All elections by the people shall be by ballot.

AMENDMENT. The general election for State, County and Township officers shall be held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November.

(The foregoing amendment was adopted at the general election in 1884.)

210.

Registration. All voters in cities of thirtyfive hundred inhabitants are required to register before election, giving their names and certain other items of information as stated in the list below. Code, § 1076.

Each of these items is a heading for a column in the registration book, so that the same items of informa