1929: Birmingham opposes bill that would indicate race of candidate on Quincy ballot

In April 1929, Rep. Birmingham opposed a bill that would indicate the race of a candidate on the ballot of Quincy municipal elections.

Rep. Edward Sandberg of Quincy supported the bill, arguing that Quincy does not want to be like Boston, where voters do not know whether they are voting for a black man or a white man, reported the North Adams Transcript, April 12, 1929, p. 6 (Newspaper Archives).

Birmingham opposed the bill, saying that Boston does not care whether a man is black or white if his heart is in the right place. He noted that Abraham Lincoln believed that and he could see no good purpose in the bill.

On a voice vote, the bill was ordered to a third reading. On rising vote, the result was 63 in favor and 77 against. The roll call was refused, the newspaper explained.