Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-22
A CLEAN SHUT-OUT.
The Latest Mississippi Plan to Secure
Rule by the Whites.
A GERRYMANDER ON RACE LINES
This Will Give a Democratic Legislature
Which Will Do the Rest.
eOLORED MEN AROUSED TO ACTION
rsrxc1AL TELEGRAM 70 THE DISPATCH

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DfsPATcu.1
WINoNA, MISS, June 21.-The whole
State is aroused over the question Of uf-
frage, to be discussed by the approaching
constitutional convention, and it is evident
ly. the determination of the whites to elimi-
nate the negro as citizen. People of the
North have no conception of the feeling on
this question in this State and the bitter
strife it has aroused. The majority of the
negroes have not made much objection to
their proposed disfranchisement, on the
ground that 1t is useless and wiser not to do
so. But the leading eolored men are now
waking up to the situation.
The poor whites are not considered. The
Republicans who favor negro suffrage are so
few they have no influence. Captain B. T.
Jones, one Of the leading planters of the
State, has published in a leading paper here,
and is urging throughout the State, the fol-
lowing plan:
TO TAKE EVERYTHING IN SIGHT.
Il have carefully studied the many plans
proposed to extricate the white people of Mis-
sissippl from negro rule, and at the same time
have free election and q fair count'-without
bulIdozing. The old men of the present
generation can't afford to die and leave the
election to their children with shotguns in their
hands, lie in their mouths and perjury on
their lips, in order to defeat the negroes. be-
lieve the Constitution can be made SO that this
are not entirely my own, but the plan sug-
gested Is, think. the best, simplest and surest
that can be adopted"
First-Let the convention apportion the Sem
ators and Representatives in the Legislature
according to the white population paying no
attention to the negro population. This win
give the whites large majority in the Legisla-
ture.
second-Iet the Legislature elect the United
States Senators.
Thrd-Let it elect the Governor and State
officers.
Fourth-Let it elect the Presidential cleo.
tors.
APPOINT IF THEY CAN'T ELECT.
Fifth-Let it elect, or the Governor appoint
the Judges. II this is not satisfactory. the
people can elect in white districts and the
Governor appoint in black districts.
Sixth-Let the Governor and State Board
appoint the Election Commissioners.
First-Make it requisite for a voter to be a
citizen OF the State three years. of the county
two years, and of precinct one year. and place
poll tax at 81, which shall be paid before vot-
ing.
The above plan will give the white people the
Legislature, the United States Senators, the
Presidential electors, the Governor and ali the
State officers and the Judges.
We can ut the same time have fair election
and . friendly one. Every negro in the State
could: go to the polls and vote without him
drance and fear. This proposition would not
disfranchise poor or illiterate negro or white
man, 1t would not require shot guns, perjury
or the stufhng of ballot boxes. In the black
counties let the negroes elect their man with
out molestation, because the whites would
know. when the general result all over this
State came in, that a large majority of the
Legislature would be white.
WHAT MUST BE ENDURED.
see no way to fix the Constitution SO we can
control the Congressional and county elections.
The adoption of the sixth and seventh items
mentioned above would aid us in these elec-
tions very materially. The Democratic State
convention would meet as at present and NOM
mate full State ticket, and the Legislature
would, of course, elect it
From the present outlook, within 20 years