The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-23
PORTENTOUS MEETING.

The Negroes organizing To Register
and 10 Take Fart in the Coming
Election.
gress from Newberry, was In town last Mon.
day night, and made q speech in the colored
Odd Fellows Hall, where he met full au
dience OF colored men. The meeting was I'm.
promptu. Mr.. Norman having been called
upon after reaching town, consented 10 make
speech, the subject OF which was the coming
Constitutional Convention, and The matters
incident thereto.
on his hearers the necessity for Organization
and In doing so 10 get rid Of the blood suck.
ers. In organizing we must put our very btst
men forward. After organizing, you must
see that every name Ii enrolled. and then
push The preachers up 10 do their duly.
In discussing the convention Mr. Norman
said:
The convention will be very serious mat
Tillmaniles. They are determined TO take
three rights away from you.
First-Your right TO vote.
Second-The schooling Of your children will
be at an end.
Third-The Homestead law, which will af
feet you and the poor whlt1 man aiike, Will
be taken away from you.
What we must look for now, as means OF
averting these evils. Ia 70 select six 6 'od con.
servative men 10 send as delegates To this
Constitutional Convention. We cant expeci
any representation curse lves H. Republicans,
therefore we must see to IL that we select such
men as will not allow these rights In be taken
from yon. We must also demand that the
new constitution be submitted 10 the people
for their ratification.
Mr.. Norman referred 10 their present
hardship In being deprived OF the right t.
vote aud said that they had brought this
hardship upon themselves by fail Ing to do
their duty. He was glad that they had at last
learned through theft stomachs " hat hey had
failed 10 learn through their brains, and are
now willing TO dO their duty at this late hour
II Is the duty Of every one 10 register. The
law has made provision for every citizen u
register II he will only, apply for the ticket,
and 4! they are refused, as hereto fore, then
we will knock up the Constitutional Conven-
ton itself. So keep list Of all the names ol
these who are refused.
The speaker was satisfied that the present
registration law is demonstrations and
would be no decided 10 short order. when pro-
perly before the Courts.
Now keep the days OF registration In mind
Your next chance will be on the first Mon
Then the first Monday in March, and the
next succeeding ten days.
Then the first Monday In every month up
Ing the last day upon which any registration
tickets may be issued. except possibly To the
Tillmanites who may. get them all the year
round-including Sunday.
Don't walt for the last day, but apply at the
first opportunity, and don't let the ten days
following Sale hay In March TO pass without
having your ticket. Go the first day and
stay until you got your ticket or are refused
and. IL refused, 10 as you have been asked, tn
keep list OF all who are 10 refused.
Now. remembe,. that we do not expect any
Republican representation In the convention
but we must corcent nitrate our forces upon the
best men-men of ability and integrity-in
whom we may safely entrust our rights.
Now, remember, my friends. that this Is a
matter that very seriously concerns you as q
RON 10 loft yUi yN
Mr.. Norman was In Abbeville yesterday
making arrangements for taking testimony
as TO the conduct OF the recent election, pre-.
liminary to the contest for q seat In Congress
from lhii District. Norman was the Repub.
lican candidate, and contends that the regis.
tration law IL Unconstitutional and that the
election was moi properly conducted. even II
the law is constitutional.
Mr.. Norman is now going to the Court
House Of each county In the District. making
arrangements for taking testimony. He
thinks that the taking OF testimony will be-
gin In Newber.y on 5tn Of February. Several
days may he required In each county. One
day or more will be given at Greenwood,
when the Investigating committee Will come
TO Abbeville.
The attorneys of Latimer and Norman
will he present and conduct the investigation.
MIR. MOorman left yesterday for Anderson.
From that city he will 60 10 Seneca, Walhallu
an Pickens, and return home.
Mr.. Moormau says that he Is confident OF
winning his seat, on the fact OF the Imperfect
tickets that were cast for Latimer, but he
doesn't care 10 rely on that fact alone. He
wants double security by proving the illegali-
ty OF the election generality and Of the irreg-
ularity In conducting the same In every conn-
ty In the District.