People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-03-13


February, A. d. 1896, ursuant to
the annexed notice, the following
deposition of H. S. Doyle was taken
on the part Of contestant, there being
present L T. Kitchener, counsel for
contestant, and the contestse in per-
son.
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR..
MTtHENER.
@. Please state your name, age,
residence and oocupat on? A. Ny
name is H. s. DOYLE reside now
at 419 First Street, S E.; am
thirty years old, and am pastor Of
the Israel metropolitan Church.
@: Are you acquainted with the
parties, Mr.. Watson and Mr.. Black :
A. Yes sir, know them both.
Q You may state whether or not
you have ever lived in Georgia? A.
Yes sir, was born in Macon, Geor
gia, in 1866. In 1892 lived in the
Tenth Congressional District, Han
cock county.
Q. Now you may state, if you
know, what was the condition of
political affairs in that district prior
to 1892, when the Populist party
came into existence-what party was
in power in the district, and how
did it hold its nominating conven-
tions, and what was its treatment of
those who wished to vote the Re
pu olican ticket, and generally state
the poll ical and ad illustrative sit
uation in that district? A. Prior to
1892, the counties in that district es-
peoially those in which the negro
exercised no political liberties at all
except in matters Of county cleo
tons namely, the counties of Lincoln,
Columbia, McDuffie and Glascock-
| was the first colored man to make
an open political speech in Lincoln
county. Under the Democratic ad-
minlstration, the negroes were en-
tire!y eliminated from politics There
had not been IN those two counties
two hundred Republican votes
polled in the two previous nationa al
elections. The Populist party, ne.
coming dissatisfied with the existing
C ,nditions, declared break from
the organized Democratic party
The farming and industrial masses,
believing that there was no salvation
for them in either of The old parties
and especially in the Democratic,
asked the negro to come with them
into the Populist party. They re
sponded generously over the whole
district, wherever they were per-
mitted to exercise their suffrage.
Previous to this, the Democratic
sys EN- of electing men consisted in
calling Democratic primaries, and
subsequently stating that only white
D mocrats could vote in the prima-
ry, thus entirely eliminating negroes
of all political faith. The Populists
invited all who thought as they did,
white and black Thus, in Hancock
county, two Dickson boys, who were
one eighth negro and who represent
ed as much taxable property as any
two white men in that county, were
denied access to the primary be-
cause they had some negro blood in
them. That is only an Illustration,
and everywhere the negroes respond
ed to the call OF the Populist party,
excepting in pla es where the en-
ployer and land owner would coerce
the negro, in the country districts,
and in the city, where worthless
purchasable element, who had no in
terest in politics, would 60 where
few dollars and large amount of
whiskey could be found.
Q What was the condition, at
that time, Of the Republican ne
groes? A. think l answered that
in my previous answer.
Q. What l want to know is, what
was their condition with reference to
the exercise of the right of franchise?
A. Ia the counties Of Warren and
Richmond, and l might say Washing
ton, there has been no visible obiec-
ton to the polling of the vote-the
work was done after the ballots were
cast in those counties. But, as
sal J, in the counties OF Lincoln, Co
linn hia MID ,ilia and GIosoOck tho,