The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-12
OPPOSED TO HARDWICK BILL.
CONTINUED From Eighth Page.)

church and politics, were called upon
few months ago to operate in putting down
crime and lawlesSneSs among their people.
They have united in this and their efforts
have been very successful. There mas Deeh
less crime and lawlessness in Georgia dur
ing the last few months than for long
time past. 1t will be very poor encourage
ment to them to have their people disfran-
chised just when they are endeavoring to
make good citizens of them. What assur-
ances could they give of good treatm nj
in return for good behavior. me Jaw
would discourage the negro from becom-
ing a good citizen
'"Tbe law is not needed" said L. M.
Peasants 1.-THE colored vote is disfran-
chised anyway when the whites want 1t
DISTINGUISHED. The negroes have always
voted with the Democrats in local mat
ters."
J. C. Simmons: "It is an attempt to
take an unjust advantage of a weak peo-
pie The population of the two races in
this state is nearly equal and vt h re
is not a single negro representative in the
LEGISLATURE not even from he counties Oh
the black belt. The negroes have shown
that they do not seek office where worthy
white men aspire to it. The negro vote IS
not purchasable in national elections. 1t
is only purchasable in local elect ms, pe-
cause white men force the money upon
them. 1t is we'll known here that there
are whites votes which are purcha able
also and the white man usually gets a
bigger price for his vote than the negro
who often gets only promises"
1.-The bin is clearly unconstitutional.
said r. w. White, land win be a fruitful
means of producing strife among the two
races. if it becomes a law 1t may be the
means of largely reducing the population
of the state, as many colored men would
seek homes in other states where they are
not DISTINGUISHED. The cause as to voters
in 1867 and their descendants is clearly un-
constitutional and plainly class legisla>
ton"
'eyVhat. encouragement will the negro
have to pay his poll tax for educational
nurposes.' asked j. d. Campbell, IF he
is not allowed to vote. The effect OF dis
reimbursement is already seen in TINS
county. Out of 5000 or 5000 colored vot-
ers only about / 900 register and vote and
no effort is made to collect the poll tax
from the remainder. Colored officials have
urged the county officials TO enforce the
collection of these taxes from colored Vor-
ers. but so far as we know no effort has
ever been made in this direction
Ii is safe to say That these statements
express the views of the leading members
Of their race generally and practically OF
every negro who is capable Of forming an
opinion on the subject. As the question Is
one of great importance to the negroes,
II is only just that they should be given
an opportunity to state their side of the
case and it Is of interest to the white
citizens as well to know what these views
are.
or the three representatives from Chat
ham Mr.. McDonough is said to be Or
posed to the bill, Mr.. LaRoche to be in
favor of it, while Nc Mcmillan is nom
commttal.
Mr.. LaRoohe, who arrived in the city
Yesterday, was seen about this matter.
He said that he believed the Hardwick
hin would become a law. "I do not favor
ali the provisions of the BILL" he sa a,
but I believe in an educational qualfi-
cation for voters and that it should APP
ply without discrimination as to race"