The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-14
THE HOUsE.PROCEEDINGs.
A Sensational Debate on the Election
Law.

Speaker Connor called the House to or
der at 10 o'clock and prayer was offered
by Rev. w. d. Hubbard, of the Taber
nacle Baptist church.
After reading of the Journal the Elec-
tion Law bill was taken up.
Mr.. Winston, of BERTHE, offered an
amendment changing the title of the bill
to read as follows:
"An Act supplemental to an act enti-
tied An Act to regulate Elections, rati-
fled March 9th, 1899, the same being chap
ter 5O7 of the Public Laws of 1S99''
Mr.. Johnson PopulisD, of Sampson
sent forward the following amendments:
l. To constitute the County Boards of
Election of three members-one Democrat,
one Populist and one Republican-each to
be nominated by his State chairman.
3 To require judges of election to de-
pcsit the ballot of a voter in the proper
boxes.
g. To allow summary hearing of election
cases before a judge of the Supreme or
Superior court
Speaking to his amendments Mr.. John
son said he had offered them in justice
and fairness and for the liberty of the
people of North Carolina. He thought
the present election law one of the most
unfair, most unjust pieces of legislation
ever enacted in the State. He had never
heard any one try to defend it's honesty or
integrity. He could see in it but one
pUrpose-to defeat the will of the people.
Il am not in favor of negro rule or
social equality" he said. Il believe the
white men of North Carolina ought to
rule: / believe they will rule. | am
aware that there are a few counties
down here in the East that are threaten
ed with negro domination, but | doubt if
the ends sought will justify the means
here resorted to.
The most dangerous thing in the
world is to legalze fraud. corruption and
trickery-to put that which is not honest
and of good report on the statute books.
| had a thousand times rather teach my
boy to take his Winchester and defend
himself than to teach him to lie and
steal and defraud. l tell you if this cleo
ton law is carried out-and we have no
assurance that it will not be carried out
it will deprive not only negroes of their
votes, but a great many white people as
well, and it was so intended.
81 am not here to defend the negro
race. l believe in all candor that they
ought never to have been given the right
to vote. Being, ignorant and just freed
from bondage they were unfit to exercise
the right of suffrage. | believe also that
the white man has inherited the qualfi-
cations that make him fit for, and capa-
bic of, self-rule. Many of those who
shouldered their muskets and fought in
the late war for home and country-many
OF the best people today in North Caro-
llna-can not read and write. They have
ruled and they will rule under all cir
cumstances and l hope to see the day
when the Anglo-Sa race will be su-
preme over all the earth
MIR. JUSTICE MAKES REPLY.
Mr.. Justice, of Mcdowell, made reply
to Mr. Johnson.
The only the county in the world in
which majority Of white people are
controlled by a party of negroes.
I'm 1894 the gentleman from Sampson
tJohnson) and his colleagues were parties
to conspiracy and a fusion by which
the negro was put in power, Russell was
elected Governor and the State disgraced.
There are men today on the Supreme and
Superior court benches that were then
elected by negro votes and the negro in
Huence To-Day controls them.
Mr.. Justice declared that he was oD-
posed to every amendment Mr.. Johnson
had proposed These he read and dis
cussed, section by section.
Touching the proposition to give all
three parties representation in the ap-
pointment of registrars and poll holders,
he asked, if this were done, what would
be the condition of affairs?
why it would be this: The Democrats
would simply give themselves minority
representation The Republicans would
get one, the Populsts one and the Dem
ocrats one. But the Republicans and
PopuliSts having fused are one andAMould
therefore have two of the three appoint
ees. pretty arrangement that would
be for us to make. Its. a travesty upon
honesty and justice to talk about letting
Butler and Holton name honest men for
u.s. Why their very names are synonyms
for hypocrisy and fraud. They are
stencil in the nostrils of all decent peo-
pie. and yet you talk about teaching your
boy to be honest by letting them name
the men who are to conduct our elections
for us in North Carolina.
"You say, sir, Ito Mr.. Johnson that
you are in favor of White Supremacy,
and so are we, and to keep the negroes
out we don't propose to let you name
those who would do all in their power to
let them in.
'You say that when you had the max
ing of the election law you let us have
representation in all election matters.
Yes, you did, when everybody knows that
you and the Republicans are one and the
same thing and the only protection the
Democrats had was the honesty of the
men you appointed-if they had any hon
Continued on Page Five.)