Evening star., 1900-10-22
IN THE OLD NORTH STATE
ALLEGED INTIMIDATION OF VOTERS
BY DEMOCRATIC REGISTRARS.
Indictments Found by Federal Courts
Grand Jury-Judge BOyd's Charge
-Repablican Confereace.
Special From a Stafr CORRESPONDENT.

GREENSBORO, N. c., October q
Senator ]. c. Pritchard. in his capacity
as chairman of the; republican state central
committee, has called a conference Of the
leading republicans of North Carolina to be
held in this city this evening. While the
object Of the conference has not been
divulged, it is understood the action OF
many democratic registrars in intimidating
colored men who sought to register in Or
der to be qualified to vote at the coming
presidential election, will be discussed up
to the present time the federal grand jury
for the western district OF North Carolina
has indicted about one dozen of these Off
cials, and this event has proved to be the
only exciting incident of the campaign, out
side of what has been occasioned by the
work of Mr. F. M. Simmons, chairman OF
the democratic state central committee, ana
Gen. Julian s. Carr, the two leading demo-
cratic candidates for the United States sen
atorship Each of these gentlemen wants
to succeed Senator Marion Butler upon the
expiration of his term in March next.
This action of the grand jury followed the
delivery Of charge to that body a sew
days ago by Judge James E. Boyd, for
merly assistant attorney general OF the
United States, in which he said 1t was com
monty supposed that the court over which
he presides has no jurisdiction over crimes
other than violations Of the revenue laws,
but this was mistake. He declared the
jurisdiction and purpose OF the feoerai
courts are not so limited. The federal
the courts of the people as are the state
courts, for while the latter look after the
police regulations of the community ana
protect the people in their rights OF person
and of property, the federal courts admin
lister the laws of the United States which
are intended to protect the citizen In the
exercise Of his rights and privileges and
shield him from unlawful encroachment
upon his liberties.
Defines Violations.
Continuing his charge, Judge Boyd said:
Though a person may act under color OF
a state statute or local law. still If he sub
jects or causes to be subjected any inhabi-
tant to the deprivation of any rights, privi-
leges or immunities secured or protected
by the Constitution and laws of the United
States. he commits criminal violation Of
the federal law. Not only has citizen who
possesses the prescribed qualifications the
right to vote and have his vote counted as
cast, but he has the still further privilege
of being candidate for office If he So de-
sires, and an interference of his exercise OF
this privilege by persons who conspire to
injure, threaten or Cypress him Is unlawful
Such candidate Is also entitled to have the
votes cast for him properly counted and
returned, and the deprivation of this right.
although under color Of q state law, Is in
dictable.'
AS above stated, the indictment Of twelve
alleged offending registrations has infused
activity into what has been in the main an
apathetc and almost Hstless campaign.
But it has done more-it has produced
something akin to panic and one OF the
members Of the dem0cratic state central
committee assured The Stars correspon-
dent that from the brave" Chairman Sim
mons down they intend to stand by the
men who are to be tried by the federal
court as violators Of law.
Views of a Republican.
One Of the most prominent republicans in
the state of North Carolina said yesterday
he had been engaged for weeks in trying
to study the meaning of the language OF
some portions of the election law of the
state, which law was framed by Mr.. Sim
mons, the democratic leader. but had found
1t impossible to arrive at what he thought
was the correct solution Of the problem.
The effect of one section. the gentleman
explained. is that IL there should be on the
republican ticket the words For Con-
gress," for example, the word for would
be adjudged superfluous and the ballot
would be thrown out A similar result can
be attained by Judge of election putting
a ticket in the wrong box, whether by acci-
dent or design.
Some of the other termed unusual pro-
visions of the law:
ANY person who shall treat with either
meat or drink, on any day of election, or on
any day previous thereto, WIN an ihten,
to influence the election. shall forfeit and
pay $780, the one-half for the use OF the
county and the other to the use Of the per-
son who shall sue for the same.
ANY person who shall bet or wager any
money or other thing of value upon any
election held in this state shall be guilty OF
a misdemeanor.
THAT any person who shall give away or
sell any intoxicating liquors. except Tor
medical purposes and upon the prescrip-
ton of practicing physician, at any places
within five miles Of the polling place at
any time within twelve hours next preced-
ing or succeeding any public election,
whether general, local or municipal, or dur
ing the holding thereof, shall be guilty OF
a misdemeanor and fined not less than 500
nor more than $1,000" j. L. II.