Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-11

headed republican but the names that
followed were the names OF the democratic
nominees Many such tickets have been
palmed OF on the unsuspecting and nli;eraIs
negro. A certain election was held in an
old storeroom. in which an iron safe had
been left Some time before the polls closed
a prominent family sent an invitation that
the members of the election committee honor
II with their presence at supper. The invita-
non was accepted. When the polls closed the
negro supervisor took possession OF the bal
LOT hoN and hung on to IL with grin of de-
Eght. for he knew that the defeat of democ-
racy was iii it. Some one suggested that the
box be placed in the safe to insure its safety
until supper was over This was satisfac-
Tory. so the box was locked up. but the su-
perNisor preferred to remain right there
until the contents of the box should be
counted So the supervisor sat down and
guarded the sacred box. But the safe
which stood against a partition had a false
mack The partition was also prepared for
the occasion. The black guard never heard
me me ekchanse that went on in the rear of
tnat Safe. but in very few seconds the
glorious republican dream faded away.
prominent negro precinct in F county
PoNed about 100 votes. This precinct was
tne hinge of the results. A negro victory
seemed evident. The votes we're cast in q
cigar box One of the members of the COM
mittee came to the polls without his over
&c Goa.; me weather was not cold. but late
IN tne evening the member complained of
being little chilly and indisposed A boy
was sent for the coat. In this great cnat
was duplicate cigar box. with its votes ali
made out and doctored for the victory Al
the close of the election the indisposed man
LOOK up the cigar box Of votes and crammed
1t into a pocket of his oyercoat and ALI
passed out to the inevitable supper When
the time came to count the vote tho mon.
ballot box emerged from the coat and an
otner victory was scored
On another occasion the negro superyisor
s sa oy me box whole day. never leaving
the room for an instant, for he had nrom7
iSeo mis- people that this election sbouId
SHOW up the truth in all its nakedness Tho
usual supper was served by the prominent
VI NO one seemed to care who had the
p Is IN charge except the offcious negro
lie never TOOK his eyes from IL until cir
Suinstances demanded It, The ballot box
nas placed on a small table in the dining
room, where all could see it. When sunney
was almost finished a member of Tho 49,
sIoaheu' threw his arms up and fell hack
from the table. Confusion reigned and
&c, 80, 10y satnered around the man to as
Isl I nun, possible. The supervisor was
alarmed IN the extreme and was disna,cha5
20 the wei for water in a great b,,rr,e
some one held the lamp down near the sick
the ush, "A WIND from somewhere blew
Ill hsnt OUT The exchange was success
auiiy made and the man soon grew het,er
ana all passed on smoothly the rematnSar
OF the evening. iuei
AT little luncheon in honor of the boar,
OF election the fair hostess was te, DTsiu
oio, ne loI the wants of ALL especially rrra
luis TO the supervisor who had Get ~
.s.tS 80 On the noor at the side of NJ,
i Emair. |" nile she stood by him offerins, the
n,, HuIies OF the evening her dain1y foo,
qu,e,iy moved the ballot box along the a.
VI ur' ~. II was at the edge of bed inst hscI
VI tne unsuspecting supervisor Hera On
.ansements had been fully made and IT,
ueStins OF another election was changed e
i ScheineS and similar ones are
v WORKED to successful termina tions IN al.
t,ous districts at every election tbrouebot,,
me soulnern states where a negro ma5ar,t,
4. possible. Many of the minor maioriti.s
originate on tally sheets
IN justification of such means to b,o5,o
.he negro vote the south claims that sii., IL
IN inc neat of race struggle. The n1ses
ton Is one of domination-shall the Cameo
san or the African rule? The eoyernmen,
mas ielt II to the decision of the ballot hnt
lhe southern white man has not and viii
not accept the situation The struggle bas
become silent. but intense and determined
me negro is too easy prey not to be de-
foured His inferiority makes him 90 He
IS citlzen with a ballot better uncast for
with II he would bring on his own desirnc
Iion- Inc negro at the ballot box In ire
cotton-sroWing states is a straw man. He
IS olack dummy, putting I'D mimic fght
Ior the government that gave him freedom
LOT the government that is powerless 70
sustain the rights that it has given him.