The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-01-18

osITIoN To DIsFRASCHIsK SE-
GRoEs AND ILLTTERATK WHITES
WOULD NOT RECEIVE A SINGLE
DEMOCRATIC VOTER IN THE LEaIs-
LATURE AND DESoUNcEs THosE
WHO MAKE THE CHA RGE AS sPEAK-
ING FALSELY AND TRYING To POOL
THE PEOPLE.
From Caucasian Oct. ly.-
The following affidavit made by
James III. Pou, ex-Chsirman OF the
State Democratic Executive Com
mittee, during the last campaign,
will be interesting reading. Our
readers will remember that when
ever and wherever IL was charged
In the last campaign that IL the
Democratic machine under Sim
mons got control Of the State, that
they would offer a scheme TO dis
franchise illitterate votes. that the
charge was Indignantly denied and
denounced by every Democratic
speaker as being UNANIMOUSLY false.
Even Mr.. Simmons, the Democrat
ic State Chairman, issued an offici-
al statement to the voters of the
State, branding every such charge
as false in toto; saying that that
campaign lie had been charged
against the Democratic party be-
fore, and that the charge was now
so old and so false that no one
would believe 1t.
Mr.. James III. Pou, the ex-Chair-
man of the State Democratic Com
mittee, In his speeches made the
same declaration. But IL seems
that in one Of his speeches In Moore
county, some members OF his audi
dience expressed doubt OF the truth
Of his indignant denial, and called
upon him while upon the stand to.
Wit to that effect. He publicly
agreed to do so, we are informed.
The result is the affidavit below,
made at Raleigh, dated Oct. 18th.
1898. 1t will be noticed that Mr..
Pou, shrewd, slick and cunning ss
he is, attempted to word his affida
Wit so as not to say explicitly what
he had said publicly on the stump,
and yet at the same time, TO say
enough to make Ii appear that his
affidavit had made good his cam
paign dsclaration, and fool the vo-
tiers Into accepting his statement
and voting for the machine.
The following is \ true copy Of
the affidavit:
STATE OF NoRTH CAROLINA,
County OF Wake.
James Fl. Pou, being duly sworn
deposes and says:
al have never said that, II the
Democrats regained control OF the
State, they intended to disfrancbise
the negroes and iiliterate white vo-
tiers. / never have said anything
like this, and j know that such il
not the intention OF the Democrat
ic party. have never heard a sin
gle Democrat give utteraDce to
such a sentiment, and j do not be-
lieve, il such a proposition comes
before the General Assembly, that
Ii would receive a single Democrat
Ic vote. i believe that a majority OF
the uneducated white voters Of
North Carolina are Democrats. The
Democratic party is appeallny to
them for aid in preserving white
supremacy In the center west and
In restoring IL I'm the Eastern part
Of this State. They are responding
to our appeal. and to repay them for
their aid with a acknowledgements
OF their votes would be folly and
ingrattiude indeed. The man
who makes these charges know
they speak falsely, but their cam
paign this year is run upon the
idea that the people of North Car
, olina would rather believe a false
: hood than the truth, and they
r would rather hear Iibels upon the
honored dead than Ia hear rrgu-
ments based upon TRUTH
(S'gnedl
JAMES II. poU.
Sworn TO and subscribed before
me this October LIST 1898.
[Signedl
Gro. w. THOMPSON,