The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-05-03

kuOuoy, anu Suc cudSShucns Va AhohC
and unconstitutional
than any former legis-
lature was ever guilty OF In the his
tory Of the State.
/ understand thoroughly that you
are most anxious to draw attention
from, and to avoid a discussion OF
the monstrous provision OF the
present infamous Election Law
which bears your name,-a law the
provisions Of which l do not be-
lieve single honest man in the
State will endorse or tolerate when
he understands the uses you in
tend to make Of it. You seem to
think that politicians can make is
sues and set them aside as 1t suits
their convenience, but permit me
to remind you that you will learn
before this campaign is over, that
the present Election Law Is one OF
the great and overshadowing is
sues in this campaign, in spite Of
your desire to keep 1t In the back |
ground. You have dOubtlessfelt the
sting Of the denunciation, by many
good men in your own party, OF this
undemocratic and dishonest Elec. |
ton Law, and therefore you had
your State Convention to endorse
it so as to make your party associ-
ates share its odium with you. On
the other hand, the Peoples Party
State Convention vigorously de-
conventions made it distinct par
ty issue, the one side declaring for
ballot box-stuffing and fraud, the
other for free ballot and q fair
count.
There are numerous provisions in
this Election Law, including the un-
limited power given to registrars
and the denial Of the right Of ap-
peal from their decisions, however
unjust, the denial to opposing po-
litical parties of any representa-
tion on the election boards of their
own selection the unlimited pow
er given to an election board, all Of
the same party, to put thousand
or more voters into one precinct, so
as to make it impossible for even
half of the voters of such a precinct
to cast their ballots during the
whole day of the election, none OF
which provisions can be endorsed
sanctioned, or tolerated by any man
; unless he is in favor of stealing the
votes of freemen and thwarting
and overturning the will of the PEG.
pie by force, by fraud, and by cor.
ruptton. There is another provis
. ion providing for the appointment
of vast number of election consta
. bles or bailifis giving them the pow
er to arrest any voter, without war
} rant, and hold him under arrest un
), til after the election, thus depriv
ing him not only of his liberty blu
!, Of his right to vote. This provision
, is more odious and outrageous thai
l the Infamous Federal Force Bill.
But there is another provision IL
), this dangerous and unfair Election
J, Law that you especially fear, TO
( the honest fairminded people of al
t parties to be informed of in thi
u campaign. That is, the provision
t which denies to the illiterate vote
i. the right to require the officers o
Il the election to take his six ballot
|, and deposit each one in the prope
l. box. How can the illiterate whit
ri voter cast his vote and have
l. counted under this provision? Ev
q cry white voter who cannot rea,
e his ballot, and read the name o.
lr each one of the six ballot boxes
e will lose his vote, because you hav
@ so fixed the law, that you can thro,
o out his vote il it Is not in the righ
y box.
h This provision is intended to dil
y franchise the illiterate white vo,
ers in the coming campaign. Yo
Is know, but you do not want the pee
1t pie to know, that you are going t
Ii do, in the coming election unde
l. this Election Law, what you ar
1t now promising that the Amend
% ment will not dO-that Is to die
5, franchise the illiterate white vote
II We especially desire a joint dii
e cussion before the people of tn
d State in order that the honest mass
3 es may learn the truth and have
D. clear understanding Of the iniquit
IT Gus provisions of this Election Law
'e so that they may have an opportu
le nifty to petition the Legislature, a
st its June session, to repeal, or amen
70 it in many important particular
r before the election is held.
l. While you claim that you wan
a white supremacy in the State, ye
IL you are afraid for the white peopl
l. to hear these, and the other Wits
n questions at issue, discussed 1
y joint debate. You are afraid for a.
t. of the white people to hear bot
t, sides. You are afraid, that you coul
i'd not control the rank and file Of th
Democratic party by appeals
passion and prejudice, If they knee
,e the truth and the facts which 70
is are hiding from them.
D. In conclusion. permit me to ga
,e that no one knows better than you
b self that If the people should hea
S. the above questions and the othe
,e issues discussed in joint debat.
that they would repudiate you an
your party machine, with a lare
= majority Of the white vote of I'd
W State. These are your real reason
20 for running from joint discussion
You have taken counsel with you
q fears but your dodge will not ava
you. The people Of North Carolil,
: are just and fairminded. When the
~ learn, that you fear to meet the Il
y sues in joint discussion, have col
~, ~ idence, that their desire to kno'
~ the truth, and their belief in IA
, play, will cause them to read on
=, literature and hear our speakers, G
!" that they may know for themselve
= why you are afraid.
- Yours respectfully,
70 MARION BUTLER.
n Chairman of the Peoples Part
~ State Executive Committee.