The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-19

republican clamor to the contrary. that
the white vote OF North Carolina was
eutitled 20 this protection. and the ract
that under the election laws OF 1sss-s',
framed without these necessary SAFE
guards. lot less han 10000 negroes
were fraudulentiy registered and voted
in the general elections OF 1895 and 1885
shows that these provisions are not
only wise, but necessary
unless the honest vote o. a white man
in North Carolina Is tn be offset by
the vote OF some negro having. ID
the laws and constitution Of the state.
no right to vote at all.
The other provisions OF the law to
which objection has been made all look
to the same end-the prevention Of
fraudulent voting. The books are re-
quired to be at the polling places on
Saturday before the election for the in
spection OF all voters in order that
challenges may be marked. and where
one Is challenged n law requires him
10 be notified and he Is given a hear
ing.
Il also gives the opportunity to cfal-
lenge on election day. If IL is found that
a party Offering to vote is not entitled
TO do 20.
Il requires the election officers TO
keep clear a space Of fifty feet around
the voting places, 50 the voter nay be
INV ~
but II permits each political party TO
have representatives within this space
as c~hellengers, and TO call in witnesses
to sustain any challenge
It requires the ballots TO be on white
paper and Of the same size II in or
der that no mistake may be made and
that no ballots may be rejected for
failure TO comply with this provision,
the election boards are required to file
a sample ballot. showing size and color
of the paper where il is easily acces-
sible to all parties
These are the requirements OF the law
to which objection has been made, and
We submit hat they are fair and Just.
We invite a close scrutiny OF all Its
terms. and rely with confidence upon
the Judgment of the people that IL -
honest and will promote fair elections.
Many OF these provisions 10 which the
republicans most strenuousiy object
did not originate with the democratic
| party, but are TO be found in the act
of congress under which the election
of 1867 was held to elect delegates to
frame a constitution, and this was the
first election in which the negro voted
in North Carolina. The act Of con-
gress provides:
That the boards of registration shall
have power, and II shall be their duty,
before allowing the registration Of any
Z ~ a.NtAN IA aioLA Sb1AA - ~
information as they can obtain wheth-
er such person is entitled to be regis
tered under said act. and the oath re-
Quired by said act shall not be conclu-
| sive on such question, and no person
shall register unless such board shall
decide hat he IS entitled thereto; and
such board shall also lave power TO
examine, under oath Ito be administer
ed by any member Of such board), any
one touching the qualifications OF any
person claiming to register"
And among the regulations for the
election were the following:
XIII. The room used for registra-
ton. which the chairman shall have
previously provided for the purpose,
shall be so arranged that the board
shall be separated by a bar from all
other persons who may be assembled,
and those to be registered shall be adj
mitted within the bar. one by one. n
their ingress and egress 50 arranged
| as to avoid confusion
XIV. If any challenge be made, the
board shall, before final decision, eX-
anime the person presenting himself
for registration in reference to the
AUS of disqualification alleged, and
shall hear any evidence that may be
offered to substantiate or dlsprove the
aus of challenge, and shall have pow
er to summon and compel attendance
of witnesses and administer Oaths In
any case of registration
XVII. Fifth. Whether or not there
be any challenge. the board must as
certain, upon such facts vr Information
as can be obtained, that the applicant
is entitled to be registered before
marking his name as 'accepted-the
| oath not being conclusive"
---|