The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-14

State will be disfranchised if the law is
carried out.
"No matter what sort of election law
we have there are certain counties in
Eastern North Carolina which will go
Democratic
Mr.. Curtis, of Buncombe: "Didn't
your speakers say four years ago that
your party had an election law that would
make fraud impossible?"
Giles-"Ill take that back now"
Curtis-''You admit that you lied then?''
Giles-''We were mistaken
In regard to the injunction section of
the law (sections So and S9) Mr.. Giles
argued that they were an insult to every
Judge in the State.
you've got the power to impeach them
if they do wrong, and it would be bet
ter to impeach them than to put this
provision in the law placing a stigma
upon them.
Il tell you that with fair election law
you'd get more votes for the amendment
than you will with this law"
Speaking to Mr.. Johnsons statement
that the election law was intended to
permit fraud, Mr.. Giles said
THE eighth commandment says thou
shalt not steal"
Quick as a flash Mr.. Thompson, of Ons-
low, added: ut also says thou shalt not
bear false Witness
Mr.. Curtis of Buncombe, said he had
not intended having anything to say, but
when the minority speaks as though we
were a den of thieves and robbers it gets
me little hot under the collar.
-Four years ago the Fusionists told
us they had a law under which there
could be no fraud. Two years later, with
all the election machinery, they were
beaten and they yelled, Fraud, thievery
and corruption.
Here Mr. Curtis referred to the dis
reimbursement of the people of his sec
ton by the action of a Republican Con-
gress in throwing out enough votes to
give Pearson the seat that belonged to
Crawford
Mr. Giles interrupted to say that the
Pearson contest was based on just the
same facts and law as governed the con-
test by which Eaves and Lambert were
given their seats in the State Senate.
Mr. Rountree-"There is not word of
truth in that"
Mr.. Rountree then explained the diff
ference between the two contests, and
Mr.. Curtis added:
ut might also be added that Pearson
had thrown out the vote of Asheville
because three or four months after the
election negro who voted for him
was arrested and sent to the roads for
swearing to a lie"
MR.. CRAIG'S SPEECH.
Mr. Curtis was followed by Mr.. Craig.
also of Buncombe, who made the best
e l. fx,..~ hat In
has ever made in the Legislature.
THE gentleman from Sampson John
SOM says, and the gentleman from Chat
ham (Giles) intimates that this is the most
infamous law that ever disgraced the
statute books of North Carolina, and that
no one will undertake to defend it.
This is a statement that ought not
to go unchallenged, especially when made
in this House and by man with a
white skin representing an honest constit-
uency The gentleman from Sampson
adds that the law was designed for pur-
poses Of fraud
when member of the Legislature
that passed the lava white man-so far
forgets himself as to say this, he has
placed himself beyond the claim of de-
cent treatment by the white men of the
State"
Mr.. Johnson-'I don't think the gentle
man correctly understood me. l GER
tainly intended to use no such words, and
if l did use them I now desire to with
draw them
Mr.. Craig-"Do / understand the gentle
man to take back the statement that this
is the most infamous law ever placed
upon the statute books?''
Mr. Johnson-'I meant to say that
more fraud could be committed under it
than under any law ever before passed. "
Mr.. Craig-'I didn't ask the gentl =
man that. He represents an honest coz
stituency and he has the color OF an
honest race on his face. Will he give
me an honest answer?
What / want to know is. does he
stand here to say that this law is to
be compared in nfamy to the one tGat
made necessary the Wilmington tiot. tIat
made possible the disgraceful scenes en-
acted on the streets of Greenvlle, that
brought on the degrading coniitiols hat
existed in many of the eastern c.,.lr
ties? Do | understand the g4ntl eman
to decline to take back that statement?
If he does he'll go back to his constie-
uency, branded by his own words, an
object of loathing and pity in tie ot'@s
of the women and children of I'D Sam J.
son.
Il brand it as lie and a Slah 'r.
Mr.. Johnson see the gentleman still
does not understand me. The impression
| wanted to convey was tEGt the present
election law is more dang 1rous than that
of 1885,
Mr. Craig-"More dangerous? Yes it
is more dangerous to the pie hunter to
the ignorant and corrupt, to the alien
who would vote.
SUPREME COURT ROASTED.
1T takes away temptation from IL
dietary that has already prostituted lis
power and even now disgrac IS the halls
of the Supreme court They've already
usurped the province of the Legislature
to make laws for North Carolina, and
now they wish the right to pass upon
election officers, inspect the returns and
restore the rule of the negro pa ~
Mr.. Craig then turned his attention to
the Pearson Crawford contest ant; among
| other things told how 176 negroas lad
| voted in Asheville and when, later, in
| quiry in regard to them was male, moth
| ing could be learned of such men. They
! had paid no tax, the number and resi-
| dence they had given knew them Tot