Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1900-09-22

MISSISSIPPI MATTERS.
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
By J, L. POWER,
Appeal For Full Popular Vote In No
Vcmber.

%6A<1 fa.'3' ID 5S :. q - "a - 'S-f. u 60 "
Appeal For a Full Popular Vote In Mo-
vember.
At the meeting of Central Democratic
Club, in Jackson, on the 7th instant,
the following was unanimously adopted:
To the Central Democratic Club: t
Your committee to consider the very |
small popular vote at general elections |
in this State and to suggest how and
why the same should be increased beg |
leave to report that we have carefully |
inquired into this very important mat
ter and submit a few facts and figures, |
this mere statement of which, 1t IS
hoped, will demonstrate the propriety |
of this action of the Central Club.
The total registered vote of the
Seventh congressional district in 1896
was 16,G4S The total vote for congress
in that district in 1898 was 1904. The
registered vote of all the districts in
1896 was 1851, of which l09,33 were
white, 16,234 colored. The total vote
in all the districts for members of con-
gress 10 1898 was 27, 37S, of which 25, 127
were for the Democratic candidates.
At the same election there were only
29Sl3 votes cast on the elective judici-
airy amendment
A carefully prepared tabulation Of
the entire registered vote in 1890 shows
a total of 14O, S9i-123, 567 white, l8, ITO
eolored. The total vote for governor
at the election the same year was 49,
370, which was the highest vote cast
for any of the State Offices. The pri-
mary vote for governor in seventeen
counties was 20, 0,59i. The primary vote
for United States senator in fifty-two
counties was 66, 759. The total regis
tered vote (white) of Kinds county in
1890 was 3,273. The total vote for gov
ernor at the general election in Kinds
county the same year was only 79i, or
2,479 votes less than was cast in the
primary for a county Office.
If there are 1878 white registered
voters in Kinds and $500 Of these were
cast in a primary, is it not unfortunate
that the vote that must be officially
tabulated and that goes into the records
of the country is that cast at the gen
eral elections? If there are Is, III reg
istered voters in the Seventh district,
why should the certified result of llr1.
c. L. Hooker's election be a total of
8 900 or less? If Col. Hooker was the
primary, why should not that choice be
ratified in the general election? II the.
primary election is to govern in the
selection of candidates for public Of
fee, why should not the law be amended
SO as to require that the primary vote
be tabulated with the same care as the
vote at the general election, and Of
fcially published, so as to show the en-
tire voting strength of the State? Why
should it be a matter of continuous
, comment and inquiry and explanation
. that our representatives take their seats
/ in congress with only one.siSth of the
registered vote?
That the Democratic candidates In
the seven districts will be elected goes
$ without saying; but that they would bC
S proud to receive a popular instead of
fragmentary vote all must admit. So
let us in 1900 make a new departure
from the usage that hasobtained in oul
general elections and let every quail
fed voter who can go to the polls give
expression to his choice of candidates
This is the more important in prest
Dental year, when not only the elec
toral vote decides, but when there i
- much stress LAID upon the popular vot'
of the whole country. In the preslden
tial election of 1896 there were 13,9l4,
: 4q4 votes east for all the candidates
. OF these Mr.. Mckinley received 7,1O0,
500. and Mr.. Bryan 6,497,325. Had Tn
II more than 10000 white Democrats o
s Mississippi who stayed away from tn
q polls that year, with proportionate non
4 voters in all of the Southern States
}. done their full duty, Mr. Bryan woul
have received the largest popular vot
c in 1896, and the moral effect of such
/ fact would be felt in the present con
L test.
We submit that it should be our spt
Is cial aim, as Democratic clubs, and a
e individuals, to bring out full vote, 5
" that Mr.. Bryan may know that Missi'
IL sippi is for him, first, last and all tn
/ time;" that our congressman may nc
'e have to spend any of their valuabl
IS time in explaining why their constitl
e ents don't vote, and that there may b
- full expression on the two amenC
ments to the constitution thatare to /
}. a part of the ballot in November, r.
spectfully submitted,
D j. l.. POWER,
c. L. HOOKER, JR,,
j. r. SHOWERS,
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