Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-14


sure thingp' he cried as he slipped his
arm around Tins shoulder.
'Will the majority be big?" asked Tim.
1T 1t amt big enough we'll disfranchise
more aristocrats and enfranchise the
dogsr" Tim wondered whether this prop
osition was altogether fiattering.
During the progress of the campaign a
committee from the Organization of the
truly loyal" Ezra Perkins and Dave
Haley, called on Tom Camp.
mr.. Camp, we want your help as a
leader among the poor white people to
save the country from these rebel aristo-
Gratis who have ruined It," said Ezra
You're barkin' up the wrong tree!' an
swered Tom 'dryly.f
THE poor men have got to stand to-
gether now and get their rights"
well, II I've got to stand with niggers,
have 'em hug me and blow their breath
in my face, as you fellers are dom, you
can count me out!-and II that's all you
want with me, you'll find the door open"
Haley tried his hand.
Look here, Camp. we ain't got no hard
feelin's again you, but there's goin' to be
trouble for every rebel in this county
who don't git on our side and do 1t quick. :"
I'm used to trouble pardner." replied
Tom.
you've got a nice little cabin home and
ten acres Of land. Fight US and we will
IT don't believe it." cried Tom.
Come come" said Perkins. you're not
fool enough to fight us when we've got a
dead sure thing, q majority fixed before
the voting begins, congress and the whole
army back of us?''
Il amt err niggerr' said Tom. doggedly.
Whats the use to be a fool, Camp"
cried Haley. 1--WE are Just using the mig
ger to stick the votes in the box. He
thinks he's .goin' to heaven, but We'll ride
him all the way up to the gate and hitch
I him on the outside. VIII you come in
with us?" t tf>
Don't like your complexionr' he an
swered, rising and going toward the door.
Then Wen turn you out into the road
in less than two years. said Haley as they
left. +#
IAN right" laughed the old soldier. 81
slept on the ground four years. boys"
When he came back into the room he
met his wife with tears in her eyes. ooh,
| Tom, I'm afraid they'll do what they say.
ITO tell you the truth, ole woman, I'm
afraid so, too. But we're in the hands
of the Lord. This is His house If He
( wants to take it away from me now when
I'm crippled and helpless, He knows
what's best.
II wish you didn't have to go agin 'em. +"
Il amt er niger, ole GAL and don't
! flock with niggers. If God Almighty had
meant me to be one He'd have made my
| skin black!"
On election day no publication Of the
polling places had been made. Ezra Per-
kins had in charge the whole county. He
| consolidated the fifteen voting precincts
| into three and located these in negro dis
| tricts. He notified only the members of
the secret leagues where these three vot-
| ing places were to be found. and other
people were allowed to find them on the
| day of the election as best they could.
Perkins made himself the poll holder
at Hambright though he was a candidate
! for member of the constitutional conven-
ton, and the poll holders were allowed to
keep the ballots in their possession for
| three days before forwarding to the gen.
/ eral in command at Charleston. s. c.
J Scores of negroes, under the instructions
| Of their leaders, voted three times that
! day. Every negro boy fairly well grown
was allowed to vote and no questions ask
| ed as to his age.
Nelse approached the polls, attempting
to cast a vote against the Rev. Ezra Per