Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-08
cARrERsvILLE. Ca. May 2, 1902.

CARTERsvILLE. Ca, May 2, 1902.
To The Atlanta Journal:
Shall we permit the Populist to vote in
the primary June 5th? This question
should be discussed and this question
should be settled Immediately Some of
the best citizens in Georgia have hitherto
belonged to and voted with the Populist
party. If 1 understand plain English, then
on June 5th. coming, we are to have
white primary to select all of our state
officials, and county officials where they
have decided upon that day for county
primary. 1 have a contempt as profound
as the depths of the bottomless pit for any
gang or ring that would deny any quail
fed white voter the privilege to vote for
his choice in the coming primary. Isn't
a white primary a white primary, and
isn't the Anglo-Saxon blood of this state
determining who their officials shall be?
I have never been a Populist, l have
never been a Republican, nor have ever
voted a Republican vote except when
Judge Dawson A. Walker ran for govern
or against James NJ. Smith. Now these
are the simple facts in the case, but for
the Democrats of Georgia to raise the
question and insult the AAnglo-Saxon
blood Of this state by questioning a mans
right to vote in a white primary because
he once voted the Populist ticket, is an
outrage upon decent citizenship by dirty
political ring.
affirm It as fact that the Democrats
In their Chicago platform which they re-
adopted at Kansas City stole almost ev-
cry plank out of the Populist platform
and incorporated them into their platform
and now to hedge the thing in with
barbed wire fence and leave outside the
dear old Populists sitting around on the
ground in the cold and won't let them in
to occupy some of the platform builded
out of their own. lumber-that's meaner
than the devil. There is not a qualified
white voter in Georgia who walks up to
the polls TO vote in the coming primary
but what has right TO vote under the
laws Of that primary, and the only law
that could bring up a question is whether
or not he will vote for the nominated can
didate at the coming election, which
suppose all men will do, as l myself
would do, though I had to hold my nose
while Il did It, The 5th day of June will
show some things to the ring candidates
Of this state that may make them wiser
in the davs to come 7 believe II religion
in Christianity, in churches, but do
not believe in scheming, tricking ecclesias-
tieism. In the political world. all Anglo
Saxon blood in America stands on an
equal footing. / suppose the fact that
voted for Dawson A. Walker for govern
or of Georgia when I was quite young
man would also keep me out of the white
primary and away from IL. L never was
so much Of a Democrat that would nor
vote or the best man no matter what his
party politics might be. l say to all mem
bers Of the Populist party in Georgia,
come to the front boys, demand your
rights. and vote your convictions straight,
with the distinct understanding that II
you lose in the deal you will stand by the
candidate nominated. Any courthouse
ring or so-called managers of elections
that would shut you out under these con-
ditions are a lot OF hfreiings of the ring
and trucuient slaves of the devil, that will
do anything to advance their party or
elect their man.
1t is nothing to me how men vote. but
II is a tremendous thing to me TO see
white man driven away from the polls
bv a party henchman simply because OF
his past convictions and party Affiliations.
am no Republican, | am no Populist
am no Democrat, but l will vote, now
YOU see IL 1 don't. l am prohibitionist
i'm every instinct. principle and purpose OF
nv nature | am for prohibition in poll
tics above and beyond everything else.
I am against any candidate. from presi-
dent down. that would favor or foster or
manifest an indifference towards the IL
ol1or traffic With Candidate Estill say
ing that there is no sin in drinking; it
is just habit" and you may say that