The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-10-14
He CAN REGISTER
Rutherford Negro Preacher
Entitled to Vote.
State Chairman Simmons Writes Letter as to
the Correct Interpretation Of the Read
anG Write" Qualifications.

There appeared in yesterdays News
and Observer from a local correspondent,
who writes for several newspapers, the
following:
"Rutherfordton, n. c., Oct. THE
registration books We're opened in this
county last Thursday and UP to today no
negro has been registered. At the Ruth
.erfOrdtOn precinct three negroes have
appeared for the test. One had not paid
his poll tax, the second made blupders
in reading. The third, Rev. Black, read
a section beautifully and wrote it "ell
and correctly except the wore divided,
which he spelled de This Of course
was a mistake and the registrar did not
register the divine"
This publication caused much comment
yesterday among Democrats. Some
thought that the correspondent had prob
ably printed a current rumOr that was
incorrect. Others thought the registrar,
under an incorrect Interpretation of the
read and write clause, thought an APP
plicant must have a perfect examination
before he could be registered.
State Chairman Simmons regarded the
matter of sufficient Importance to ad-
dress a letter to the chairman of the
County Board of Elections, calling his
attention to the matter. Hero is a copy
of the letter:
Raleigh. n. c., October 8, 1902.
Hon. Soloman Gallert, Chairman County
Beard Of Election, Rutherfordton,
Dear Sir: \ special from Rutherford
ton. N. c., dated October It'll, and pub
lished today in the Raleigh papers,
states that a certain negro preacher by
the name of Black offered himself FOR
registration at Rutherfordton precinct.
That he read a section of the ConstitU-
tfCn beautifully" and wrote it we'll anG
correctly, except the word '0lNi!n1
which he spelled 'devided.'" The ar
ticle says on account of this mistake IN
spelling the word divided" he was re-
fused registration.
This is not a correct Interpretation CT
the amendment or the election law passed
in pursuance of it. If this Especial"
gives a correct statement of the facts in
this particular case, this man is clearly
entitled to register and vote, and | trust
the registrar who refused him "egistra-
ton will reconsider his decision and reg
lister him.
Neither the legislature when it suo-
mittCd the amendment nor he people
when they ratified it, intended that the
educational clause of the amendment
should be given any such strict inter
pretation. I know it is hard to lay
down any exact rule for the interpreta-
ton Of this clause. If, however, a man
has learned to read and write in the &C.
ceptation of those two words by rlen Of
intelligence, he is entitled to register and
vote under the educational clause. If he
is learning to read and write, but has cot
yet learned, he would not be entitled to
register or vote under this clause.
I wish strongly to dissent from the in
depreciation Of the educational clause
given by the registrar of the Rutherford
ton precinct, and if the article referred
to gives a correct statement Of the facts
in this particular case, to express the
hope that he will reconsider his decision
and register this man.
Yours truly,
F. NJ. SIMMONS.