The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-03
A RADICAL LIE EXPOSED. ALL
WHITE MEN CAN REGISTER
THIS YEAR.

lions nave Deen passing RESOLUTIONS raise
ly stating that the Democrats have dis
franchised" white voters. There is no
truth whatever in this Under the amend
ment many negroes will be disfranchised,
but NOT A SINGLE WHITE MAN in the
State.
Every person who could vote i'll 1867,
and every grandson or son of such voter,
can be put upon the permanent roll this
year whether they have paid their poll
tax or not. Let this be generally known
it will refute the Radical disfranchise-
ment lie. In a letter to the ninety
seven Democratic county chairmen, State
Chairman Simmons, in discussing the
Election Law, as it is applicable to reg
istration, refers also to the payment of
poll-tax, and says:
1T will appear from an examination
of the amendment and of the Election
Law that the non-payment of poll-tax is
not a disqualification for REGISTRA-
TON but under both the amendment
and the Election Law NO one is entitled
to vote unless he shall have paid his
poll-tax on or before the first day OF
May of the present year, unless he has
become of age since the first day or
June, 1901, (the day for listing taxes fol
the previous year,, or unless he was over
fifty wears of age on the first day OF
June. 1901, or has under the law been re-
lieyed from the payment of poll-tax by
the county commissioners. In other
words. when the elector offers himself for
registration. it is not necessary that he
shall exhibit his polltax receipt or show
that he has paid his pOll-taX for the pre-
vious year, but after he has registered
and before he is allowed to cast his vote
it is necessary that he shall exhibit to
the Judges of Election his poll-taX re-
ceipt, or show to the satisfaction Of the
Judges Of Election that he has paid said
tax. Unless he EXHIBITS HIS RECEIPT
or shows that his poll-tax has been paid.
he cannot vote. This applies to every
body except the persons mentioned above,
to-wit: those who have been relieved by
the commissioners of poll-tax, or have
become of age since June 1st, 1901, or had
passed the poll-tax age at that time"
This is a complete answer to all the
talk of Republicans about the disfran-
ebisement of white men for the nom
payment of poll-tax. The Legislature OF
1901 purposely provided for registration
without payment of poll-tax. The object
was to allow all uneducated whites to
register under the grandfather clause
during the eight years that the books
for registration under this clause are
during the balance of his life
Thus the preservation of the franchise
of the uneducated white man is not made
to depend upon payment of poll-tax. He
may register at any time during these
eight years, although he may not pay his
poll-tax and although he may not vote
or qualify himself to vote during that
time Whenever, at any time during the
balance of his life, he wishes to qualify
himself to vote by paying poll-tax, he
can do so. He will be registered on the
permanent roll and his right of franchise
1t will thus be seen that the right OF
franchise in North Carolina under the
law does not depend upon payment OF
poll-tax. The right to exercise the fran
chise does depend upon the payment OF
poll-tax, but the right of franchise 1t
self does not. Hence the absurdity of the
Republican contention that the non pay
ment of poll tax DISTINGUISHES white
man.
If pritchard & Co., desire to treat the
people fairly they will apologize for mis-
the facts. In 1900 they told
the people that if the amendment was
adopted it would disfranchise forever all
white men who are not educated. This
year they say that all white men who
have not paid their poll-tax is dis
franchised The letter of Chairman Sim
mons shows that the last statement is
as false as the first, and there is not e
scintilla of truth in either.