The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-14
REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT IN THE


SOUTH.
A staff correspondent of the Milwaukee
Sentinel now in the South has been writing
some interesting and illuminative letters
concerning different phases of the race
problem in that section. late one written
from Montgomery. Ala, treats OF the oper-
alton of the constitutional Acknowledgement
method as it affects qualified negro voters.
BY the way. in view of the fact that about
everything from the shotgun method TO the
constitutional amendment method has been
tried to prevent the negro from voting in
the South. 1t is somewhat surprising that
so many Democratic politicians declare
that he does not want to vote and that he
cares nothing for politics. Perhaps there
is a large number of ignorant negroes in the
South Of whom this is true, but il GER
tainly is not true of thousands of negroes
who have acquired some education and
property. and who are better qualified to
vote intelligently than many of the poor
and ignorant whites.
II has been represented that the consti-
tutional Acknowledgement provision in Ala
bama and other Southern States did not
discriminate against negroes, but would
exclude illiterate whites from voting as
well. The correspondent above referred
to finds that is not the case. He says that
wherever he has been throughout the South
educated and qualified negroes have freely
stated that they have voted whenever they
have been permitted to do so, and would
continue to vote If allowed to do so. In
illustration of the way in which the consti-
disfranchise negroes who are fully qualified
to vote the case of Jackson w. Giles. of
Montgomery. is cited. Giles was educated
in the colored schools of Alabama and at
present is editor of a paper published for
colored people. He gave the correspondent
the following statement:
Since 1873. and up to the last election, I
have been a qualified voter of Alabama.
On March 10. 1892. conforming to the new
law. I made AN effort to register, at the
proper place and time, by presenting my
application l was o told by the board %. of
me TO have two white men TO vouch for my
reputation and character. L asked them
why l was obliged to have white men; and
If colored men would not do as WELL 1
was informed that colored men would not
do. because all colored men would have to
get white men to vouch for them. Consid-
ering this a discrimination against the COL
ored man. in violation of the United States
Constitution, refused to get white men to
vouch for me, and told them so. / was in
formed that unless l did my ,application
would not be entertained and was also
told that they were not registering colored
men, anyway. except few soldiers who
had their discharge papers. and that the
day for colored registration would be some
time in May.
/ saw by their acts that it was the pur-
pose of the members of the board of reg
ing. and knew that 1t would be useless on
my part to make a further attempt. After
duly considering the matter a number of
colored citizens of Montgomery called a
mass meeting for the purpose of organizing
to contest the new Constitution which dis
franchised U.s. and the Colored Mems Suf-
frage Association of Alabama was organ
lied An address was issued to the colored
citizens of the State asking them to con-
tribute to defray the expenses of the move
ment.
In response to the appeal about 5000 was
contributed by colored men all over the
State to test the constitutionality OF the
Giles case has reached the Supreme Court
of the United States. and is awaiting de-
cision there. The correspondent says there
are at least 1000 qualified colored voters
in Montgomery county, including men of
excellent character, who are educated and
who own property ranging in value from
So to $4,000 Most of these offered to
register. but only forty-seven were allowed
to do so. In the entire State there are
from 5000 to 10000 legal and qualified COL
ored voters, yet only about $500 were al
lowed to register. The admission of a
steal on the part of the registry boards, as
those who were excluded were as much en-
titled to register as those who were per-
mitted to do so. Among those in Mont
gomery who are not permitted to register
or vote the correspondent names Charles
o. Harris, who was educated in the North
and who for more than twenty years has
been mailing clerk in the Montgomery post
Office. holding his position under successive
administrations; ". III. Tulane. prosperous
colored merchant of the city, and, says the
correspondent. IT could mention the names
of ministers and professional men, edu.
Gated property owners, who were refused
and whose characters were exemplary ir
every respect and against whom not one
word Of suspicion had ever been raised. So
far as the character qualification is con
cerned thousands Were refused registra
ton who in all ways had always been ex
emplary citizens
Perhaps 1t Is nobody's business outsid,
of Alabama. but really it does not seen
impertinent to inquire whether the Consti
tuition of the United States can be nullifiec
and wiped out by the Legislature of
| Southern State.
Mr.. George w. Perkins. president of tn
Cigar Makers International Union at Chi
| cago has addressed letter 10 Presiden