The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-04-11
DIsFRANCHIsEMENT QUESTION IN GEORGIA
Now Being Agitaed for Selfish Political Purposes Would De-
prve Thousands of White Men of the Right to Vote.

The Savannah News, whose editor,
Colonel J. H. Estill, is candidate
for governor, prints the following
cIoar-cut editorial on the disfranchise-
nent question, and points out what
would be the result of such legisla-
ton;
The more the people think about it
the more clearly they see it would be
n mistake to disfranchise the negroes.
HI there we're need for disfranchise-
|ment to secure white supremacy a diff
terent question would be presented,
but there is no need for it. That this
IS true is shown by the fact that there
WAS no demand for 1T before the be-
ginning of the gubernatOrial cam
paign. The people didn't think white
supremacy was threatened. They were
bot apprehensive of negro domination
in the state or in any county. The
boil tax requirement and the white
Democratic primary was safeguarding
white supremacy satisfactorily.
Why, then, was the disfranchise-
nent issue sprung? Was it not simply
because it was thought it would be
Opular--that it would be a vote get
fer? 1t certainly looks so. If the ne
ErOeS we're organizing and trying to
let the Offices in any of the counties,
rif they were trying to get control OF
he legislature, it would be easy to un-
erstand why their acknowledgements
Pas made an issue, but as there were
One of these things the conclusion
Gems inevitable that there were rea'
onS besides those given for bringing
into the campaign.
4 But do not those who present that
SSue assume very Great responsible
y! In the first place, it is almost GER
PIN that the agitation of it is disor-
AIMING the labor of the state. Farm
S are finding it impossible to get all
e Iaborers they want, and as the agi-
non goes on this difficulty is certain
increase. 1t stirs up race feeling,
lu that Influences the negroes to
ave their homes and go to the towns
10 the northern states. 1t is true
az their places may be taken by
llle laborers, but it will be years be-
ne the latter will supply the labor
Fmand, and it is by no means GER
10 That white laborers will be salts
Glory.
we have pointed out time and time
an That the negro cannot be legally
SranchiSed without DISTINGUISHING
OuSandS of white men, unless what
called the grandfather clause is
opeo, and 1t is practically certain
~ REIMBURSEMENT by that method
De declared unconstitutional by
supreme court just as soon as that
~! gets jurisdiction of a case in
s,lng II. Those who are advocating
1@nchlSement are insisting that the
s.oeS can be diSfranchised without
IanchlSlng white men. Are not
r uGeF r OF white men disfranchised in
asH Carolina? They certainly are.
l! are 10 be found in those counties
nuICn The registration officers en-
70 The registration laws without
f,o VI FAVOR. And they would be
y aa NC by the thousands in this
"uCef the educational test.
oa na1 IS the use of inviting the dis
NtHlsenent OF thousands of white
s snG violating of the registration
ro anu The reduction of the states
, Co9IiVauoon in congress and the
NJ ~ al ID: college unless something is
ga. 5alned by it? We have white su-
Ivy now, and it is secure. 1t is