Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1908-03-01
BY RALPH VI. WUlTESIDF.

are two sides To the question Of ne
groes voting in the South-the humor-
Cus and the serious.
The speaker was Il Southern Con-
9ressman--one of those men who
showed moi alone Il keen interest in
the welfare Of his country, but also
was possessed of political genius. The
genuine part of it is what brought him
to the front.
II don't want 10 discuss the serious
phase Of the question: he continued.
1--WE people Of the South have our own
ideas as TO how certain local condi-
tons should be governed. We have a
peculiar environment and we have got
to take measures that sometimes seem
unreasonable to the people Of the
North.
did | ever tell you about how some
local campaigns used to be run down
my way? 1t seems funning in recol
at the time. I'll tell YOU few.
I'VE used to vote every negro in
town On election day. Sometimes We
voted them moro than once. l renle1n-
Der a fellow, first name Cal, who had g.
gang Of thirty negroes and polled them
from one place to another. They were
good negroes, those fellows, and they
knew how to work when Cal had them
in tow.
"One time the other side sent every
negro they could get distance OF
about fifteen miles into the swamp to
cut timber. When election day came
around they were out of our reach. 1t
was clever trick.
"The other side was elated over the
trick they had served us, but their
spirits were somewhat dampened
when the votes were counted. Every
negro who was registered, including
those who had been sent into the
swamp, I'D been voted.
AN indignant leader was discussing
this fact with Cal When Josh White,
the leader Of Calls voting gang, came
up to report.
"'Ah done voted EN- all. Mars Cal
he said.
THE leader Of the other side looked
at Cal rather sharply His expression
was one of satisfaction, for he consid-
cred Cal trapped.
Cal hesitated a minute, then made
a bold play.
s''How'd you get those fellows out Of
the swamp, Josh?' he asked.
Josh Immediately looked serious. He
understood and his face frightened
wonderfully.
= oh, we sent down dar and got 'em
out he said.
HE of the other side could not deny
il"
An old negro went up to Col. Apple
tree, who was standing at the polling
place one election day.
Mars Appletree," he said, '1'se
soner vote fer yo' an I want dol
lah.''
Col. Appletree looked at him anus
eddy.
why. you black rascal" he ex-
claimed. you know we'll enough you
vote for the other side. You'll get no
dollar.
''F'oh Gawd, Use goner vote fer yo',
Mars Appletree," said the old fellow,
Use goner put in a plumper right
now-an' I wants err dollah."
You go away from here said the
Colonel II know how you'll vote we'll
enough"
The old fellow went to the polling
,,lace and voted. He did as the Colonel
anticipated-voted against him. One
OF the Colonel's friends saw this and
told him about it. In few minutes
the old negro returned.
'fNow, | done voted fer yo'. Mars
!Appletree, he said, can ] wants er
dollah.
Look here, uncle" said Colonel APP
pletree, you're the biggest liar in the
county. George Newton saw you vote
against me-"
The old negro thought seriously for
a minute, then his face shone with the
happiness of rescuing thought.
nn {~%o IN -