The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-27
CARMICHAEL IS
INDIGNANT At
THE REGISTRARS
Points TO High Handed Action
Yesterday In Turning
Down Voters
TREATMENT OF THE OLD
CONFEDERATES CALLING
Less Than 15o Were Registered In JEFF
ferson Yesterday, While $40
Were Registered In Hous-
ton County.

THE constitution of 1901 was not framed
for the purpose of DISTINGUISHING white
men.
'Tt Is expressly stated that no white
man, not convicted OF crime, shall be
prevented from exercising the right of
ballot.
'Tt is the spirit of the law that every
white man shall participate in all cleo
lions.
ANY attempt through technicality to
prevent a man from voting is contrary
to the spirit of the law"
The above paragraphs were spoken yes
terday afternoon by Judge John c. Car
michael, secretary Of the anti-amendment
committee of Jefferson county, when he
learned that many applicants for registra-
ton were being rejected. Continuing, he
said:
THE amendment was brought into be-
ing in a secret council in Montgomery &C.
cording to the charges which have not
been denied. 1t was submitted this fall
because those who fathered it knew that
comparatively few men paid their poll
taxes this year. And now this attempt to
keep worthy citizens from registering by
technicality is going to the very ex-
tremity of ones endurance. Are we to
have again the rule of the few and the
subsection Of the many7
1.-THE amenders. it seems, are deter
mined to prevent a fair expression on the
part Of the voters. They took advantage
of an off year in politics to submit their
measure. And now they are endeavoring
to prevent even those who have become
of age this year from participation.
1T is the height of absurdity to prevent
a man registering because he cannot read
a certain paragraph in the constitution
without stumbling over a word. The law
says that If he can read any one para
graph he is entitled to vote, and does
not refer to the manner in which he
reads 1t. If the registrars are to comply
with the law in this regard they must
give the would-be voter every opportun-
ity.
And I desire to state that the sub
jecting of white men to the test of read
ing is taking advantage of technicality
indeed. This was intended for the negro
only. And to disqualify a white man be-
cause he can read unusual language only
can read average printing and can write
he is entitled to vote.
And the registrars went far beyond
their authority when they disqualified
that old Confederate soldier whose af-
fdavit is given in another column of
The Age-Herald. In the first place, he
had already obtained a life certificate
in another county. The registrars at his
request should have transferred that GER
tificate without prying into the why's and
wherefores of his having obtained it.
They turned him down because he
couldn't write his name. The law ex-
pressly provides that every Confederate
soldier shall vote whether he has prop
erty or not or whether or not he can
write his name. 1t is only ignorance of
the law which caused the registrars to
turn his down.
And there was another man turned
down who by the express provisions of
the law should have been registered. He
couldn't write his name, but he is a tax
payer and pays taxes on property valued
at $500.
1.-THE registrars made a mess of things
today. There were many who were anx-
ious to register. Those in charge were
exceedingly slow with the work At the
dinner hour they went away and left the
people standing in line, the complaint of
those who waited availing nothing. They
were arbitrary in every particular.
"Only $50 were registered. Muchr time
was lost of course in submitting every
voter to technical test In Jefferson
as stated, 100 were registered. In Hous-
ton $40 were registered. That shows the
difference.
1.-THE question arises now what are those
who cannot be served by the registrars
to do. They cannot vote, and yet It is
possible that they are entitled to vote. On
a question as important as that Of the
amendment comes up, every voter should
be allowed an opportunity to express
himself"