Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-10-28
TO PURGE
The LIST
OF VOTERS
To Strike Off Those Who
Are Now Dead
And Compel COlOFed Voters Of Whose
Legal Standing There May Be
Any Doubt to Take the Oath Be-
fore Registering for Bond Election.

The registered list of voters for the
approaching bond election is to be
purged, as far as conditions will per-
NIT, so that there will be no after
questions raised as to whether the
bonds were carried or lost.
Alderman Allen brought up the
question in council meeting by calling
attention to the fact that of those ON
the old registration list. that is, tne
237 who were qualified to vote last
December, several had died, and their
names were still on the voting lisr.
He enumerated several who had died
since registering, and other aldermen
suggested additional names of those
who are no longer in the land of the
living.
Wanted the Dead Stricken.
I'VE don't want any question raised
after the election as to whether it
was legally carried or not said Al
derman Allen. 1T takes two-thirds Of
the registered voters to carry the cleo
ton. We don't want the names of la-
ceased voters to stay on the list and
have it claims that they constitute
part of the total or which the bond
supporters must get two-thirds
vote
Mayor Fielder did not think that the
names of dead voters would count but
Alderman Allen and others of he
board thought that it would be an .ct
of wisdom to take no chances on that
score and the clerk will be expected 10
expunge the names of any who have
died since registering.
The question of the status of mum,
Der of negroes who are on the registra-
ton list was also raised. In addition
to those on the old registration list
several have since registered.
Shut Out by Smith Law.
Under the new state Law the num-
Der of negroes eligible to vote his
been vastly reduced said Alderman
Allen to council, "and we want to see
that no names of negroes appear on
the registration list for the bond el &C.
ton except those who comply in every
respect with the conditions of tie new
Georgia statutes. 4. No one can regis.er
for this election who is not qualified
to vote for members of the legislature.
and the clerk can and Should make
every one of whom he has any doubt
take the oath that he is so qualified
to register. A name on the registra-
tion list that is not voted counts
against the bond issue, and we do not
want single name on there of a
person who is not legally qualified to
vote"
alderman Allen read the law requir-
Ing the registrar to put the prospect
I've voter on oath as to his qualifica-
tons and he and other aldermen in
sisted that it should he followed out
where there was the slightest doubt as
to the legal standing of the party ap-
plying to register.
More Work For Clerk Hawkes..
Negroes who are already regist,r-
ed and of whom there may be .any
doubt should be sent for" he insisted,
and be required to take this oath. In
that way we can purge the list of any
who are not qualified to vote"
Nothing further was done in the
matter, but the understanding seemed
tc be that Clerk Hawkes. would haze
this new responsibility thrust upon
him, although the clerk insisted that
il would be better for the city to a9-
point registrar separate and distinct
from his office.