Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-06-23
REGISTRATION LAW
SHOULD BE CHANGED
Works Injustice TO White
Voters of State.
Governor Brown Gives
Strong Reasons In
His Message.

N1tS mag lOhIlu HlilllAO4I uncut 1T itlIluil-
eratiye wages, and those in other avo-
cations have Teaped more than the av-
erage allowance of the enjoyments of
life.
1t is especially gratifying that the
asperities which had married the re-
lationsh ps with each other of many of
our citizens have been softened or en-
tirely allayed and that peaceful pleas
ures are now the happy lot of the gem
eraiiJyoof Gelrgians
II is 10 he sincerely hoped that this |
rest from political agitation will long
continue and that our people will CO.
operate in friendly accord n all en-
deaVors to build up our commonwealth |
and to perpetuate mutual federation
and good will
In this spirit l commend to you the |
kindred hope that in our conduct of !
the peoples governmental affairs we
may hold ever in mind that the hum
blest is entitled to the same consider
alton as the highest, that equal ty is
the standard by which we must meas
ure all and that fair play is the free
mans right
Registration Law.
With the desire to protect, there
fore, the rights of the people of Geor-
gia, | respectfully call your attention
to the serious defects and unnecessary
barriers in the registration law passed
by your immediate predecessor, and
repeat the recommendation made in
my first message regarding the pro-
vision which closes the books six
months before elections.
In addition to the reasons | adj
yanced in that message, | will add
others that have been demonstrated to
be valid, together with data that have
been collected. The operation of theI
above provision of this law, wien
taken n connection with the registra-
ton and subsequent elections in vari-
I GUS municipalities in the State. proves
that It directly and llagrantly dis
eliminates against the residents of the
country districts and n favor Of the
residents of the cities and towns.
1t will be noted that in Texas only
is there a limit approXimating THAT re-
quired by the law in Georgia, but in
Texas the payment of poll tax alone IS
the prerequis te, whereas in Georgia
all taxes must be paid six months in
advance of the election and in addi-
! ton, the voter must, in person. regis
ter six months before the election Ia
| Texas one specific act only is required,
and it may be performed by friends,
Ineighbor or agent of the voter, except
n cities of more than 10000 popula-
ton, where it must be in person, while
in Georgia two specific acts are re-
quired and one of these must, with
out exception, be performed by the
voter in person.
1t is a Constitutional requirement
that all taxes must be paid six mouths
/ before the election order ina. the
voter may be qualified to eXerc Sc the
franchise Is not this sufficient
drastic requirement, is it not in itself
an adequate safeguard against pad
ding" without the additional prcle-
quiste that the voter must go ia per-
son to the tax collectors office, at
| least six months before the election,
ard sign the voters list without re-
course in case sickness, business ne
cessity, absence from the State or even
| eXeusable negligence prevents him
from SO doing? Should not the pay
ment of taxes six months in advance
of the elect on in itself be indicative Of
the voters integrity, in itself indicate
that he s no "venal voter" no hobo"
no Immigrant, but good citizen?
In no osher State of the Union are
such multiplied impediments placed
upon the exercise Of the most sacred
right of the free c tizen.
Finally, as proving that the present
| pa OF ctp 10 InpC inf iofa tC
| the white electorate of Georgia which
| is truly appalling in its magnitude. ]
call attention to the fact that by the
Federal census of 1900 after deducting
the non-natural zed foreigners, there
were in the State 274,797 white males
| p years of age and upwards.
If during the past decade the popu-
| lation has increased proportionately
as rapidly as it did during the prev
ious one, viz: 20 per cent, can estimate
the present number Of white males of
voting age in Georgia at 339,576.
The reports of the registrat on in
the State under the present law, as
published in the daily press, indicate
that there are now registered about
PIP 600 white voters.
Hence, by the operation of this law
in effect, even after making liberal al
lOwance for those made permanently
ineligible by the Constitution, It APP
pears that upwards of 100000 white
citizens are debarred from the right to
vote in the elections Of this year. The
restrictions placed in the Reconstruct
ton Constitution of 1868 did not by
many thousands so restrict the right
IF suffrage to the white citizens of
Georgia.
1t is superfuous to argue that there
Fare not 100000 "venal voters "ho-
boes, "ward-heelers, and other OBJ
jectiOnables among the white citiZenry
Of Georgia, as those who contend for
existing restrictions would by infer
cnce intimate In several counties
whore the effect has been most glazing
in depriving white citizens of the Con-
stitutional right to vote, negroes suf-
ficient in number to easily hold the
balance of power in case of a close
division Of the whites have qualified.
! hold that the white citizenry Of
Georgia is honest, intelligent and re-
sponsible, and that each unit of itI
should have ava 'lable the power taI
protect his rights by the freeman's
weapon, the ballot
|, therefore, recommend that the
limit between the close of the registra-
ton books and the date of elections be
reduced to thirty days.
The ends of good government de-
mand that the person who makes venai
use of the franchise shall be denied
the privilege of voting, but because he
is per Sc a voter is no ground upon
which to base a suspicion of venal ty