The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-11-17
KEEP THE FACTS STRAIGHT
If Any Confederate Soldiers
Were Disqualified They Dis
qualified Themselves.
StatesviIle Landmark.


qualified Themselves.
Landmark.
In the closing weeks Of the
campaign there was much talk
from Republican sources about
white men being disfranchised.
Names of alleged Confederate
solulers and others were publish
ed as having been refused reg
istra, ion, and it was claimed
that all these people were dis
francnlsed by the operations of
the cons titutionai amendment.
This uao followed BY the charge ,
that the Democrats had promised
that the adoption Of the constitu-
tional amendment would dis
franchise no white man," ETC.,
and much reference was made to
an affidavit made by Gov. Aycock,
in Caldwell county, during the
amendment campaign Of 1900, in
which it was promised that mo
white man would be disfran-
chised."
The election is over and The
Landmark has no disposition to
keep alive the issues of the cam
paign, but it is always proper to
tell the truth and keep the facts
straight. For the benefit of those
who may think that Gov. Aycock
swore that the adoption OF the
amendment would disfranchise
no white man, we submit the
following copy of the affidavit,
which is a matter of record in
the office OF the clerk of the
Superior Court of Caldwell
county.
C. B. Aycock being duly sworn
deposes and says that he has
carefully examined and studied
the proposed amendment to
the constitution of the State
Of North Carolina and that he
not only believes, but is entirely
confident, that no white man
born in the United States will be
disfranchised thereby, provided
that he sregisters at any time
prior to 1908; afiant further
swears that the amendment pro-
vides that the voter must have
paid his poll tax by May 1st of
election year, for the preceding
year, but this provision is safe
guarded by the further constitu-
tional provision that nc one over
so years of ago shall be required
to pay poll tax and the further
provision that the commissioners
of the several counties may
exempt from said tax those I'M
able to pay it on account of
poverty Or infirmity; affiant fur
ther swears that the amendment
does not disfranchise any native
born white man, but that. the
white man may disfranchise HIM
self by refusing or neglecting to
pay his poll tax or by confession
or conviction of an Infamous
crime before any court having
jurisdiction of the same. Afiant
further swears that any person
who registers prior to 1908 under
the provision of the constitu-
tional amendment need never
learn to read or write but may
continue to vote until death with
out learning to read or write
| (Signed) C. B. Aycock.
! Sworn to and subscribed be-
fore me this 18th day Of June,
1900.
(SeaD J. V. MCCALL,
C. S. C.
The affidavit explains itself
There is no promise that no white
man would at no time be dis
franchised, but it is clearly stated
that if a voter was at that time
| other wise qualified but unable tx
read and write, he could escape
Acknowledgement by registering
under the "grandfathor clause"
and so he could, as the Republi
cans very we'll know. Moreove
illiterate voters who were of ag,
in 1900 or who, reaching the vot
ling age up to and including 1908
were privileged to register undo
: that clause and forever FIX thei
eligibility as voters unless the,
Il otherwise disOualifv themselves
It was clearly stated that voter
] who became of age after 100
without having learned to rea'
and write would be disqualife
and there was no promise to tn
contrary.
j If any Confederate soldier
/ were disqualified by the educ:
tional provision at the reeef