The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-08-03
LETTER FROM Mr.. S. P. POWELL
To The Free Lance:

his maudlin wanderings have surround
ed him with decisions, and Drawer Than
some other office holders, office seekers
and their other henchmen, who seem
To think am in their way, he Kings
vile epithcts and filthy mud In their be
half. His purulent fabrications do not
iniure me nor does he believe them
himself. In neither Of my other articles
was he referred to in any way. Both
were signed by me. yet he charges me
with "masquerading in the parers.
Webster says masquerader Is zone
who wears a mask, disguised. " | won
der if there are any masqueraders be-
hind Mr.. Fosters charges, whose poll
teal prospects he seeks to benefit.
lie abuses me for taking an appeal
case for a negro and for giving le-
gal advice about registration. as II
no negro should be registered NO
matter how much character. educa-
ton Of property he may have. Not
one of those who sought my advice
were satisfactory to the registrars
though both of them were proper
ty owners. OF some education and
had paid their taxes In time. Sew
eral persons / did not advise were
registered. one of whom was asked
TO apply by one OF DR. Massey's dep
uties. This ones name was not on
the property books OF Spotsylyania,
he had not paid his taxes anywhere
I'm time and never paid any in Spot
syiyania. The law allows no APP
peal from improper registration. Sc,
e'al white men were refused regis
trdiiOn by another registrar ask
ed TO see the application of one OF
them so as 10 advise him If it was
IN legal form and he could risk the
expense of an appeal was told
by the registrar that he had de-
str0ycd the applications OF all those
he refused 10 register Sec. % OF
Code requires registrars TO keep all
applications FOR an ! asi one year
as part OF their official record !
showed tho registrar this law in
his guide book and he said he de
siroyod the applications through tx
norancc of H. Mr. Foster says tho
registrars OF Spotsylyania are all
honorable. intelligent men. nev-
er said they We're not. The ap-
pointing power. however. found such
men so scarce that several school
trustees were appointed registrars al
so and now hold two offices when
the law says plainly the registrars
shall not hold any other office eth
ar by election or appointment. aud
their continuing TO do so vacatcs the
office OF registrar within ten days.
and the electoral board SHALL MAKE
a new appointment. Cod, See 81
he says the registrars under the
law are compelled 10 ask applicants
under oath. questions concerning
their fitness 10 register. Sec. %
of the new Constitution and - of
the Code. after stating what the
written application must contain
adds these words. And shall an
swer on oath any and all questions
affecting his qualifications as an Gle
tor" Sec Is OF the Constitution an
g. OF the Code state what these
qualifications are. concerning which
questions may be asked
80 where in the law are the regis
,rars compelled to ask a single Qucs-
ton. or even authorized TO ask
many that ! have known TO be ask
ed. But. II necessary. they may sat
isfy themselves by asking proper
questions that the applicant comes
up to the legal requirements for vo-
ters.
Mr.. Foster, in his delirious condition.
seems TO have been suddenly seized
with the morbid fear that the few
negroes who can register will contami-
nate the electorate. This, however,
may be due to the fact that many negro
organizations Of the North and West
solidly supported the Democratic can
didates IN the congressional elections
last fall.
In all ages the white race has been
the ruling race. and no intelligent man
believes there is the slightest danger
of negro domination. This argument
is a skeleton. powerless to do harm,
vet effective to scare the simple into
voting for the continuance Of the Office
holding trust. II Mr. Foster had read
the resolutions adopted by the oath
annual convention of the Virginia State
Association of colored teachers, he
would have known that the represen-
tatives and leaders Of the negro race
do not want social equality and favor
laws providing that only the intelligent
shall rule. They. however, insist with
all right thinking people that such
laws shall be enforced in such spirit
Of fairness that all worthy citizens shall
have equal chance in the exercise and
enjoyment of American citizenship, and
that the worthy and intelligent negro
shall have square deal in the race OF
life.
MIR. Foster reaches the last stages Of
his frenzy in telling the public am
supporting my cousin for treasurer.
He is too far gone to add that Hon.
Richeleu Coleman, Messrs. Stokeley
Coleman, Sam Baydes and many more
of the candidates are all related by
blood or marriage, and support each
other. The Masseys and Colemans
being so closely connected that Mr..
Coleman voted for DR.. r. Massey over
Mr.. Swift for the Legislature, though
ne knew the town was entitled to the
candidate under the Democratic plan of
rotation.
He gloats over my defeat for county
chairman; but does not mention that
no reasonable notice was given Of the
mass meeting, that it was held one
hour earlier than customary and before
many Of my friends arrived, that it
was packed with about thirty Demo-
Gratis, many of whose names | publish
ed in the controversy that followed and
all of whom voted for Mr.. Collie
Blaydes, some having come by Mr..
Coleman's conveyance, that the major
ity against me was only eight. in spite
OF the unfair and illegal methods pur-
sued by the Democratic-Republican
combination for the retention Of the
offices.
Mr.. Foster says he is born Repub-
lican. In his debiltated condition this
comes in handy for him. as it saves him
the trouble of thinking on political sub
iects, and like some Democrats who in
herit their political views, he only has
to follow his leaders. My Republican
ism was not thus acquired and although
il extends beyond the desire for Office
it does not obligate my citizenship.
was born a citizen of the United States
and of Virginia and of Spotsylvanla.
consider my duty to my county, state