Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1912-07-04
Jones' Social Equality Vote.
Bennettsville Advocate.

in the South Carolina Legislature to
prohibit negroes from voting, ha
would be either fool or a dema-
gogue. He would either be ignorant
of the fact that the right Of the negro
to vote is. guaranteed by the constitu-
ton of the United States, or else he
would count on the people being igno-
rant of that fact, and aim to play on
their ignorance AMI prejudice to get
votes for himself.
Intelligent people know that any
law which conflicts with the consti-
tuition of the State or the United
States is null and void, and it Is worse
than folly to pass it.
The constitution of South Carolina,
which was framed by the negroes and
carpetbaggers in 1868, prevented the
negroes from being Subjected in law
to any other rentraints or disquali-
fications in regard to any personal
rights than such as are laid upon
others under like circumstances"
When a proposition was made in
1892 to make negroes ride in sep
arate coaches, Judge Jones says he
knew It was unconstitutional and
would not have stood the test five
minutes. To have passed it would
have been to bring on law suits in
which the negroes would have won.
Judge Jones was too good lawyer
to think the law was constitutional,
and too good a man to vote for 1t,
knowing it to be unconstitutional, for
the purpose of making votes for him
self among those who did not know
any better.
Judge Jones went about the matter
in the right way. He helped call a
new constitutional convention for the
purpose of limiting negro suffrage and
placing other restraints and disquali-
fications" upon him.
BY common consent, the people all
over the State picked their best men
to make the new constitution. Edge
field sent such men as B. R. Tillman,
Geo. D. Tillman, John C. Sheppard and
w. ]. Talbert. Newberry sent her dis
'tinguished citizens and lawyers, Jos.
L. Keitt, Geo. s. Mower and Geo. John
stone. Lancaster sent at the head OF
er delegation, Ira B. Jones, and he was
elected vice-president of the conven-
ton. .HHhelped make tie aerGt
tuition " Itch rendered constitutional
the separate coach law which was
passed after the new constitution waS
ratified, and afte. Jones was on the
bench.
And on account of his course in this
matter, Judge Jones is charged with
being in favor Of Social equality"
which means white people eating,
sleeping, living and intermarrying
with negroes.
After he had explained his vote at
Darlington, and when the slander was
repeated at Bennettsville, that Judge
Jones was in favor of social equality
and wanted the white women Of South
Carolina to associate on term Of equal
ity with "stinking buck negroes" 1t
is no wonder that Jones Scotch blood
boiled and that he declared in impas-
stoned language that the man who
made such charge told malicious
falsehood and was unworthy to be
governor and unworthy the name Of
man.
We believe in fair play, even in
politics, and like to defend the man
who is unjustly treated, be he Of high
or low degree
A fearless press is the greatest
stumbling block in the way Of the dem
agogue and the criminal and they are
the greatest enemies of the newspa-
pers. It has always been 80, and al
ways will be.
The Advocate is one paper which
will not hesitate to expose their
schemes when the interests Of the peo-
pie require it, although we may be
misunderstood and may stand alone in