Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-10-27


OFTEN the polling places are so ar
ranged us to have separate cnttancca
for the colorcd voters who are ad-
mitted one at lime and kept writ
ing Tor several hours undcr pretenC q
Of ascertaiuing their qualifications.
The result Is that only few out of
several hundred g., an opportunity
To qualify or TO vote In the course u
the day Another method somo-
times employed to oppress ana in
jure the colorcd voter in the right Of
suffrage is for the election officers
TO apply the test and arbitrarily roe
fuse to allow any Of the colorot
voters 10 vote, Notwithstanding that
a number Of them may pass the test
In a reasonably crcditahle manner
! considering their occupation ana
mode of life, A farmer or laborer
cannot reasonably be expected to
write whole section Of tho constltu,
tion without single error IN spell
ing or punctuation, nor 10 read Il
elegantly without mis-prououncing a
word. Concerted action by election
officers in disregard of these dictates
of justice and good sense amounts 10
a conspiracy to oppress the voter.
Such conspiracy Is felony under
the laws of the United States and
considerable number of election Off
GERS in different parts of the state
have recently been arrested on this
charge and are being held 10 await
indictments by the Federal grand
jury.
There Is no reason that / know Of
why this kind of thing should be al
lowed TO continue If it Is attempted
again at the coming election; but
there IL only one way TO prevent Il.
That Is 10 have one active and ag-
gressIve Republican on every pre-
cinot election board. ] use the word
aggressive, meaning man who will
neither Join in the conspiracy with
the Democrats nor lay down and YET
them violate the law in his presence
without protest, simply because they
outnumber him on the board. One
such man on the board in each pre-
cinct on election day. whore there IL
no registration Ohat IL outside tine
city, would either secure the rights
of the colorcd voters pr force the
officers who are doing the dirty
work to show their hands so that
there would be no difficulty in con-
victins them for the crime they per-
pctratel
In cities Of the first class, 1. e., In
Tulsa, the colored voters. If any,
who have already registered at the
July registration are entitled TO vote
without being subjected to any test.
Those who have not already regis
tered must be encouraged to register
during the last week in October. And
Some one should go with them TO see
that they get a square deal from the
tration. Failure to give anyone a
fair test is violation Of section
2OS3 Of Snyders Statutes Of Oklaho-
ma, az well as violation Of section
20 Of the United States Penal Code,
which provides a penalty OF $1,000
and one year in the penitentiary.
The greatest obstacle to securing
justice in this matter has been gnor- |
ance Of the law. not only on the part |
of the voters themselves, but also on |
the part of the election officers. |
am therefore of the opinion that 1t |
would be useful TO instruct such per.
sons as the Republican County Com
mittee may appoint for official SER
vice in the various precincts on elec-
ton day in the more important es-
some of these above. but for en-
phasis / call attention TO the fol-
lowing provisions:
l. In cities of the first class reg
istration is required and colored
voters may show their qualifications
at the time OF registration. All vot-
ers must esregistered, either in July
or October, this year. in order 10
vote.
2. colored voter holding regu-
lar registration certificate either Of
July or October, this year cannot
legally be required to take the test
under the grandfather clause at the
polls.
3. The test Of reading and writing
can be imposed only where there is
doubt of the electors
ability to read and write. 1t cannot
be imposed on a person well known