The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-06-17
An APEAL TO VOTERS.
Gov. BleaSe Advises All Voters to Sc
cure Registration Tickets
Gives Reasons.

To the Democratic Voters Of South
Carolina:
/ desire to call your attention to
the fact that the amendment to the
Constitution of the United States pro-
viding for the direct election OF
United States Senators by the people
has been ratified by sufficient num-
Der of States to put the amendment
into effect and that this ratification
by a sufficient number of States has
been announced by Hon. William ).
Bryan, Secretary of State of the Unit
ed States.
Although South Carolina has not
ratified this amendment, yet under the
Constitution of the United States l
suppose she will be bound by it.
II is now rumored that certain
South Carolinians--some native
born and some by adoption without
the States CONSENT regret they are
South Carolinians-are endeavoring to
have Congress place a provision in a
law to be passed under the new
amendment to the effect that in those
States in which a primary is held by
a party for its candidate, no person
shall be allowed to vote in said prl-
mary except ne be qualified to vote in
the general election. This effort is
being made in an under-handed man
ner. I now give you notice that it is
being made, in order that you may go
to your supervisors of registration
and get your registration certificates
and be fully prepared to protect your
selves when the time comss. The
books Of the supervisors Of registra-
tion should be open on the first Mon
day of each month at your county
seats, and your supervisors OF regis
tration should make proper arrenge-
ments to see that every man who is
entitled to be registered is regis
tered. The respective executive COM
mittees of each Democratic club
should see that every member OF
every club has his name upon the
registration books. No white man
in the State should wait for somebody
else. to attend to it for him, but
should get his certificate himself
and be ready for the fray when it
comes.
1 do not believe that your legisla-
ture is going to place any such re-
striction upon your State primary
nor do I believe that your State con-
vention will place any such restrlc-
tions around your State Primary, but
we can not tell what effect these un-
der-ground, stab-in-the-back, cheap
politicians may bring about in Wash
ington, in order to deprive certain
element of the white people OF the
South and of our State of participant
ing in the primary, particularly in
South Carolina, because they have
heretofore been defeated or now see
defeat staring them in the face.
l feel that it is proper that warning
should be given, and that it is my
duty as your governor to give it, and
I now do so. can only give the
warning, as I feel it is my duty to
do. If you fail to heed it, and find
yourself deprived of the right to suf-
frage, you will have no one to blame
but yourself. Go to the supervisors
of registration. If they fail to regis
ter you, report them to me. If there
is any board of registration in the
State which refuses to register the
white voters, l will relieve them
from duty and put in a board that
will.
have sounded the warning. That
is all can do. beg you to heed 1t.
Very respectfully,
Colo I Please