The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-21
VOTERS SHOULD REGISTER.
GOV. BLEASE ASKS THAT DEMO.
Gratis BE PREPARED TO
VOTE IN ELECTIONS.
Address Issued to People of State by
Governor Implies that Undcrhand
Means may BE Employed I'm Elcc-
ton OF United States Senator Since
Ratification OF Seventeenth Amend
ment--Feels That Warning Should
be Given People of State.

Columbia, June IA call to all
Democratic voters to get registration
certificates and thus qualify them
selves to vote in any general election
Is contained in an address to the peo-
pie issued today by Governor Cole l..
Blcase. The governor says that he
has information that an attempt to
have Congress pass restrictions to
the effect that only those qualified to
vote in a general election can practi-
cipate i'm any preferential primary for
United States Senator and Congress-
men will be made since the ratifica-
tion of the 18th amendment to the
Federal Constitution providing for
election of Senators by direct vote OF
the people.
He says that he does not believe
either the Legislature or the next
State Convention will put any restric
tion on the primary, but that Con-
gress will be asked to. He urges ev-
cry white man to provide himself with
a registration certificate and says that
IL any board of registration turns
down a white applicant he will fire
them and appoint board which will
give every white man a certificate.
His address follows:
ITO the Democratic Voters of
South Carolina:
IL 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 Unit
ed states Senator's by the people has
been ratified by a sufficient number
OF States to put the amendment into
effect, and that this ratification by a
sufficient number of States has been
announced by Hon. William j. Bryan,
Secretary Of State of the United
States.
Although South Carolina has not
ratified this amendment. yet under
the Constitution Of the United States
suppose size will be bound by it.
1T is now rumored that certain
South Carolinians some native
born and some by adoption without
the States CONSENT regret they
are South Carolinians-are endeavor-
ing to have Congress place a provision
In law to be passed under the new
amendment to the effect that in those
States In which n primary is held by
a party for its candidate, no person
shall be allowed to vote in said pri-
mary except he be qualified to vote
I'm the general election. This effort is
being made I'm an un1erhanded man.
ner. l now give you notice that 1t Is
being made. in order that you may
30 to your supervisors of registration
and get your registration certificates
and be fully prepared to protect your
selves when the time comes. The
va '"o SuPeiNiSoT OF reSlStra-
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 arrange
ments to see that every man who is
entitled to be registered is registered.
The respective executive committees
OF each Democratic club should see
that his name Is upon the registration
books. No white man in the State
should wait for somebody else to at
tend To II for him, but should get his
certificate himself and be ready for
the fray when 1t comes.
Il do not believe that your Legis-
lature Is going to place any such re-
strictions upon your State primary.
nor do l believe that your State Con-
vention will place any such rcstric-
tions around your state primary. but
we can not tell what effect these un-
derground, stab-in-the back, cheap
politicians may bring about i'm Wash
inSton, In order to deprive u certain
element of the white people of the
south and OF our state Of participct-
ing In the primary. particularly i'm
south Carolina, because they have
heretofore been defeated. or now see
defeat staring them in the face.
Il feel that IL is proper that warn
ing should he given you, and that il
IL my duty AZ your Governor to give
1t. and | now do so. can only give
the warming, as | feel it is my duty
To do. IL you fail to heed IL and find
Yourself deprived OF the right or
suffrage. YOU will have no one to
blame but yourselves. Go To the SUI
pcrVisors of registration. If they fail
To register you, report them to me
If there L. any hnar1 80