The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-01
N|lAN SElNDl
AON QOEStlON :
n Of. ELIGIBILITY
Friends Admit That Charge OF
Registering and Voting in
Mississippi Serious Handi-
cap in His Race.

DESPITE the issue of his eligibility,
which, while it has not been raised yet
by his opponents on the Citizens league
sl.ket, will certainly become one of the.
4 1sues in the city campaign, Mr.. VIII
Hiams is standing pat on the PROPOSE
tion that he claims he is eligible to fill
the office OF mayor, should he be
elected. In his formal statement,
handed to newspapers, he says:
"T'he rumor is absurd. | have been
n resident of Shelby county since l was
years old, and of the city of Memphis
over 20 years / am fully cogniEant OF
the technical questions suggested be-
cause OF my operation for a short time
OF a farm across the line in Mississippi
and the law has been thoroughly con-
sidered
MY friends may be absolutely as
sured that will serve as mayor If hon
ored by an election by the voters OF
Memphis"
That statement, however, does not
touch the real facts. Thousands OF
Memphis men own plantations IN MIS-
sissippi, Arkansas or Tennessee and
spend much of their time there. The
issue is as to whether or not, by voting
IN a legalized primary in Mississippi
Mr. Williams thereby disqualified him
self to serve as mayor Of Memphis
under the provision of the city charter.
Poll Books Mutilated.
The. charge win be made, however
that hot only did Mr. Williams vote II
u primary in DeSoto county Miss, II
1915, but that he also registered there
Ii has also been reported that Somt
nerSnn since then has tampered witt
The registration books, and that a line
on which Mr.. Williams name Is said t
have been written, has been cut out o
the. book.
" ~. Williams moved to his farm Il
~ Mississippi In 1911. He lived near Walls
in the old Walls homestead in fact, 10
Il year or more, meanwhile building
new house and improving the farm. H
later sold it to DIR. l.. l., Minor. Mrs
Williams still owns fine plantatio
at Walls. Mr.. Williams returned t
Memphis in 1917, but had returned tn
wear before TO manage political cam
paign.
THE charter of the city of Memphi
prescribes particularly the qualification
necessary for mayor,
In section 1, of article s, OF the char
Ter, Act of 1879. (Which was not re
faled In tf,4n ..Hendment to the chartt
hviding for the commission form {
fernment). the law says:
hNo person shall be eligible for II
5ffice Of mayor who is not at least
=, years OF age, of good moral characte
r and who has not been a bona fide res
dent OF the city of Memphis for fly
Years (next) preceding. his election, ar
not in arrears for taxes, or who. at Il
time OF his election and qualificatio
holds any, other office, or who Is d
rectly or indirectly interested in ar
contract with the city"
In the amendment, known as the con
mfssion charter, which is chapter 2s
acts OF 1909, these words are used. as
Che election and qualification OF Il
mayor.
S'aThe qualifications OF said mayor, al
fN.,t. the members of SAID board Of cor
nsioners, shall be those now requir
law for the members OF the prese
legislative council; and the mayor sh;
Eave the additional qualifications nc
h-uvided by law for said office
close friends Of Mr.. Williams II
Mat the facts as they have come o
have greatly lessened his chances
d election.
IA meeting OF ward chairmen a
wefNers will be held at Williams hea
aunrtem Wednesday night, at whi
some decision may be made as to a
Nrfher action, During the day. ho
ever, Mr. Williams merely reiterat
tfis determination TO continue In
race.