The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-18
RACE AGITATORS; GRAFT; HONEST
ELECTION AND INELIGIBILITY


For a city Of its size, and considering the character of its
Population, Memphis has been signary and to a gratifying degree
free. from conflict between the races,
There are two influences that have contributed to this con-
dtion OF affairs; the peaceable and law-respeetng white man.
and the peaceable and law-respectng negro.
They have been able 70 maintain this condition in spite OF
the activity Of two pernicious influences the vicious white man
and the vicious negro. The white man usually shrewd, I'M
serupulous and designing, and the negro ignorant suspicious and
an easy victim OF the designs OF the man who has a purpose
in using him.
The right to vote is not contingent upon a moral qualihca
ton. Race, color or previous condition OF seryitudf constitute
no legal barrier 10 the exercise OF the right OF franchise but II
is as much a crime 10 compel men and women e register and
vote a certain way under threat OF arrest and prosecution as It
i 10 deny a legal voter the right guaranteed under the conSti
The commissioner III polico mas been long identified with the
negro wing Of the Republican party. He has ridden upon the
back Of the blacksnarrinto lucrative office The reward OF the
negro has been a few negro policemen assigned 70 the work o.
spying upon their own race. Unable to appeal tothe intelligent
negro, the police, during the recent registration, have driven the
negroes from the arks, the tenement houses and the dives TO the
registration places by the use OF threats, intimidation and such
other influence as an officer Of the law, turned law vioator, IS
able to command. Every energy possessed by the law-eniofeing
authority Of the city government has been turned into an agency
to make the vicious element a dominant factor in the approach
ing election. The suggestion Of such a condition IS repugnant 70
contemplate, and would be utterly intolerahle
The same influence is being brought to bear upon law Nlo-
lators. Policemen no longer close gambling houses, but warn the
operators that they must contribute TO a campaign tund Dr. surfer
the penalty of being closed. The element that subsidized for awhile
after G. r. Webster, a deputy United States marshal, was muir
dered in the heart OF the city, is active again, insulting and brazen
Two wel-dressed young men with nothing else to do stood on
the corner of Main street and Monroe avenue Thursday and made
suggestive remarks to young girls who passed without escorts.
A so-called druggist on South Main street, who has al
monopoly on the dope prescriptions issued at the police station
to addicts, boasts that he has $50 dope "fcnds" that he will
vote for v ! Williams, and nobody can take them away from
him
For the first time in a long and honorable service on the
police force a member says that the policemen are being assessed
for campaign money in amounts ranging from $40 upward, The
policemen in the main are men OF families, Their pay is small Yet
they must submit to a 'shakedown' or lose their Jobs. Some OF
them cannot afford to contribute to the campaign fund out OF
their pay. The door is open and the way is clear. Obviously
the thing they must do is collect from the v'o'ators OF the law az, on
their beats. This is graft The policemen know it. Some OF them
complain about il. The people know it, 1t could not be done
without the sanction and approval OF the mayo. and the order OF
the commissioner OF police. 1t $ a violation OF the city charter
and a removable offense. What do the people OF Memphis pro-
pose to do about ,tS
There is not much dependence to be placed upon the election
board for an honest election. The chairman OF the board has
been careful not to commit himself to giving the Citizens ticket
representation at the polls. lie says it is not necessary since the
law gives the board authority to compel persons appointed TO
serve. The value OF his ahbi depends upon the character OF per.
sons he appoints. He had the same right in the appointment OF,
registrars, but they were OF one faction, and openly Sohcltea
support for the Williams ticket
But there is not going to be any fraud, Candidates have a
right 10 demand watchers at the polls, and the watchers will be
there to see that the election is honest, There is no other way
to do it,
Meanwhile, Mr.. Williams presses his candidacy for a lawsuit,
Some lawyer has dug up a Lauderdale county case, where a
citizen of Michigan many years ago voted in a county or district
primary. was elected alderman OF a village and refused to serve
because he never claimed to be a citizen of Tennessee.
Until the legislature OF l9l7 there was no such thing as a
legalzed primary in Tennessee, The rules and regulations were
provided by the state committees for statewide primaries, and
by county committees for county primaries. The only require
ment for voting in a Democratic primary was a promise to sup
port the nominee.
In Mississippi the Democratic primary is the only election
OF consequence. 1t is safeguarded by law. When Mr.. Williams
lived in DeSoto county and voted in the Horn Lake election dis
trct he subscribed to this oath
! do solemnly swear that am Il years old. and that | will have
county one year next preceding the ensuing election, and am il
good faith a resident of the same-that will truly answer all question;
propounded to me, as they relate to my right to vote. SO HELP MI
GOD.
MIR. Williams is entitled to whatever satisfaction he cat
get from the violation of his sacred oath. and those who vote im
him have the assurance that il he is elected he will have to feh
his way through every court in the state before he is permittet
TO take ofice-a remote prospect, but sufficient 10 warrant thoS
who desire a cessation of factionalsm and litigation in withhold
ing their support from him