The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-15
THE NEGRO VOTE.


North Carolina. This view, expressed in writ
ings and public utterances of Justice Clark for
some time past becomes most timely suffrage
argument that the supreme court of the
United States handed down a decision under
which the elimination of the negro vote, through
the so-called grandfather clause and similar
provisions of state law, is declared unconstitu-
tional and such laws invalid
Apropos of congressional election frauds in
Illinois, where federal court assumed jursdic-
ton Justice Clark gave out an interview con-
tanning the opinion above referred to. He point
ed out that the extension of jurisdiction of the
federal court in the Illinois case made probable
similar course in regard to the grandfather
clause" in the south, which would result in a de-
cision declaring this clause invalid He said fur
Their:
''In North Carolina such decision would re-
admit to the polls $4,000 negro votes. What
preparation have made to meet such pos
sible result? | know of but one remedy. The
census shows that the white population of North
Carolina is 70 per cent and the colored population
80 per cent. 1t follows that the white adult
women of North Carolina are more in numbers
than the negro men and negro women combined.
The votes of 100, 900 white women can be relied
on to stand solidly against any measure any
man who proposes to question Anglo-Saxon SUI
premacy.
Il am not intimatng that the admission of
the white women to the polls will secure demo-
cratic supremacy (they will not impair IT'D
that it will prejudice the republican element. The
equal suffrage movement has never proceeded
on party lines and the women would scorn to be
admitted unless they free in their choice
of party measures and candidates as the men.
But what | am saying is that if the negroes
readmitted by a decision of the federal court to
suffrage, the 100000 votes of the white women
of the state will be one solid obstacle to any
measure that would impair either for them or
their children the continuance of white suprem-
acy.
1--WE have been living in doubtful paradise
as if the supreme court will decide this matter
as wish it. Should that court hold otherwise
we shall have to look to the votes of the white
women of North Carolina-26O,O 900 strong-to
overcome any possible danger from the 100000
votes of negro men and negro women"
What is numerically true of North Carolina
in this respect is also true of Delaware, Mary
land, the District of Columbia Virginia, Ken
lucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas. In each
of these states the number of white women Is
greater than the total number of negro men and
negro women combined. The figures for these
states from the United States census report are
as follows
Delaware-White women so, 160
Total negro population ........... IT ,351
Preponderance of white women. =. 80, 1929
lMaryand-White women .3O9, 1897
Total negro population -.......... 127 1852
Preponderance of white women -. 1872, O35
District of Columbia-White women. ;. 81, 662
Total negro population ........... So, 07O
Preponderance of white women 49,. Is, 592
Vlrgnnla-Wh1te women .355,516
Total negro population .......... .324, 437
Preponderance of white women -. 29,O79
Kentucky-White women SOC, 299
Total negro population .......... .149, 1O7
Preponderance of white women -. .357, 1872
Tennessee-White women ........... .419, 645
Total negro population PAL $40
Preponderance of white women. 1T, 1877
Arkansas-White women ........... .248, 1854
Total negro population PA ,282
Preponderance of white women -. "a, 6S2
,IeXas-Whlte women 722, O63
Total negro population 382, 1857
Preponderance of white 1893, 7O6
In Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Louisiana
there more white women than negro women,
the exact figures being as follows
Georgia-White women ............ 345, 1877
Negro women .................. .269,937
Florida-White women ...............1 los, 662
Negro women Observation-Disclosures. 1898
/ 80, 664
Alabama-White women 284, 116