The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1920-09-25
LOCKWOOD EXPLAINS HOW THE SOLID SOUTH STAYS I'm SADDLE
Says That Free, Fair Elections Are Never
Held And That Intimidation, Force And
Chicanery Keep Men From Polls And Dis
franchise Majority in South.

Washington, d. c., SPIT. 23.-In re-
ply to an Inquiry as to how the SOLID
South is maintained by the Democra-
ic machine, George u. Lockwood lays
bare the corrupt Southern practices
both past and present in an article
in the National Republican under cap
tion New Slavery of the Old South"
He says ip part:
The National Republican has printed
many columns Of matter setting
forth the methods by which the
mock" has been put in democracy
by the Democratic oligarchy in the
Solid South. However. brief re-
view Of these facts NAV not be out
of place in view of the hypocritlcal
outcry that is now being set up by
Governor Cox and other Democratic
leaders about unfair methods" Co
ercion" and corruption" in national
politics.
There is not state of the Union
where Republicans have control of
government. or where they are sulli-
ciently numerous to prevent Demo
cratic leaders from forcing their poll
icies, unmodified upon the people,
where free. fair elections. do not eX-
list. There is not a state in the Union
necessary in order to control elect
puted sway, where free fair elections
are possible under the laws and prac-
tices existing.
For many years elections were con-
trolled in the Solid South states by
open displays Of force. ballot box
stufiins and fraudulent counting Of
ballots. Senator Ben Tllman Of
North Carolina, boasted of these met
hods in the United States. He de-
clared that his fellow Democrats did
not hesitate to commit murder, If
tions, Such practices were general
throughout the states of the Solid
South.
Many members of Congress elected
by such methods having been un-
seated, different procedure was
adopted whereby the same results
were secured without such direct dis
plays of force. Then came the era OF
new Southern constitutions creating
qualifications for suffrage based upon
ancestry, iiteracy payment Of poll
taxes, with registration and election
machinery, placed entirely within the
control of the party In ,power, oper-
mitting manipulations certain to pro-
duce the desired election rtsrltsswtth-
out reference TO majority opinion.
The effect of the sytem now In
operation Is TO exclude from the polls
many more white voters than black,
The pretense Is made that tlfer sys-
tenn is Intended to prevent Negro
domination, but II is used to eX-
clude from the polls a much larger
number of white men than black,
taking the Solid South as a whole.
. In Virginia. for instance. it. disfran-
chses 100000 more white men than
black. This means mon qualified to
vote. Of which there are 10000 in
Virginia. for instance. it DISTINGUISHES
100000 more white men than black.
This means men qualified to vote. Ct
which there are 10000 in Virginia
out of a total population of two and
a third millions. Only $4,000 voted
in that state, as a matter Of fact.
the last time Virginia elected a
United States senator. Five-siNths of
the men conscrlpted in Virginia to
fight to save the world" for de-
mocracy had no moro voice in the af-