Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-01-15


Tom Watson? -.
Mr.. johnson. Oh, no, one less glor-
ious. I refer to Joseph H. Watson, OF
Albany, Ga. Negro, and M. II.
Karnes, q white man and myself, per
son Of color. upder the statutes Of
my State. ....
The Chairman What did you say
you havc done, Mr.. Johnson?
Mir. Johnson. We have gotten out a
quarter OF a mfrlion OF what We call
Stepping,5tones to Registration, in
which we assorted that good charac-
tor was presumed under the law; In
every jurisdiction whore the English
and American law obtained good char
acter was universally admitted and
presumed; and that good character
being presumed, it was up to the tax
collector to offset the presumption OF
the Qaw by proof Of bad character:
ana that su the statute itself 1t I'm
fortunately carried It's own weakness
by prescribing who was not Of rood
character. 90 Tar as voting purposes
are concerned. in that 1t provided
that no person who had been convict
cd or embeEzlo1nent Of public funds
treason, felony, or q crimo inyolv.
Ing moral turptude should have
tho right Of franchise-that Is, they
were automatically disfranchised.
Senator Spencer. Was there any crime
specified having to do with the right
Of francbdsc--a violation of tho right
OF franchise? Was that included?
Mr.. johnson. Woll, If any person
hao been convicted Of embegzlement
or larceny Of public funde, of the yio-
Aation trust, Or the commission Of a
crime involving moral turpitude,
then automatically such person, who
ever he might be. stood DISTINGUISHED
and not eligible to be registered by
tho tax collector Ia The State =. of
Georgia.
Senator Spencer. Did that disfran.
chisemcnt apply to anyone who had
been convicted of any crime connect
ed with voting, or dopriving Of any
one Of the right OF franchise?
Mr.. Johnson. No; unlees that parti-
GUAR crime involved moral turpitude
Moral turpitude, Senator, we take it
and we feel the fact to be, refers to
those crimes that generally show an
abandoned and wicked character, gen
crafty sounded In larceny, and kin.
dred crimes. such as robbery, burgl.
ary. which Involve the matter of lar
ceny. but are connected with other
offenses. Those are generally admit
edly. under our English jurdspru.
dence. crimes involving moral turpl
Jude. Or take }erjury, for instance
f"lse swesttas. Now. in these Stop
plng-StousS TO Registration we in.
Vited We belEed. every Negro ana
every other man who had not been
convicted OF any such ofronse as that.
who had paid his taxes, all taxes re
CURED of hisn BY the atstute, by the
State. by the county. and by the nun
Hctpality since the establishment OF
the present constitution OF tho State
ct Georgia. Of 1873. what we call the
Bob Tonnes eeAatttution-who hed
not neen convicted OF any Of these OF
fenses sata1e suoa da the atatutes of
tho statc>-to so Immediately to the
tas collector and demand that he DO
registered; and IL tho tax collector
told him that he must be of good
character. he should say, IT am Of
good character" and cRtegorically
we told them that. Now. that was
for tho purpose Of geeting citizens OF
the State Of Georgia who, under
every form of every kind OF law, were
entitled to register and to vote in
that State the privilege OF so doing.
Then the issue came.
have had to institute mandamue
proceedings in different portions of
that State.
The Chairman. Flow many?
Mr.. Johnson. Oh, a dozen or more.
Senator Spencer. To compel the tax
collector to Issue q certificate?
Mr.. johnson To compel tho ta1 col
lectors. Well, Of course I got ono or
two in time. that will not BIO moot.
The others now would be moot, be
cause the statutes Of the State of
Georgia require that all persons, to
be eligible to vote in presidential or
congressional elections, must be regis
tered on or before six months prior 70
the Tuesday following the first Mon
day In November, which is the gener
al election.
Senator Spencer. How many decis
ions did ycu get on these applica-
tinns?
Mr.. Johnson. I have not gotten
any yet. because we were just on the
adjournment Of court; but there are
about three cases that will not he
moot. The Others will confessedly be
moot, because we can not get decis-
ions That will BIO In time.
Senator Spencer. Three cases were
filed III time?
Mr.. JohGssa. Yes. sir.
SD.atOr Spencer. So that ~ q ae.
c'sioR is I'm your favor it will relate
hack?
MIR. Johnson. It will relate back.
Senator Spencer. And enable those
mon TO be registered?
Mr.. Johnson. Now, 1t has been
struggle fer Abe Republicans In Geor-
era TO got a chance to vote; and in
all OF oar struggles the Democratic
party. under tho direction Of Senator
Hoke Smith. and under Mr.. Thomas
~. Watson and former Senator Thorn
az W. .Hardutek. has put the genius
OF DIS re sasA tho suppression or.