The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-11-01
LARRY CANTT'S WEEKLY LETTER
By T. Larry CAN'T

cane and kept it up until he (Acker,
,nan) could seek refuge in the hotel.
After the enfranchisement Of the
negro, the young Democrats resolved
/ that no black should vote in then
county, and they made this GOOD. At
that time Republican officer visited
each county and registered the ne
groes as voters, and one came to FL
| berton. Long strings of negroes
stood in front of his table, giving in
their names. While the registration
was going on Tuz Tate, young SOL
dier who had served gallantly through
! the war, followed by squad of his
companions and neighbors, approach
ed the officer. leading steer by the
halter. Addressing the Federal officer
Tuz spoke as follows:
~"Here, you fellow there, taking
down the names of niggers! Here is
voter for you to register. He has
horns on his head, but he has got as
much sense and has just as much
right to vote as them blamed black
niggers. His name is Buck Tate, and
l give you just two seconds to put
Bucks name on that list of voters, or
! I viii bore hole with this pistol in
your carcass a rabbit can jump
through" And Tuz emphasized his
demand by drawing two pistols from
his bootlegs, and placing them on the
F., table beside the officer.
The official oloked at Tuz and the
gang at his back, every man armed
! to the teeth, and without protest
placed the name of "Buck Tate" on
his list of registered voters. When
election day rolled around, another
Federal officer came to preside over
the polls, but he must have heard
about "Buck Tate" the voter with
horns on his head. Tuz and his gang
/ came to the polls leading Buck by a
halter and voted him without protest.
Last summer I was in Elberton and
! inquired about what had become of
Tuz Tate? / was told that Tuz had
fine farm in Goosepend district in
Ogfethorpe county, and was in Elber-
ton that day. l hunted up Tuz, whom
I found to be an old grey haired vet
/ eran. | asked him what had become
of his steer Buck. Tuz replied that
Buck faithfully voted the Democrat
ie ticket and until he died with the
hollow-horn, hollow-tail, or some 9TH
er cattle ailment, when the boys
brought to the polls young steer and
voted him in Bucks name so long as
it was necessary.
| No negro was denied the right to
vote, but. the following method of
"moral 'suasion' was employed to
keep the county solidly Democratic: j:
When a negre- approached the polls
with a ballot in hand, some of the
boys would step up to him and let
that darkey see him taking g down his
name and for whom he worked. With
| out one word spoken, that darkey
forthwith left for his home.
| 1t was such a spirit as this that so
clearly redeemed Georgia, and then
her people set in to help save their
freighbers. and friends across the sa-
vannah.
| In South Carolina all manner of
compromise tickets were put out to
! try and save the State, but without
avail. At last Gen. Wade Hampton,
Mart Gary and other ex-Confederates
organized red shirt campaign and
mad a stIaight-out fight to over
throw the most venal and corrupt
government ever imposed on any
State or country. Every white man in
South Carolina not turned traitor and
aligned with the Republicans, donned
red shirt, and in bands of hundreds
and thousands, rode all over the
State. No intim;dating methods were
employed with the negroes, but they
were plainly told their day had pass
ed and the white Democrats intended
to take charge and run the govern
ment. Democratic speakers attended
every Republican meeting and de-
manded division of time and forced
their demand. Around the crowds of
blacks a Gordon Of white men with
guns in hand and on horseback stood.
Each gun was cooked and pointed di-
rect at the white leaders and speak
ers at ti.ese meetings. This meant
that at the first sign of trouble these
leaders would be riddied with bullets.
So order reigned supreme and the