San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30
Confusion and Noise Fea-
ture County Demo-
cratic Meeting.
VOTE is CLOS E
Resolution Proposing To
Condemn Negro Vote In
Primary Tabled.

Bexar county, Carl Wright John
son, San Antonio attorney, was
elected chairman of the Bexar County
Democratic Executive Committee at
a special meeting Saturday noon. Mr..
johnson succeeds Robert G. Harris.
who rendered his resignation at the
same meeting. At the same time the
committee declined to adopt a resolu-
ton presented by Claude ]. Carter.
which would bind it to prescribe a
party test for voters at the coming
primary election.
Mr.. johnson was elected chairman
over his only opponent, Thurman
Barrett by a vote of p to II. This
ratio held throughout the meeting in
the vote on various questions which
were brought before the committee.
Following the selection of a chairman.
Judge James X. Davis and commit
tee OF two was appointed to select
members to fill existing vacancies.
Word Passage Sarcastic.
The meeting. which had been called
by Chairman Harris for the purpose
of passing on his resignation, select
ing a new chairman and filling va
cancies was one Of the liveliest in
tht VI tNuDDOl ltIS
of Mr.. johnson were led on the floor
by Judge James r. Davis while Claude
Carter and Sterling Freeborn shared
honors forth opposition. Although
the repartee was acrimonious at times
there were no fights and feeling at
the close was almost friendly.
Mr.. Carter at the very opening of
the meeting sought to read his resolu-
finn aapdem MING fba ntira Of al :
lowing negroes to vote in the Demo-
cratic primaries and stating it as the
sense of the committee that test be
prescribed. Objection was raised on
the ground that the meeting had been
called for a special purpose which
did not include such resolution
After considerable wrangling the com.
mittee voted to prohibit its reading
When nominations were made, how.
ever, the resolution again came to the
fore and Chairman Harris allowed
it to be read, Mr.. Carter claiming
that 1t was the platform upon which
Mr.. Barrett would make his fight
for the craftsmanship.
Confusion As Vote Announced.
Mr.. Davis. nominated Carl. Johnson
and Mr.. Barrett was. nominated by
Mr.. Carter. Mr.. Carter here at
tempted to have the committee vote
on motion which would in fact
have been an endorsement of the mo-
ton just read. A point of order was
raised however, and sustained.
An effort to have the vote on the
chairman bv precinct roll call also
was defeated and the choice was made
by the simple manner of holding up
the right hand. 1t showed 81 for
Mr.. Johnson and II for Mr.. Barrett.
Mr.. Johnson made only brief
speech. when he took the chair. thank
ing his friends and assuring those
who had opposed him that he held no
animosity toward them. The commit
tee had previously unanimously
thanked the retiring chairman for his
services.
Chairman johnson from the first
took command of the situation and
although Mr.. Carter and Mr.. Free
born brought up several questions they
were promptly disposed of on points
of order. There was considerable
made considerable noise as the vote
was announced.
The Barrett Resolution.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Car
ter which was tabled. but later read
as Mr.. Barrett's platform. follows:
"Whereas, it is common knowledge
that negroes, as class, arc adher-
ents of the Republican party and
vote that ticket almost as unit;
and
"Whereas. it has been a practice
in Bexar county for several thousand
negroes to raid the Democratic pri-
maries in July and vote the Republi-
can ticket in November. thereby
through a phlanax of voters of one
mind, dominating the situation with
their balance of power; and
"Whereas. the obvious purpose of
such practice has been several times
in effect confessed by the recipients
of the benefits thereof seeking and
obtaining. without notice, injunctions
forbidding the challenging of such in
terlopers and the asking of the
pertinent question: Are you Demo
craft knowing full well, as mat
ter OF ordinary history, that the in
evitable answer of these political
plunderers would be: i am Republi-
CAM and
"Whereas. to protect against such
political freebooting, the Democratic
State Convention in September. 1922
went on record Overwhelmingly for
a plank in its platform as follows
ave again affirm the ancient and
accepted doctrine that the Democratic
party is a white mans party. and
unreservedly recommend the continued
observance of that principle:' and
"Whereas. the Legislature of Tex
as, in response 10 that ringing declar-
alton, has enacted that negroes may
not intrude themselves into Demo-
cratic activies to enable n minority
of white voters to capture Democratic
nominations; and
"Whereas, there are those who
would destroy that law and again
.'ece Democratic selections at the
Niercy of such unauthorized par
Elephants, by reason of which condi-
ton many citizens threaten to with
draw from a party which cannot be
controlled by a majority of white
voters
"Now. therefore, be II resolved by
this Democratic Executive Commit
tee:
First. that we are Democrats i'm
bued with the snirit and traditions
of that great party and in full sympa-
thv with the expressed purpose and
need for excluding negroes from its
councils:
@Second. that we are in complete
accord with the aforesaid resolution.
which was almost unanimously passed
by the state convention, and with