Pocahontas star herald., 1926-08-19
CONDEMNS ISSUANCE
OF ILLEGAL BALLOTS

Friday adopted the following resolu-
tion in regard to illegal poll tax re-
ceipts alleged to have been used in
primaries in this county during the
past few years:
We, the members of the Democratic
Central Committee of Randolph COun-
ty. in convention assembled. do regret
and condemn the practice of the perni-
ciOus, promiscuous and unlawful lis-
tribution of poll tax receipts. and to
the end that young converts may be
made to the faith and this stigma re-
moved from our grand old party, and
for the purpose of purifying the politi-
cal atmosphere of Randolph county. do
here and now pledge ourselves to place
all of the evidence we may hereafter
obtain before the prosecuting attorney
of this district and. If necessary pro-
cure other legal help i'm bringing to
Justice the party or parties who have
been or may now be so grossly setting
at nought the will of the people and
the law of the State. Be It further re-
solved that this committee will ab-
s0lutely refuse TO issue certificate of
shown that his nomination was pro-
cured by the use Of fraudulent poll tax
receipts. Be it further resolved that
the chairman of this committee he en-
powered to have one copy of this reSo-
luton spread upon the records of this
body. another copy published in the
county newspaper, and third copy
mailed to the prosecuting attorney of
this district.
Following the reading of this reso-
luton, l.. r. Pickett, member of the
central committee. made the follow
ing remarks;
Mr.. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the
Committee:
l beg your indulgence while br' Fly
commenting upon the resolution Just
read. You will agree with me that 1t
is a subject which should be appr lch-
ed not i'm condition of excitement,
not with a spirit of malice or hate. hut
should be disposed of with that same
degree Of soberness. fairness. and jus
tice by which all matters of business
are settled
At the very outset please bear wit
ness that | will not become persO1al,
and should | so forget myself as to
hurt the feelings of any member Of
this committee. let me tell you In al
vance that 1t will he a mistake of the
head and not Of the heart. shall be
frank, | shall be very frank, | am 20
ing to call spade a spade. my desire
is to tell the truth. the whole truth.
to shame the Devil, to hew to the line
and LET the chips fall where they may.
In order that everybody may know
Just what was said, and who said 1t.
Just what was done and who did II, /
shall ask the committee that these few
remarks be spread on the record so
that everyone may know not only at
this time, but for all time in the future
where this Committee stands on this
subject.
To commence with, the secret bal
lot and the laws governing 1t afford
ample and complete protection to every
voter, and sets out and prescribes pun
ishment for those who violate Ii. Some
of us wear our politics ON our coat
sleeves and do not hesitate to let the
world know about 1t, and can usually
give a reason for the faith that is In
us, but others more timid, for good
and sufficient reasons do not wish to
let everybody know who they are sup
porting. The man In business and the
man In public life for many reasons do
not want the public to be Informed
about their votes. Some fellow during
a lull in business or upon rainy days
is making it his business to dig up
these things .and Is telling folks TO
their very teeth who they voted for.
This same fellow. or some other fellow
of the same stripe, not content with
cOrrupting your ballot before IL Is cast,
goes to its very grave, and with rhe
ghoulish instinct of a political hyena,
proceeds to find out how you voted,
and then advertise same.
What would you say If / tell you
that prominent men in public life with
in the sound of my voice have been
told for six years just how they voted?
Put an everlasting stop to this prac-
tice, by having your chairman doubly
seal these ballots and put them In some
burglar proof vault where this fellow
cannot get to them. There is a pOliti-
cal assassin within the ranks of the
Democratic party of Randolph county
who is stabbing her in the back with
the poisoned dagger Of corruption. lie
is striking at that Democracy which
your father and mine taught us was
the champion of the weak against the
strong, the low against the higl..
Democracy which has never failed to
denOunce wrong whether within or
without the party; that Democracy
which declares for that which Is best,
not for a few people. but for all the
people: that Democracy which says II
is wrong to legislate dollar out OF
your pocket to further enrich some al
ready rich beneficiary of a protective
tariff; that Democracy which has en-
upon its banner i'm words of
living fire, Equal rights to all and *
elusive privileges to none"
This is the brand of Democracy at
whose shrine we are glad to worship
and whose principles we shall ever
cherish and defend.
1t is known b. all Of you that four
years ago a poll tax book containing
some five or six hundred receipts was
taken from its accustomed place in
this house, ard 1t was known that they
were used in the election which soon
followed This disgraceful Occurrance
was regretted and condemned by al
good citizens irrespectively of party