The Omaha guide., 1944-04-29
General Election Becomes KeytO &C.
Fight For "White Supremacy''

NP)-It became Enthusiastically clear
early last week that the hitherto for
gotten general election vii provide
the next major fight III South Caro-
Ina Heretofore, because of the alb
sence OF opposition. not even the
white Democratic themselves have
bothered 10 vote III the general cleo
tion-the actual legal election In
the last general election, the state
gave approximately 12,5O0 votes IN
1912, Columbia elected a mayor and
two councilmen on : total Of 80 vut-
es III the general election.
Aeaction TO an announcement thar
colored citizens through their Dem
ocratic organization planned to have
their own complete ticket in the gen
eral election. was immediate last
week Some OF the lawmakers now
IN extra session to purge statutes OF
primary regulations, sensed a threat
more serious than Negro participation
N the primary.
Sen Joe Berry Of Richmond coun-
" famed that Unless we can urge
the white people IN South Carolina
to 60 and qualify themselves o they
can vote IN the general election this
fal, we r accomplishing nothing
The Columbia Record, editoriaIizing
on the Importance of the general e.
@ection, Monday said: 1t IS import
ant that every qualified elector
should participate both ii the prim-
airy and III the general election The
Democratic party may be opposed IN
the general election
Incidentally II has repeatedly warn
ed that n morning white Democrats
are liable to awake, and find their
nominees defeated IN 4 general cleo
ton because Of neglect
The effort to block Negroes out Of
politics III South Carolina is hy no
means confined to the white Demo
cratic party. In Charleston lust last
motnh, no less than 800 OF them were
turned away from places Of registra-
ton. The devices heretofore
ployed BY registration clerks against
Negroes 7 too numerous to men
ton But they range from requiring
the registrant to interpret the con
st1tutiOn and recite it from remOrv
TO the bald statement, Voting is not
Tor Negroes" This actually hap
pened IN Berkeley county III 1880.
In 1910, Mrs Lottie P. Gaffney. 4
school teacher III Cherokee county.
attempted TO register for the general
election Thrice was she refused. ev-
en- with q witness. She sued offic-
lals but a federal court ruled against
her at S~partanhurg two years ago.
With the prEuarybzoken aup-sith-
er through the repeal Of former leg
islarion safeguards Or a supreme
court decision, other means Of keep
ing Negroes out Of politics will be
employed Without doubt. these will
be used BY registration clerks 50 long
It shall 60 uncoutested
Generally, any native born citizen.
or ! person vino has resided n the
state Tor two years, can qualify to
vote II the general election Women
over p simply apply to registration
al their county courthouse the
fTst Monday Of each month, pr0vid-
ed that date IS more than 80 DAYS a
way from an election They paw no
tax and need only { be able To read
and write Or owu property valued at
not less than $500.
Men between the ages OF q and SO
must show a poll tax receipt. Other
wise their qualifications are the same
as for women Persons registering
now VIII have to re-register IN 1913.
In cases where legal qualifications
for registration are met and there Is
refusal by clerks under any pretense
whatsoever, the legal section OF the
NAACP IS 4 good place to 60. Cases
Of this nature viii not have to Be car
RED to the u s. Supreme Court The
district court will suffice