Evening star., 1946-06-30
Few Negroes 10 Cast
Mississippi Ballots;
u. ). Probe Weiqhed
BY The Assoeioted Press

JACKSON, Miss, June 29.-The
Negro voting question today turned
the national spotlight and perhaps
a Senate investigation, on Tuesday s
Democratic primary election in
Mississippi, but only a corporals
guard of Negroes, at most, can cast
ballots.
A last survey showed that the
Negro registration is only tiny
percentage of the total number of
names on the books. Many counties
have no Negro registrants, and in
the States largest county, Hindu,
there are only about 500 Negroes
registered as compared with $4,000
white voters.
But the smallness of the potential
Negro vote did not diminish it's i'm
portance as an issue in the eyes
of Senator Bilbo, Democrat of Mis-
sissippi, who has stressed white
supremacy in his campaign for re-
nomination.
If you let handful vote this
time" the Senator has said, 1T will
be two handfuls next time and four
handfuls the time after, and soon
white supremacy will be lost"
Circuit Clerks Blamed.
The low figures of Negro registra-
ton have been blamed by T. B.
Wilson, colored president of the
Progressive Voters League, on "ruse
and intimidation by some circuit
clerks. He claims clerks have pre-
vented registration by such means
as feigned absence from their office,
or by pretending that the deadline
has passed.
Meanwhile, the Senate Elections
Committee in Washington was con-
sidering whether a Federal investi-
CATION of the Mississippi primary
was warranted, and the National
Negro Council asked President Tru-
man to send troops ito guard the
polls"
The elections committee met to-
day, but deferred action in the mat
ter until Monday.
The message to the President was
sent by Edgar G. Brown, director
of the National Negro Council, pro-
testing postponement of the elec-
tions committee inquiry. Brown
declared the use of soldiers in the
japanese elections last April fur
nished a precedent for their use
In Mississippi.
Spirited Windup Scheduled.
At least four of the Senatorial
candidates will continue vigorous
campaigning right up to the eve of
the primary. Senator Bilbo, who
has called on "all red-blooded An
glo-S -Saxons" to prevent Negro voting
"by any means" will climax his
speaking program with radio ad-
dress Monday night over ''all radio
stations in Mississippi and one in
Tennessee"
Nelson T. Levings of Gulfport,
naval veteran who has asked other
ex-servicemen to help him lend the
Bilbonic Plague" likewise will end
his campaign in Jackson. with an
outdoor rally which also will be
broadcast.
Supreme Court Clerk Tom @.
Ellis closes his tour with talks Mon
day in three smaller towns. He,
alone of the five candidates, largely
has steered clear of personalities.
He has characterized his campaign
as crusade for dignity and honor
In high places" and has denounced
"the religious bigotry and the use
of blasphemy by those seeking
Office"
Former Representative Ross Col
Inns will wind up in Meridian. In
his addresses he has accused Sena-
tor Bilbo of being responsible for
Negro voting by failing to fight
aggressively enough for white su-
premacy.
No plans have been announced
by the fifth candidate, Frank Har-
per, former State Senator and
peachtree salesman. who has trav-
eled on his campaign tour by hitch
hiking