Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1958-12-19
Rights Commission
Hears Testimony
On vofe Denial
lC0ntinuad from Page !

along Win the COfumiBsipna rec
concentrations
Vice Chairman Robert q stor-
~. dean Of the Southern Methodist
University Law School, was de-
ngnatsd BY the Commission as
Law officer" "a conduct the hear.
Ing After hs finished questioning
each witness other Commissioners
had the privilege Of asking add
ti0ual questions Mr.. wilkins was
the most active In this
He was aided by ISIS law assist
ant on the staff Eugene Jackson.
vino was present for the hearing
ffs had done much ~ the research
and assembled the facts on which
some Of Mr. wilkins questions
were based
Tho evidence began with the
lengthy examination of William r
Mitchell. 80. Who is employed by
the Veterans Administration Hos.
pitai a. Tuakcgee Institute
"A secretary 81 tho Tuskeges
Civic Association. Mr. Mitchell has
been a major factor In stimulating
interest In voting and registration
IN tho 11lstegee community. Re
was registered about ten years ago
after be brought suit IN a Federal
court against the board 81 rcgist
rara The case went 70 the an-
premo Court
The hearing WIS climhxed by
the testimony ~ Aaron SELLERS.
Bullock County farmer who has
tried unsucooHsfnliy ak times 10
register owner Of 2f0-aero
farm. he Il married and father ~
two children
fie graduated from the county
high school and studied two sum
mera a. Timkegoo Institute lie
first sought 10 register In 1864
when he and five other Negroes
we're refused application blanltH
They were told by registrar
We're quite busy today. come
hazel, tomorrow with voucher 4"
Mr. Sellers testified
Alabama requires applicants 20
bo vouChod for by az least ono
registered voter There are only
four Negroes registered IN the on
tire county Whites viii not voueh
FOR Negroes. Mr. Sellers stated
Next day they returned with
ono 81 the four Negro voters but
after waiting considerable time,
they we're approached by a white
man who asked What's your
trouble ?" They told him they we're
there " register
''You All are already citisrna"
they were told. Mr. Sellers tca,,.
fed "lr | we're you "a SO on homn
aud forget about voting
Thry did not leave Presently
the man returned with a small
"mob' of white people and shout
"a At them. u though told you
to set the hell cnt 90 herow Mr.
Sellers said no and the others then
left
undismAycd he returned the
next registration day two weeks
later with sttll more eolared APP
plicnnta ana voucher" Tho
office had been moved and NO one
would tell them wherq the new
loeation was Mr. SELLERS stated
nut the would ba voters stayed
around until lunch time and FOL
lowed one ~ tho registrars thoy
knew back 10 the new office Hut
then they were told by the regis.
trar that he was All alone that
iay and could not act on thulr az
plicatinns Two registrars are re-
q,hred by Alabama law 20 approve
thrm
Their patience wearing thin Mr.
Settlers and three others 81 the
group engaged lawyer who filed
class suit IN their behalf 10 torcc
the board 20 register qualified No.
Nrocs
A decree was isaucd ordering
the board Co register qualified Ne.
groea, bat when Mr. scllers re-
turned the nest registration day
with 10 or 90 solnrcd applicants
the orfiee had been moved again
and they could not ind r.
The editor % the local news
paper camc into the street MIR
settlers said, 10 tell them tha; the
entire board Of registrars had ~
signed There were No registrars
ninctionlrg in Bullock County for
the next y.ar and a half
Mr. sellers tried again ln 1895
after new board started nnnc-
tlnning he was given an appliea
ton blank witch nc filled ou, and
was told he would hear from tho
baard he never I'D The same
thing happvped again IN 1891
when No made two more efforts
o. register
rho last timr IN october 81 that
year, the eoard had moved again
and no was unable to locate the