Atlanta Daily World

Will It Make Another Mistake?

There are a few if any among the unbiased persons who have read our state constitution regarding the election of a governor and observed the subsequent developments in our state immediately after the legislature "elected" Herman Talmadge to be chief executive, and who will not agree with our contentions that this action by the makers was a serious mistake. As a result of it the state has been held up to ridicule among persons everywhere who believe in true democratic procedure. We repeat here what we have previously stated, that the legislature went beyond its powers and usurped a right that belongs to the people themselves when it sought to 'elect' a governor. The question now is before the courts and we hope a final decision will be forthcoming as soon as possible. Also we hope it will be of a nature as to make possible if not mandatory an election so the people can resolve this issue of the governorship.

We contend for an election to settle this question not only because we feel this is a right held exclusively by the people but because from present indications the governor will be called upon to act on the question of the repeal of the primary laws, an issue which is designed to deny Negroes the right to vote in future primaries.

Leaders in the House of Representatives who are definitely pro-Talmadge men have already started action intended to restore the 'white primary.' This action is not only in conflict with the 15th Amendment to the federal constitution, but it is very offensive to the Negro population. If it passes, men who are supposed to be representatives of all the people will be saying by their action that the Negro should be denied a right to vote in the only election--the primary--where there is an opportunity to express an effective choice between those who are to hold public office.

Heretofore, the officials of the Democratic party have made the decision to bar Negroes from participation in the primaries, but to have public officials receiving their pay from the tax money of all the citizens commit an act to bring about the same result, the question becomes more serious.

We contend that the legislature has no mandate to do anything because the late Eugene Talmadge, who was elected by the unit system, actually receiving a minority of the votes cast in the primary. He took as the main plank in his platform the elimination of the Negro vote. Moreover, the man who had the support of a majority of the Negro voters and won the nomination for the lieutenant governorship, Hon. M. E. Thompson, did not stress any issues in his campaign. So certainly he is not morally obligated to be a part of any action designed to attempt to circumvent the courts and violate the Negro's voting right.

As we have constantly stated in the past, this question of our right to vote is very vital and we call upon every citizen who is interested in retaining the protection of laws around the primary and against efforts to deny the ballot to Negroes, to call upon the members of the legislature and let them know your view.