Newspapers / The Carolina Times (Durham, … / Oct. 20, 1956, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAflB TWO m CAKOUWA WMM SATUBPAY, OCT. W, lt5« 1 REGISTERING AND VOTING IN N. C. - III Political Organization At The Precinct Level ^ .. . ..... .« 1 Wa n ** Ift tllA V/Ill Ka ..... Th« tonn of political puttai of any giv«n govemnMnt ia. jat necenity, determined by the type of that government becatise to be effective, the structure of political parties must be adjust- ■ed to the type of government they seek to influence. And since there can be only one \j«st form for political parties under any one government, it is but natural that all political parties under the same government would eventually come to the same form. For that reason all political parties in North Caro lina, indeed all in the United States, be it the Democratic, Re publican or other, have the same basic form Thus people throughout America observing the recent Democratic and Re publican Conventions noticed no important difference in their procedures. Because the form of all politi cal parties in North Carolina are thre for the same, and because the Democratic party is the only party in the state that has e state-wide organization, the Ke publican party organization ex isting in certain sections only and none other lieing existent, this article will deal only with the structure of the Democratic party in the state and one can substitute the word Republican if he wishes. There would be practically no essential differ ence in the organization. BY REV. S. F. DALY The primary, fundamental and most important unit of all political organizations, not only of North Carolina but also of America, is the lowly “pre cinct." A precinct is a continu ous geographical area in which all of the voters of that area re gister and vote. Ultimately, all political power must rest here, because all political power must ultimately rest upon the ballot and the precinct is the only place where ballots are voted and counted. Any political par ty te 'win must ultimately win here and to be beaten must be beaten here, for the precinct is the place where all elections are won or lost, llie precinct is the formula and the ballot is the common denominator to alt po litical power. Either you and your group count on the pre cinct level or you and your group do not count at all In politics. Two incidents in my experi ence illustrate this: When I was in college I pas- tored a rural church with a road that was impassable in rainy weather. The church sent me to the authorities to request a new or improved road. While I was presenting the matter the chair man leaned over to the next member of the commission and said: “Those colored people In Hawklnstown have asked for a road too. We had better look after them first; they vote. You cannot blame a person for look ing out for himself can you?” 1 told my congregation what had transpired. Hawklnstown got a paved road. We did not. Years later, when on the fa culty of one of our schools of religion, I again was pastor of a. rural church. Registering and voting was one of the things I had the church adopt as a part of my program. They had been 10-years trying to get the one- and one-balf mile road paved i ent parties, it is up to the clti- that paaaed the church. The zens or the party, church accepted. There was a I The party now takes over, run-off between a new comer | and the Democratic party or- aiid the 25 year-old machine re-' ganization on the precinct level peater. Our deacons contacted is as follows; the new candidate concerning the road. He agreed to give his support if we would give him the votes. The people did. He was elected. That was during November elections. The road was completed the next August. II. The Precinct Organization The state sets the boundaries of the precincts (of which 2047 were reported in last primary), arranges for the registering and voting of the qualified citizens ia the pr«cinct, for the counting, recording, certifying and repor ting the results of the ballots cast. Beyond that, so far as the state is concerned, except to specify that the two election judges shall come from differ- 1. Membership. All voters in the precinct registered as Demo crats are members, per se, of the Democratic organization for that precinct. They have a right to attend, speak and vote in all of the precinct’s meetings. And this they should do. Negro election judges and registrars have manned the 16th and 20th pre cincts in Raleigh for nearly fif teen years because they parti cipated on the precinct level. Incidentally, the white eleC' tion officials from the very be ginning have cooperated nicely. There are scores of precincts where liberal local white people would cooperate, if the Negro would attend the precinct meet- The "lowly precinct” Is the most fundamental and ImportaiK unit of all political organisation. Here, a voter leaves the auto matic voting machine in a Durham County precinct after hav ing cast his ballot. THE RIGHT TO REGISTER AND VOTE I ' ' f The registration books are tent in the federal courts, and see that justice is done in such now open for the national it ig our sincere hope that matters, electton to be held on No- each community will not com- To those sections of the vember si^. In many a^- promise on such an important state where Negroes have no tions of this state special- ^o help in this^tter trouble m re^tenng we ly m^tem North Carolina, ^ur Raders to report that our leaders m allH qi^ed Nep) a^ns an ^ newspaper walks of life bi^y the^elves stiUdeni^ the ri^t to regis- that we may aid in ^ng *o it that a door-to- ter, which m turn denies them ^ u that those responsible door canvass is made in every ^ right to vote It is our ^e M-osecuted. community to register every honest opmion that Negro - person whose name is not al- leaders have fooled around Persons knowing cases ready on the books. If this is with this important ques- where qualified Negroes have done, many of the injustices tion entirely too long and been turned down are urged suffered in employment, edu- that the time has come when to send us the name and ad- cation and other fields will be something concrete should be dress of such registrar along abolished. No citizen living done about it. with the name of the person under a democratic form of Registrars who deny quail- refused. It is our full inten- government has a right to the fied persons from registering tion to place the information enjoyment of its benefits who on account of race should be received into the hands of will not register and vote, prosecuted to the fullest ex- those who are in position to NEIIHEK PRO OR ANTI-CAIHOLIC From its beginning this your right to say it.” Catholic, we have seen some newspaper has held fast to a For the past several days things that we admire and beU^ in the; philosophy of we have had repeated tele- some we do not. It is our opin- govemment as laid down by phone calls about letters to ion that America is strong the founding fathers of this the editor appearing in these enough and big enough to al- nation, among which is that columns which attacked the low freedom of worship to all of freedom of the press. It Catholic church. Altout these its people so long as that free- has been our policy throu^ letters we would like to say dom does not interfere with the years, and may it ever be, here wd now that the policy the other freedoms enjoyed to keep wide open these col- of the Carolina Times is by its citizens, umns to all our readers, both neither pro-Catholic nor anti- Let it be further said that friend and ft>e, as a medium Catholic. We surrender the if and when any person of the of expression, whether we question of who is or who Catholic faith desires the use concurred in what they said isn’t right on the matter of of these columns to reply to or not. We firmly believe In religion to those who have be- any or all letters to the editor that stat^ent uttered by com^ more fanatical about or otherwise, he or she will Voltaire when he said, “Al- such matters. be given the same right as though I do not l^lieve what In our observation of all others of our readers, no more you say I will die defending churches, both Protestant and and no less. FACING THE ISSUE By DR. A. H. GORDON STEVENSO]^, MAN FOR PEACE in a previous column we re ferred to President Eisenhower as a “War-Monger”. Many of our friends thought the designa tion unjustified because the Pre sident and his supporters have never tired of talking about their love of peace and' their propaganda to the effect that the President was serving the cause of the prevention of war by keeping our country militarily strong inclu4ing the numerous exhibitions of our progress the manufacture and explosion of various sizes and kinds of “A” and “H” Bombs. We caUed at tentioir to the fact at the time of this former writing that we con sidered the President a promoter of war, in spite of his talk about peace, because his actions have been such as to give the world the impression that under htS leadership this country depends upon a show of force to frighten other countries, Russia in par ticular, away, from the idea of attacking us or our “democra tic” allies throughout the world. Stevenson, the Democratic op ponent of Elsenhower, ha& brought out in the open the fact we mentioned, namely, that President Eisenhower believes that the continuation of the ex plosions of A and H Bombs is necessary because they will con vince our potential enemies ttiat we are not “letting down our guard” and that it would be too dangerous to attack us. Mr. Ste-. venson has done the country a great service by expressing in, no uncertain terms his firm \>e- lief that these actions on our part amount to a threat ol war or at least give the world the false impression that the Ameri can people are militaristic and depend upon perpetual force, or threat of force, to guarantee permanent world peace. Mr. Stevenson stated that we should at least explore the possibility of discontinuing the expensive universal military training we have now. Mr. Eisenhower’s militaristic response to this rea sonable proposition was that it was foolish and dangerous, even, too dangerous to discuss this matter of an early discontinu ing of this enormous burden up on the tax-payers of this coun try. Eisenhower has even stated that he refuses to even diKUss the matter any further. This means that if Elsenhower is re elected we are definitely saddled with militarism for four more years and therq is no hope for any substantial reduction of the unjust and imwise income tax. As long as our Presidency is in the hands of an avowed mllltar- ist who believes in his h^i't that war is still a ligUimate and necessary method of settling in ternational differences we are in for a policy leading to econo mic ruin for this nation and a prostitution of its'leadership In world affairs away from peace and prosperity for all the peo ples of the world. In advocating the discontinu- (Continued on Page Seven) Ings, develop the know how, show the determination and talk turkey, cooperatively, with the party. PRECINCT OFFICERS 2. Officials. “The unit of county organization shall be the voting precinct,” says the state Democratic party, and “In each precinct there shall be an execu tive committee of five active De mocrats, at least two of whom shall be women...” The precinct committee shall elect from its membership a chairman and a vice chairman, one of which ahull be a woman.” That’s it! the precinct organization. The chairman of this committee can be a powerful man. He is, by virtue of his office, a member of the County Democratic Kxecu- tive Committee, and Is usually especially if he ia a man in his own right, consulted in all party matters in his precinct, and a lot that is not party matter too. You may not know your pre cinct chairman, but most likely he knows you, knows whether you amount to much and whe ther you vote. You may be edu cated, you may be wealthy, you may even be a “big stick,” but to him, if you do not vote, you are a political cipher. Sure, he will be nice to you, he is usually a nice man. But that little fel low who rents from you and up on whom you look as an obscu- rOslty and nonentity-but who votes regularly, will get the chairmen’s ear when you will not. You don’t vote; so you don’t matter. And the chairman knows it. IV. Precinct Procedures (Continued on Page Nine) THE WORLD‘S MILL10KI6 LOOK QM DEMOCRACY IS BEGINNING TO WORK AFTERAU THEY'RE DE5E6RE6ATIN6 Sf AND HE HATH MADE FROM ONE EVERY NATION OF MEN TO LIVE ON ALL THE FACE OF THE EARTH. ^ jtCTSJ7r2a LEUER10 THE EMIOR Cbc Carmila Clm£0 MADf (»TICE — 4Si EAST PETTIOBEW STRIVT I-M71 asd 2-2tl3 — Dariiam, Nortk Carellna PvbliMhed At Durham, North Carolina Every Saturday By THE UNITED PUBLISHERS, Inc. Entered at second clots matter at the Pott Office at Durham, North CoroM»»a ■ der the Act of Mardh 3,1 $79. L. E. AUSTIN. PubUther CLATHAN ROSS, Editor M. E. JOHNSON. Controller. W. A. HENNESSEE, Butinett Mgr. JESSE GRAY, Advertiting Mgr. WINfirrON-SALEM OFFICE — 3M N. COUBCH ST. — PHONE S-0SM MRS. VELMA HOPKINS, Manager SUBSCBIPTION RATES One Year Tm Cents Single Copy — 81* MMitlu $4.00 — Forelcn Countries. NaMonel AdvertMng Repretentativee INTERSTATE UNlTED REPRBSENTATIVES, Inc. 945 Fifth Avmfui . N*w Yobk 17, New Yobk Pbcms MUkkay HIll - 2-94Se Honorable D. D. Eisenhower President of the United States 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D. C. Esteemed Sir: I have read in this morning’s paper of your intended appoint ment of William Joseph Bren nan, J., to the United States Su preme Court bench. I do not doubt that Mr. Bren nan is a very fine man and a ca pable jurist, but there are other things of paramount importance which should be considered in making such an appointment. Ordinarily, and under our ^eat Constitution, a man’s religious affiliation should not have any bearing in the matter. But the declared purposes of the Roman Catholic Church, I.e., to rule the worW, and her determination to acliieve that end without regard to the means used, and her de mand and claim to blind and un limited obedience and first al legiance to her, make me feel as did Abraham Lincoln, when he said, ‘TUI lately I was in fa vor of the unlimited liberty of conscience as our Constitution gives it to Roman Catholics. But not it seems to me that sooner or later the people will be for ced to put a restriction to that clause towards the papists”. See cover of The American Sentinel, December, 1929. filr. Lincoln was no doubt brought to this conclusion by the fact that he saw the whole force of the Catholic Church both at Rome and in America, in the North as well as in the South, (with the notable excep tion of Bishop Purcell of Cincin nati), supporting the Confede racy. You should read a book written by the learned Rlchard- W. Thompson, Secretary of the Navy in 1876, called The Pa pacy's purposes and practices and plans. Thompson’s page 407 quotes from a Catholic historian, Cor- menin, vol. 1, page 377, where Cormenln gives a declaration made by the great Pope Gregory VII, as foUows; “The pope is the representative of God on earth; he should, then govern the world. To him alone pertain in fallibility and nuiversality; all inen are submitted to his laws, and he can only be judged by God; he ought to wear imperial ornaments; people and kings should kiss his feet; Christians are irrevocably submitted to his orders; THEY SHOULD MUR DER THEIR PRINCES, FATH ERS, and children if he COMMANDS IT;—finally, good or evil exists but in what he condenmed or Approved”. The Catholic Encyclopedia says of Gregory VU that “he was one of the greatest of the pontiffs.” If Catholics, believe these things, and that they should not hesitate to go to these ends for Holy Mother Church, what can we expect in the way of fidelity from any member of that chiurch In a case Involving conflict of interests between our people and government, and the Catho lic Church? A book called “America’s Me- nance”, by C. W. Bibb, (1014), contains on page 115-116, the following quotations from a ser mon preached in St. Louis op June 30, 1912, by Priest D. S. Phelan, editor of the well- known Romanist Church paper. The Western Watchman, of that city, “Tell us, in the conflict be- (Contlnued on Page Nine) Spiritual Insight “THE MIRE AND THE WATER”— ■r RSVKKKND MAKOLD ROLAND FMter, Meiwt QllMi Baptlsi Ckarcli “The water ha* come up to my neck, I sink deep into the mire, there it no foothold." Pta.60;l-2 The water and the mire are symbols of the mighty forces that will crush and overwhelm us In life. These powers and for ces threaten all of us. They cause- many of our fears, anxie ties and worries. These forces, seemingly, would crush and swallow us up. Yes, many things threaten to crush us—sickness, pain, loneliness, disappc^tment, resentment and trouble. 'The Holy writer had experienced dangers of the waters and th^ mire.- The waters had almost crushed him. He had been al most lost in the mire. But his faith in God had brought him through many dangers. God will bring us through the perils of the water and the mire. He assures us that 'God brought him joyously and tri umphantly through the dangers of the water and the mlre...”The water has come up to my neck, I sink deep into the mire*.” Some of us are overwhelmned by the waters df explosive tem per. Our tempers hinder many of us. They make us unhappy. And they make those around us unhappy in the home. A bad temper mars the sweetness and beauty of good and pleasant hu man relations. It beclouds the mind. It blows out the light of reason. I know a man who was a wonderful and charming per son except one thing—an ex plosive temper. This was his one serious human weakness. A bad temper can defeat some of our greatest hopes and aspirations. Indeed, we can bog down in the mire of a bad temper. Many get bogged down in the dangerous mire of hatred. Noth ing is such a threat to the spiri tual life and peace of man as hatred. We aU are in danger of being lost in the muck and mire of hatred. Then let us for our own soul’s sake fight this thing with all of our might. It stifles, cramps, and robs us of spiritual peace and joy. It is dangerous. It will crush you. Let us have our minds cleansed from'itk de filing influence...“l sink deep into the mire, there is no foot hold...” We let troublesome problems crush our spirits. We are over come by the floodtides in Iife!s stormy scenes. We sink deep In the mire weary from grappling and wrestling with problems. We get lost in the mire of our troubles. Faith In God and the power it gives can help us to live with any problem. With faith in God we can ecRlurc trial. Faith in God becomes solid rock for us to through troubled waters and the miry places. We all must pass through dangerous waters. We all must walk through the mire sometimes. Trust God and he will bring you through. Faith in God will make us equal to the demands of the threatening waters and the dark miry places through which we must pass, ‘‘Let not the flood sweep over' me..or the deep swallow me up...” Capital Close Up . Robinson Scores in CR Debate We felt proud, as William H. Robinson, a GOP member of the llUnois House of Delegates, replied to the questions of his listeners and the challenges of his oppo^te,.IHlnoi8 State Sena tor Henry Smith, In a Civil Rights debate at the .montitly forum meeting of the Capital Press Club, here, last week. We always feel proud when the im pact of well-directed fact, un adorned, scores over cliches and bombast. While there were no judges and no decisions, comment at the usual “post-mortem” around the tables strongly favored the Chicago social workn- from Congressman Dawson’s First District. By CON8TANOB DAMBL —Senator Smith— Senator Smith, lashing about with more vigor than skill, char ged the V President, “—a nuin who spent all his life In the busi ness of killing people—” with misleading the RepubUcans in 1052, “cashing In on the popu larity of a great mlUtory per sonage;” that “Elsenhower an nounced that his entire cabinet would be made up of mlUion- airesl” Republicans, he charged) “struck at tiie very heart of 'little men,’ by striking down Rent Control,” raising r«its and making reasonably-priced hous ing scarce. He questioned whe ther post-war Industrial lay-offs might not have been “a capita- llst-Republlcfcn plan to low^ wages.” His off-the-cuff that, "A platform is to get In on—not to stand on,” did nothing for him, even among the many Demo crat supporters present. Delegate RobtTuon. Robinson, named “Legislator of the Year” by his colleagues in the Illinois legislature, made his pohits quietly but forcefully. Unruffled by Smith’s , round house attack on the President and the GOP, he pointed out that “Ike” had ended the Ko rean War, and had won world wide recognition and acclaim as “a quiet designer of peace.” From his background of con stant contact with the under privileged, Robinson reminded that the housing sltus^on has with t^ abolition of con- (Continued on Page Nine)
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