TH£ M/55155/PP/

FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC

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PARTY ...

T/JlLE OF OON'mlTS

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l. Challenge of tho Mississi.ppi FrcodCII Democratic Party •• • • .1

2 . Appendix 1.: Historical Bllckground. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • S

3. Appendix Bt •Row Negro Darnocrats Fared" •• • • • 9

4. Appcnd:i.x C: Ths Ftr and tho Convention Challenge: Data • • ••• 1.3

S. Appon1i.J< D: state llEr:tocratic Rcsolu tions in Support of the 1T!i'/1.)

6 . Appcllntl:i:x 1": 'i'he Voice of tho Tradl.tional Mi.ss . IeiDocratic Party/23

Inquiries or Requests tor Further Information should be directed to :

The Mississippi FrcedOI!l Democratic Party Bo:x 3127

Jaclcson, Jotississippi

or Telephone : )$2~9788

J.r02. Code 601

'The ~.:issin~prd Freedom l):noeratic Party Wa."hi'll;ltor. Ot!'ice

l J!iJ "J" N;. 'liW Wast.inc t on o.c.

20009 Telcphm1e: ))2-7732

.Area Code 202

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In 196o the Mississippi Democratic Party failed to honor its pledge to support the nondnees of the National Democratic Convention. Immediately after the convention the Mississippi party convened a convention and voted to support unpledged electol!s in an effort to defeat the nominees of the Democratic !l!ational Convention.

C. THE CLOSED SOCIETY:

"It can be argued that in the history ol" the United States democracy has produced great leaders in great crisBs. Sad as it n>ay be, the opposite has been true in Mississippi. As yt~t there is little evidence that the society of tho closed mind mll erver possess the moral resources to reform • • itself, or the capacity for sell'- I!Xaminatioh, or even thB tolerance of self-examination," fl!om Miss:!.ssippi: The Closed Society, by James \of. SiJ.ver.

Ci.Vil nghts groups wo.rld.ng in Miss:!.ssippi are conVinced that :poll ti-cal and social justice cannot be won in Mississippi without massive interest end support of the country as a whole, baekod by tho authority of thB Federal gaval'l'lment. As th., political leadership of Mississippi feel threatened by the 'Winds of ebango, they deviae ngw nnd more extensive logal WGapons and police powers. Police preparations were made all through tho spring to hArass, intimidate, and threaum t,h.o educational and political progz'lllnS . aow being oarr:ied on in Missislli1Jpi. nvo now bills, pro\libiting picketing, banning the di-stribution of boycott litorature, ~ostricting tho lliOVement o.f groups, establishing ill parallel those of the .Miss:!.ssippi DemocrAtic Party, and every effort will be made to comply ldth all state laws "'hl.eb apply to tho forms.tion of pol:\:tical parties, Registered v~ 1.n tho Freedom J:bmOCTSt:ic Psrty have aJ.r.eady attol'lptod to attend precinct Sl\d county moat:ings of tho Mississippi Democ:r1.1tie Party, an experience whieb on]y offo:rod further proof o£ tho :racial discrimination rife 'Within this party and of its disloyalty to the National Party (Sea .Appe,ndix).

The }!ississippi ~eedom "fuJM>crntic Part;!

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A, tBfiK'•!f REffim!W>!~: Ortic:1aJ. registration tiguro• ahov thAt. o~ sono 20 ,ooo !logroos are

rogiatorod in Mississippi a~:~ eomparod to 500 ,000 "Whites. Thl.a ropros41¢-s l.ess than 7'f, of the 435,000 Nogroo5 21 yoara of ago in tho state. Tho Freedom Rngi.at.ration is de5igned to ~:~hov that. thousands of Negroos want to bocomo rogisterGd voters. ll,y setting up rog1.strars and dopUty Nlgist.rars in counties aeroos tho s~w . solllo 100 ,000 or moro parsons tlll\y bo inscri.bod on the P'roed0111 Registration books by tho timo of the Inuocrlltic Convention. L/l.et Nuv&mbor some 8), 000 Nogroos vo\od in 4 mock guborna.tor1.al racG, in '11\U.cb COFO Prosidont Aaron Henry ren against Gov. Paul. B. Johnson.

Tho Froedoaa rogi5tra.rs will uso simplified rogistrntion forms bo.sod on Vol:.i.n& a.ppllcations used in sOYoral Nortborn st.Atos. J..ey parson ..mo rogis-t6ra in tho FrE.edom Rog).st.ration vUl. bo aligiblo to voto in tho P'rood0111 Dlalocr&tic Party conventions and to part1c:1pat;o in party work.

B. f'Rf!WlM C\NDID\TES :

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Tho four cand1datos ~rty.

APf'~DIX A HIS'IDRICAL S\CXGROU11l

In 18?6 Ruthorford B. Hayos, nowl.¥ oloctod Prosi.dont of tho United

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Sta tos, ordorod tho withdrnwul o£ Foclor~~l troops fro!!! tho South. That ordct-, for all prllcti.cal purposos, 1113rkod tho ond of Nagro ~rticipc.tiol, !n Miss-issippi govornmant. With tho t.roops gono nnd Raeonstruction in its donth-t.hroc.s, tho wbi.to popullltion of tho stato unitod with thoir brct.hrcm across tho Sollth to carey out tho grand design of "f\udor.qltion, 11 Redemption l'lo.l!nt tho rostornti.on of s:l:isoluto "bito rul.o, a.nd it entailed, first and foromost,

1" tho clisi'ranahisOl!IOnt of tho Nogro frcotllnnn. Boforo tho ~cks cOUld bo donl t - with - returned to thcrl:r plnoo - thoy hlld to bo strl.ppod of tho power given

tham by tho Fourtoenth and Fi.!'t..onth lllllondmonts; they had to bo dri von away from tho ballot box,

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Hissisaippi. and tho whi to South cccac:pl.ishcd this golll in loa a than t\K.nty y011rs. lbo method we rln:plc tort•or: boati.ngs, lynchings, arson, torturo. It wrkod. Par:U.y2ed by foe.r of tho nightr:l.ding Klana, tho NogN votar in ~ssi.s:dppi soon bocai!IO ell but extinct. Tho patt.;rn w:~s rcpoutocl in a.ll tho states of tho late Contodllrccy, and in 1901 the last southOl·n Negro Congressman lOns, in aey ease, woro not i.Jnportant; tho victor:y hlld boon won. ~lisaisllippi was onoo mol;'o tho undisputo!i rolloll'l of the AmoriCU\n v.td to Mnn.

:tho black body" politic dostroyod, tho way was cloar to build, undor tho "Wi.Dl! of tho state govornmont, n aocioty in which black ""rroganco and aspi-rati.on" would be ir.:possiblo. Ji111 Crow 1o10a born, and tho ~fi.ssiGIIippi llogro c= lllwly to u:ndorstand that certain "privilcgosP and .focilitios waro "111R WHITE O~:LY" - ruuong thea was tho voting booth, Tho unwr:l. ttc>n law o.f tho now ordQI' (they called it Sogror;ation) clid wt ~ng rezldn unwritten. Lily-'Wbito logi&J.aturos passod bill aft.t-r bill, onl'orclng tho nw syst.au in ovary conceiv>Iblo t.roa of lifo, buttressing tho 'W'lll, building higher, filling the chinks. 1ly l9ZO tho Kl.Bsiosippi Magro bad com to uru:ior,:,t.And thAt avorything he did w:~s a privilogo, warytbing h" nad was o gift. -~ubj(lct to rovocati.W~ at tho 1ilh1Jfl of tho ~to folk:;." Tho ClqU4tion for tho lllllintonanco of t.! :s happy cond1 tion lollls s:Unple 1 so long os tho Nogro -... oou.ld mount no power, lw ruproBontQC! no thrCU\t to tho systc.r1; so long 011 ho hlld no V'Ote he l!ad no power. Koop hi111 ,from vqting, Nogroos who objoctod oi thor ewallowo!i their objoct:).ons, loft tor Olie4gc, or cll.ud objpcting,

And so diJVelopod tho lun.1tic non-politics at tho Sovorcign St.Ato or M1saisllippi, Tho stato has clwnys boon too pool' for oconardc iesuos to form tho basis of any noaningf'ul politic:ll conflict., Tbo stat.o has always boon too prooccupiod "With tho maintol"lo'lnco of it.D iron grip on tho !lagro to work towa.rd cradic'lti.P.g its pQVorty. i'bo st.alu$ of tho Negro has alWI!ys boon tho ono crucial all-porvad:!.ne; issuo: it h~s alw:~ys boon tho ono aubjoct absolutely closed to controvwsy, Conconsus on 1"..ho subjoct of tho Nogro has boon ossontial, and roquirod conconsus in one area hos c ~Y or llpl'Da~ to othor aroas. Solidnrlty bocam!l tho koynoto or Mississippi politi.os, bUt bohind tho vall of solidArity thcro md.st.od onl¥ a vacUW!l. Tho pri:r.o alw:;-a

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l:cnt. t~ th c:uu·i~t.:l \!h~ coul £hout. lon,...,st •m lou

• '1 ·'l:i: it ·~& srrt in c'il ":.)i::'ztod COUJ'Ity jnils. !horo WZI DlV!Lyo tho risk o~ "'" ocea8101'1!\J banting: J.,vnc.'l mo'b:s ~nd shX>t1ngs wro infroquont. bUt novel:' U!'Jikoly. It bocnme app~romt that t.lrl.s was going to t.t:ko ao:•o t.imo.

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In ~d-196) Nogro reuistration stood nt roughly throe pcrcont or 11 rc:,;istored voters in the stnte; rowor thnn sL~ percent of ill

eligible liogroos wero regist...."'l:'ed. It was decided that. no draalat1c pr.:>-gr s would bo rorthco=l.ng in the aet.uel re&istration of !1lssiaaipp1 N..groes until tho Fodernl C-overn::1!lnt sew fit to on!'orco tht~ Constitution ln the. Sovereign state. At.W.."'Pts at zoe&istrnt1on, hm.'GVer, were to continue. Tho pro:llluro on Mississippi from within HississiPJli - nnd ;."ith it pressure on wnshir.gton - would ir.cr~se. ProGrams fo~ t.\a political c.duo(>.tion o~ tho l".issiaaippi Negro would bn developed. Along 'IIi t.h th 1r rogulnr vo·tcr rogistrnt1on activities field workers ~uld bo .-xpoctcd to orgi!.n:izo c·:!lllll.lrdtios and to teach tho;u the rudiments of Ib:ocre.ey, Tha Froodom Vote Camptign tor Governor in tho autumn oi" 1963 ( in which lnr&e ~rs of Wito volunteer~ p;lrt.lcipatod :for tho first ti~ - under OOFO 4USJ>iCCS} provod tho b:lsic sou.!;dnesll of this

pproach. Nosroos in the stato vcre 00110r for politic."C1 activity, they 'lo"!ltrt.od to roE;btor, thQy W"...nl:.od 1.0 voto.

ThEi 0 .S, Do~rtmont of JUJitico in tho =n~.hllo had not boon co~:~plc.toly i~V.:.otivo, nlo Civil Rights .Act of 1960 h'l.d -1 rogistr;o.rs in co.t:os -r.ilora a "pntt.arn or pract.ico" or vot.Gr discrilni-nation 'lo-:J.s found. Suits wore brought agnin3t t..>tu roj;istr(U'S or ForroGt and M:I.Cison c~unti s, enjoining t.hm frol'i furthar ir.tcr!or ... nco 1d th ·~ro "J'Pllc tior.s, \o!lon Dcpnrtcn to unse!lt tho rt1e'>l nr·' t!lasiss:lppi dol c lion to tho National. llam~or I:J.c Cor.vc:nt1on. Thfl """' p:trty is cornpo5•.Jd ~.;nt.troly o1' n'1.t.iv9 };issisllipr!lnns. OrGanizationn l efforts thr0ughout tl c. IIWtJ ... r ar,;, ~ng focussed on tho Atl•ntic City Convuntion in August .

nns is roughly "'hero wo strnd in tho su=r of 1964. Tho St.nt..l t.crtslatura >r.:s in c pAnic throu£hout tho spr1r.g, 1 t ht\5 just passed what is probllb4' tho b1.ggost ootc.'l o1: clon.rly uneonsti tutionsl lllh-:1 in tho history of this co\Ult.l:'y. Th Citiz;r.ns CCnr:ci:! is st.r.:~n........r thAn it hs r:;vcr boon. Tho Ku Kl'JX K.lnn h'lS rcvivod in tho southwc.stern (i!lrt. of tho state, and brrrning cl:'o,.sos h~.v. htw">n SJ ott

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climato or pnnic a.nd !'onr in tho whito cor.mamity that has spread throughout the state, It is in this climto th::tt votor rogistrntion wrkers and political workc.rs l'lll1l t. continuo ond intl)nsity prosont registration drives and buil.d up the roass bnsis tor tho l'roodon D:.nocratic Party ~~Freedlm Rflgistration, The danger nov is gt'OIIter than it over hns boon - and so is our hope.

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!tn ,;ix precincts ( prir.Arlly in t:lo liberal to\o-n o! GNenville) llegroes woro IIJ.low d to pa.rt1cip3to ~r in tho J.'roc1.nct l'l•Jetinga. Howaver, in 11o:::e C~>Aes t.boy woro 1ncludc.d only att .. r wili to vot.;,rs sulled tho r.ootings until wall peat. 10:00 Ulin 11n ci'!ort to phono up e!lOUf.h ~dition.e.l 'Whit.o vot.P-ra to or.t'aet an urucxpact.edly large ror.ro turnout, !n all blrt. ono procinct (in Groenville) the :-esolution of part.y l.oy;;Uty was du!'eated • .........

On June 23, 1964, Negroes tried ~ take· part. in the ~;ocond le"tol. or De:nocrnt.ic J'-Jrty metnvC"'Ot.iO."lS . ~!ost o! these !:sr;roes had be n l_c':.!:ld d.!!l~a t.-il:s to tho .:O'~t:r lo-1d by !lll-!\e[!l"O precl.nct moet.inl'z. Cno, hO'oi , ~ich bnd arrlvod at 10:00 AM was 1nforad t.'I 111 ;ot.il:l£' wns lllrc dy o7ar).

In on or tho mor l1bnrnl" "rc!ls or tho 5t&w, Me!'idil!n (Laudordalo County) .bl'l'O dol·'r."-t s ottu.'ltlc.d t.''l Count.y C:n";;ntion, but wra not nllowed to pSrt1"!!pct) ru_Jy, nor \IU' t.'l 1r crcdcnti'lls aver rccogniud. The ::::c.-sting refusod to con.~dnr t."·.cir r sohtior. of lo~~lty w tho ~tiorel Ikmocr, tlc Party.

In R'.Uovi!Jo nd G!"' rr.rillo , ·o-ro~~ did not participo.te r..s delog!ltes, 1::Jut 'llc,:'O Jlm .. d to 'ltt. nd tin IIIDOlir.g!> " obs.;,rv~rs. [;.,no or the 'IO.'hi t dc.l.egat s rr.>:-t th lon pr< ctn::t in :ire .l7.tillo lod".ich ht?d ukc.n the "r"odic!ll atLnci o! dcmti +b, ' :oro- r- olut.ion on party lJ'llty sho-o'cd up r,t t.'to County Convr .• t.1o•1. (?.ul till• ' Sur.flcr~-r Countn 3roonvillc: Wi:lshin~..on Count;,r).

In Jackson (!U!'lds County) n ... -gro dol.at"ltc. who rcprosanud one hal!' of his mult1- r.cc1 1 proeir.et s nr.glo vot.c, "'"~ c.-at:...--.:1 rlt.h his N'(:ro alt.;~t.c in th oocl< of tho CoJ'III' nticm rc>~'!!. His crcdent.i~ls i>"m'C not so;,rio•.wly qu stiont>d .nd h. \

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APPENDU C 1:3 THE F I o. pI AND THE O?NVEf:lTION CHAI.Iiffil\lGE

"We are not allowed to tunct1on eUect1vel.y 1n Mi.ss1ss1p¢.'s traditional Democratic Party; therefore, we must find another way to align ourselves with the National Democratic Party. "

........... The Mississippi Freedom Del!locratic Party (FII') is open to ci:bizens

of all races and encourages the political participation of all.

The Freedom Damocrat1o Party was established ill April, 1964. At a meeting on April 26 apprOld.ma.tely 200 delegates from across the state set up a TEII!pOrary State Executive Committee for the party, :r_e following people were elected to serve on the Committee (the llUilloor in parenthesas refers to Congressional Dtstrict)1

Ill:' 1 Aaron He~, Chaii'man Rev I Merrill Lindsey Clarksdale ( n West Point (I)

Rev. J .w. Brown Mr. Leslie McLemore Hattiesburg (V) Holly Springs (U)

IV, Farcy OlaPil:.an Mr. Olsrles Robinson Jackson (m·) canton (IV)

&s, Annie Davine R11iV , R.L,T. Smith Canton (IV) Jackson (m)

Mr. Samuel Glovr Mr,, Eddie Thomas Canton (IV) Vicksburg (UI)

Mrs. Pinky H'i\ll Hattiesburg (V)

Mrs. Evelyn Wright Hattiesburg (V)

. . ..........

The Temporary state Executive Collllllittee is responsible !or supervising tile calling of precinct, county, district, and state meeting$ at which the delegates to the National Democratic Convention will be selectod. As of July .5, the 'remporary Ex:ecutivo Committee has .fixed the .following datos for the FilP meetings:

becinct end County Meetings: To be held before AugJlSt 2nd, at t.:!.mes convenient for each area.

District Caucp.ses: To be held during the wwk of August Z- 8 in tho following cities:

ColurnbQs (I) Clarks~le (II) Jack15on (ml Meridian (IV) Hat"t,iesburg (V).

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The Stato COnvention -will oomrono on August 9 in Jackson.

The prooinot mootings may bo attondod by anyoM 'ilho has been registered on tho l"roodotn Rogistratien books , including parsons Vho may bo registered on official voting books of th·e State of Mlssissi.ppi.

Tho following is a sample resolution that may bo intl"oduced at precinct conventions ~rl~ero people wish to do so:

• • v~eraas we be1ievo that tha Natianal Demo~atic Party represents

tha best i.nterosts of the ma.jori~ of the poopl.e in Mississippi, and,

l·~ora.s the Mississippi Deimcratic Party has stated in party literature that 1:t is not a part of' the natinnal party and hns not supp between August 9~20, during which Freedom Regisberad Voters 'Will ratil)r the National Convention !):)loga.tos selected by the state Convention,

• The delegates and alte!"natos so salocted will attend the na.tiona.1 Democratic COrrrontion, whoro they will challango tho credentials or the p:resontly rocognizod l1issassi1'¢. Dl>mocra.tic Party dol.,gation. T"oe> Froc:i:lom D

APPF.IlD!X D 15 STATR IEJDQ!ATIC RESOturrOI-S !tl SUPPO..'tr OF THK F . D.P.

'lbe Damoerat.i.e state Conventions o! Michigan, Wisconsin, M1llll4lsota, I'.Bssschusetts, and Oregon hnve already cast rasolutio!'.s in support of tho cause espoused by the Mississippi FroedOCl Democrat.i.c Party. Silldln re-solutions bnve been pAssed by tho Don:.ocratic Executive COmrdttees in New York and ceJiiornia, In addition, two of the most populous counties in Colorado, Denver and Ad11ms, have passed resolutioll6 lolhich they will carry on to the State .Del!locratic Convention on July 18.

The !olloldt~g .are samples of somo oi thesa resolutions:

H1ch1p;nn StAte Demoaratic Convention 1

viHERFAS , tllo trAditional Donocratic Party o! Mississippi is undemocrati-cally conctituted in t.hat it discriminates &gaill6t large IIW'!lbers of clti-g.ens; and

rMERFJ.S, the tv..di t.ional Democratic Pat-ty of Mississippi does not support tho plAtfot'll; and policies of the National Dal:locratic Party; and

WHEREAS, the traditional Del!locrlltic Party o! Mississippi in l960 did not support the nom nees of the Denocnt.ic Nat.i.onal Convention despite a pledge Dl&de at the convont.i.on by leaders of that atate•s delegation; and

WHEREAS , a Freedom Democratic Party 111 being establieh&d in the st4to of Mississippi 'Which is open to all oit:l.um6 regardless o.f race and which 'Will support tho national p'lAti'Ol't'l and 04ndiclo.tes; and

• W!!EJU119, the fioeedcm Ilomoel'at.io Pal'ty plan:~ to seek to be seated in plAce ot the dolegat.ion i'r O!ll the traditional Dolllooratic Party o£ .Mississippi at the 1964 Democratic llat.iona1 Ccnvont.ion;

I:OW TliE!U:FORE be :it resolved that tho !'.3y, 1964 ltes of the Mtional Democratic Party and nov proclaim.3 that it is not a part. of t.be na.tional IJB;mocratic Party,

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), A Freedom Democratic Party is being established 1.n Mississippi llhicb is open t.o all aitizens regardless of race and 1s committed t.o sup.. port. tho nations.l plattor::1 and ca.ndidat.ea.

4. 'lho .Froeciot't Democr:~tic Party is seokl.ng to seat i t.s delegAtes to tho 1964 llbocNtic 11ational Converrt.ion in p~aca or tho delegates !rom tho traditionAl. Dam.oeratic Party of l2l..ssissippi,

5. Minnosota volcoml!s t."lds opportunity to demonst:r&ta its devotion to justice and oq,ual. rights !or all citir.ons regardless of race. croedt oolor, or nation,a;L origin.

THERSFORl!l, BE I'r RESOLVED that this Convontio~ instructs the Minnesota delegation to the forthcoml..ng Democratic llatiollAl. Convention:

l , To take a.ll appropriate action to prevent tho seating o! the dclegAtoa :from tho traditioMl Dmocratic Party o:f Mississippi.

2. To cor.rlder the request. to seat the delegates of the Freedom Democ:l-Atic Party ""ith S"flll>8tby and in the light of all the !acta that will 'ba presented to the Credcmtilll.s Co=:\.tteo of tho Oamocratic llaticnal Convention.

J, To follcn; the same policy it the credentials o!' &JV other State delegation are cheJ.J.enged en the grounds en whioh the Missiuippi delega-tion •rill be challenged.

BE IT P'URl'l!ER RESOLVE~) t;llat copio:~ of this rosolution shall be sent to the mombora of the Damoorat.ic Nnt:.ion:>.l Co:nm:l.ttoo. 1ts Cl).airman. and to tho Chairman o! GB.cb state Da!nocrat.ic Party,

(This ro:Jolution \oiU paGsed Wlard.l!lousl.y by the Damoeratic Farr>er-Labor Party, 111ooting in coi!'7ontion Juno 27, 1964, at. the st. Pa~ Hotel, St. Paul, Ml.nn9sota,)

tJ~ York State !)osnncratic Co!nit.toes

As DDmocrats and as ~:; of tho lllltional Oamocratic Party, we believe that the national coi!'7ention, the governing bcd;y of the Democratic Party • should consist only of colagate~ devoted t.c the principles ancl objectives of tho Party and who .ar.e duly elected by 1'1001bars of the Party,

1/HERFAS, tho pl'8Sent Democr.atic Party of some states publicly stated that they aro independent of the Nat.ioJ,'Uil !lalnocratio Party and that they do not SUflport the poliaies and plat.ror111 of tho ~t.ional Damocratic Party or the Party itsal.f; al'\d that they oppose tho prinl!iples, candidates, and objoctivos of the National Party; and,

WHEU:AS, the pN>Sal'lt llor.locratic Pllrty 1n certa.i.n states has systematically prevented llcllloerats , who happen to bo !1agr08$ , from voting 1n tho Party prim.ries and from ~acting doloeatos to tho Dolnocratic National Conven-tion and, thorat'cre, has no propcrrl.y elected d~egatos,

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~. m: IT RJ:."'SSC.'lED, that the Credentials C=nittee nl: t.hit llow Yor~ ::;t;..to llelegati" n :.t tho DC!!IIlncrS~lut:l.en W'JS Pll.:JO"ri m~n1tSly hy voico V'lte at tho Hiacnu:rl.u St.D.tt.:l ~of'"T;-tt·r.,.. r ·~'·'·'"i1·m~ m1-J:•11tt- • !.-Jt,-,1~; y1, . . ~tt~·~ .... ,,_. 1of,h.

19 .AI'PfZUlU: E

"The Right t.l "v'ote" in Ydssissippi.

Of'f:l.cial registratirn figures shw that l'lnly some 20, 000 Negrc-es ar~ registered in Mississippi as compared to $00,000 Whites . This represents less then 7% of the 435, 000 Negroes R:f voting age in the state.

(The following are selected passages from a speech by Professor Russell H. Barrett o.t: the University of Mississippi, t3ntitled "voting Quali.fica1l.i.'1ns in "MississippiV) t.

11 •• • Tht3 present voting lat,s of Mississippi -were intended to be ctl.scr:l.-mina.t.ory. • • These regui.:ments have their IJrig:!.n in constitutional. amendinents which ..ere il:!plwsnted by the H:g:!.slature in 1955 and 1962, and in both cases pltblio c.f:'fiai.al.a cwe£ully avoided making statements wb:i. ch C"e\lld he used in court ectioos as proof nf intentb n to d:l.scrillj:i.nate. In J.954 Governor 1-Thite did a~ thltt the amend:nant wuld "tend to tr.aintain sog:rega• · ~ tion ," but in 1962 Representative Thomps'ln McClellan urged l egislators t e avtXLd asking "unnecessary questions" about the legislation in public and there was n• debate on the obvious purpose d the l egislation in either ye~.

" The nel'll!papers and the Citizens 1 Ccuncil were less discreet, and they \tere relied upon to Pr?v.i.de whatever explenation the vote+·s m~ have needeo. In October, 19SIJ, Robert B. Patterson is reported to have ~aid at a Citizens' CounGd.l meeting, "The amendment is intended solely "bo limit Negro registration. " The Jackson 1Bilr Ne~ copied a statement by E'attersrm aS' an editorial, and its story on the election results carried the hoadl:i.ne, 11 0onstituti.onal .Alnendmant to Restrict Negro Voting Gi~n 19-l Le"d at Polls . " .!Jurir>.g the campa:i.gn 011 the Moral charac tar amondmont in 196o the Jackson State-Times oditoriallzed, "This proposed amendment is nnt a:l.roed at keeping wbi te people .frm "VTJting, no matter how morally corrupt they may be. It is an ill-di;sgui.sod attempt ti koop quali.fiecl Negroes from votsng; and as suoh, it ahonld not have the support Qf tha people of Mississippi. " When the legislatu1·~ got tu·ound to imple.'1Tenting the new requirement in 1962, a news veport stated that the ne1v ls~l'l 11 are intended to make it more d:Uf:iouit for Negroe!l to register . 11 • • •

llfo'l_rs t, the •mole pattern r>f voting r equ:i,rements and of the regis-tratirm form is calculated to make the process appear to the voter to be a hopelessly formidable one. Tho pabtern is supposed ~o br:istJ.E: Iii th corrplc"ld.ti.es l-lbich cul.nti.nat.e in ·bhe publication of the ~rould-be voter's nBJr.c in tho lcal. ncloJS!;Japer far tm> ~meks . A majQr purpose of all this is to s'! "VIlrwb.el.JII the voter ·~bat he Hill not have the audacity oven to attempt registl'ation. Behind tb:l.s appz·oaoh is supposed to be - and all t..oo IJ.ften is - a co.p.ection of !'cars tl'>..at someone will challenge the v0ter 1 s moral. character, that he may be prosecuted for pcrjtU'y, or that be may be oubjeehod to economic or other pre~ros ~f he atto~ts to register . Those >lho h11ve fnr years controlJ ed state polit.1os assume that this fear Will be a poworfU1 ~apou a;rainst votor rt~g'l" Lratj on, yet the plain :fac-t is that :It is by Ca,r l;hn """1. ·t•>ln

20

•A second impnrtant point is that tho law 9r0Vides no oloar or meaning-ful standards for its highly general requirsments . These now familiar gener-alities require the voter to be able to expl~n any section of the consti-tuti.on, to describe tho obligations of citizenship, and to demonstrate to the Circuit Clerk that he is of good mor al. character. It is clear that those requirEll!lents Wd'e stated vaguely for me simple reason1 to permit tha Registrar to apply different starulards to dii'i'm'snt people .

11 • • • It is 'IIOrth quoting what wes said in 19.5.5 by the mim who ;ms then PP~side:nt of the Mississippi Circuit Clerks ' Association, Rubel l'hillips. In canpleining about the burden placed by the new l aw on circuit clerks, he sllid, "Many clerks feel the law is discriminator:y and 'Chat a burden is plas:ed on them to disfranchise many wrnona llt'ltl have been vrrting fnr ;re~. • • • l..:;r;oJYBre With lees than 10 years of experience proeably lrnl.Tdti1t be able to a~ the questims properly • ••• n

100t !l)fW t! lU'

The FREEOOM REDIS'IRA'l'ICN drive is designed to sho~ that thousands of NE.~oes mmt to become registered voters . The Freedom Rogi strati on .fol'!llS, whi.ch are similar to many in current uso in the North. are l!!tlch simpler tPan those used by the State o£ M'ississippi . The .f.'cmn9 demtmstrate what we think to be the only necessary requi:rel!\ents f'or voting. J>eople dn NOT haV'C to he able to road and write in order to register nn the Freedom Registration books. Roglstrars will fill out the fonr.a fw those wh_o cannot read and ll!'ite as they ansn'er the questions. S\.lch people 1dll sign with •X's" in the presence Of at least tM'O "iiitnesses . The following i s a copy of ,the questicn.s asked on the Freedon\ Registration Form:

• (1) Write todey1s d,ate : _________________ _

(2) Write y= full name: _ _______________ _

(3) HOil old are you today:. ________________ _

(L.) 1\:re you a Unitc,d States citizen: _____________ _

(5) H~r long have you lived in Mis~ssippi '·----------:--

(6) 'Hhat county do you livo in:'-------:---,----:------

(7) How long have you live-d in '!;bat co\lllty:. __________ _

(8) What is your address nnw:. ________________ _

(9) /fre you a minister or the wife of a minister :. ________ _

All of tho statements above are true '·--....,..-,----,=----,-,...--:=.-.-::-:-:=:---(sigO

2l.

Negro Voters by District and County

(The .fnllowing statisti.cs are f'rcm the Congressiona1 Quarterly 1 Week onding Jul,y 5, 1963, p. 1091 - 3. ) First District (Northeast)

County Negro Pop. Over 21 N&P.X o ROlli a . Vot.ers Percent Alcorn 1,750 61 J.S % Att:ila 4, :?62 61 1.4 % OaJ.houn 1 ,767 0 o.o % Chickasaw 3,054 0 o.o % Choctaw 1,105 10 .9 % Clay L.,4!W 10 . 2 % ltawamba 463 47 10. 2 % Lee 5,130 231 h.S% Lu=des 8,362 70 . 8 % Monroe 5,610 9 . 2 % No:!ubee 5,172 0 Q.O % Okti.bbeha 4,592 107 2. 2 % Pontotoc 1,519 6 .h % Prent:iss 1,070 18 1 . 7 % TishO!llingo. 359 6 1.7% Webster 1,174 2 . 2 % Winston 3,6ll 57 1.6 %

Second Dl.str:ict (Northwest) :

1lenton 1,419 1$0 lO.S f. Boliver 15,9.39 612 3. 8 :& Carroll 2,704 3 . 1 ~ Coahoma 14, 40!, 1,600 12. 3 ~ De'!oto 6, 246 II ,ol)j; Grenada 4,323 61 l .4:; Rol.!noe 8 ,757 l.,l S.$ Humphrays 5,561 2 .ol!$ Issaquena 1., 081 0 o.o ,; Lafayette 3, 239 1Jh u.1 % Lei'1oro 13,567 266 1 . 9 ~ liars ball 7,163 90 1. 2 % 1-iontgomery 2,627 ll .L ,; Panola 7,250 2 .039i Qu1t.nan 5,673 435 ' 7 . 6 ~ '!harkey 3,125 3 . 1 % Sun.flo11er 13,521 .16L 1 . 2 % Tillahatchie 6,483 5 .07% Tate 4 ,326 0 o.o% Tippah 1 ,281 176 1). 7 % Tunica 5,822 22 .4 ,; Union 1,626 6 . lJ% Washington 20,619 2,563 1.2 . 4 % Ya1obusha 2,Lltl 4 .2 :~

22

County Negro pop. aver 2l Negro Regia . Voters l'Vrcont

'nrl.rd Distrtct ~'3outlrdeat) :

J.dllrlS 9, JLO l,OSo ll.2% Amite J.56o 1 .o.J',t Cll!j borne 3,969 50 1 .2 % CC1p1ah 6, 407 20 , )]$ Fra.nl(ljn 1,842 1M 7.9, Hind.'! 36,133 s,ooo lJ,8 :c Jofi'nraon 3,5Lo 0 o.o :c r.i nM1n 3,?13 516 1). 2 , Pike 6,936 207 ) . 0 , Walthall 2,490 3 .1 , 'llilnen· 10, 726 1,100 10. 3 ,; i'Uld!l3on 4,120 no 2.7 , Ya::oo 8,719 178 2 • .!. % FO\Irth Oi.otric!_( Central) :

Clarke 2,968 3b l . lol JMper 3,675 6 . 2 Kanpor 3,221 10 . 3 , !.nuderdelo ll,?2h 1,200 10.1 f, Lnnke 3,397 150 4-h , Mad:!.oon 10, )66 500 4.8 , Neshoba 2,565 6 , ) , lie':lton 3,018 32 1.1 , Hankin 6,914 LJ . 6 1 !:r.ott 3,752 28 .7 ~ nir.pSon 3,186 61 1.91 S:dth 1,293 21. 1,')~

!ifth ll18!-!1ct (Southeast) :

Forrcot. 1,495 24 .2 ~ Gilrrge 560 13 2. 2 1 Jones 7,427 872 ll.7 (' Lrur.ar 1,071 0 o.o , "Ka:M on 3, 630 400 u .o ,: !'earl River 2, 473 0 o.o ,: P'"rry 1,140 127 ll.l% ~tone 868 41 Ls. r.: "' Grerne 859 uo 1;.6 ,: Wayne 2,556 0 o.o ,

A.PI'Emlr lC F THE VOIOI!: C1f' Tl£ 'ffiA:lr'I!;t Awl ~c:1,.te in th~ ,..,.Jf4:tJ -~ .r ~l·r n •. ~ .. ,. 1 ~' ~,.. 111 )1:'•, •l , 1 C"J'$6-.

He b¢lle"Te in the sop.vation ~ the races in the univtT~ties nnd colleges. :in th publlc schools, in public transportation, :in publ::.c pn:rks, in public pla;rerr.mnd:: , and 1 n all nphcroa of noti v.l. ty where oxpcrienoo has shr>wn t.hat it is for the bo:Jt int.orcst. of both raeus tllnt such IICp!ll'lrti.,n be "'b:let"n!-1..

... Ur.dcr GOO, Tho Author of I.tbcrty, w stand !'or individual rrcod

. .

• • •• ~-; Mill111Boippi Dm:x:rats 1.-e arc enjoying ill ~f the sc - cclJ.Ed "bcr~t.:l'1 .. .tiiiJJ b.."':l-part;r 11ynte:n th.rcuch 'J\!1" State !S-.ocratic ~ electiom,

vi thout. exposing the people "f !is·bsippi to the diaastr71S evomts an':! ·cn1 c nditio1111 that would !l'.ll'c;~- follov t.11o :Il\'i3ion :U' eoru rvntivu n1 'loiJIPil'lU into two pOlit.ical Cll!'lp8 1 tints ci;i ~g the balance J: pG r into th ~ ct th J:dnori t'J.

l)!u- li:~~n~pp1 Illr!ccratic Poll' cy. i;; entirely indepe:~den• and i= ~ o£ :1 intl co or JOIII:lnntion or eny nati.anal p::l:t•ic!!l party, n.'lti it off

nc; ~o.t 1)-•• v.-rlc for candid.nt.e:J of wid ly -.=;;ing Vic· to Qfl'er U .;.ir Sn;;r , Both p.utiecr .. ,if "'h r ~ t -f I'l:l. + ~J •.11 • r j)ll.'J t. ac t.1 ns r.r ney f'Ji u - thro; ate r ur lfi o; -1 ~.:drpi tr L n:: • :h. 1;;1 tut.i n1 en1 •-.gr !:lltcd "ot8:J" cf life.

~ Mirf!;71 :k~ocratic fnrty -- Nbieh 1:mg cg() sep:!ra:""..ed its 11' t'r= tl ":; al !)'r. C'rlltic farty, on:l w!rl.rh has f.rught c,,si~t.:ntly \ rytlti .. t.~ ti Plll't.1 ~ ot "ld f r -- rr .... rs to th .:1 n:. na f Iii "ilinn'>#

"'' the 't.r

26

' Unplcdged Elcctcrs

'J'!rrouf':h uw ;r,;rstem or unplcd(:;o CJ] eators, oftici:Us of the ste~e D~cratic ruty :rre :::c(ldng to :

ThC!I!lj'): r1 aud he fd t Goldw~tcr W'a3 •.ln:U'rti-:1 nf "prcs=e ~oups c>r lit ral.~" b!l"'~~ be tlllrl the N ere vote •w don't ~>'1111t ycu . or cue 4br.ut ~ "

•• The ~ ~th, Thtr.~ps n :lnid, will be n;rnoctl" by tho :>.::rtOO!"ilt:: this St!llll'lcr. I ro Will be quite a chr>!lgo in tho atti.i;tulo11 of the lbrnoaFatic rnrt.y, ho

Sld 1• "Y