Under the Grand-daddy law the men were allowed to be recorded in the clerk’s office—all who could not read and write—and all they must do this new registered (registration?) is to get their certificates and be registered and vote as they please. But what about those mothers and wives who cannot read and write? Are they to be disenfranchised? It is too late to come in under the Grand-daddy law.
Many are the mothers of sons who fell in Flander’s Fields. Many are the wives of those who fought at Gettysburg. Many are the heirs of those woo fought under Geo. Washington. Shall these good women be deprived of their rights of citizenship by this new registration. Is this a slap at our good women. It is unless our honorable registrars register these noble white women who are taxpayers, who are legal citizens and who are the mothers of men. We hope every white man and white woman who are not barred by the exceptions of the law may be allowed to vote as our constitution guarantees. These (This) is discrimination between the men and woman unless this is done. Let both sides agree that Gov. Aycock’s pledge that no white person could be disenfranchised be carried out.
From the Concord Observer, as reprinted on the front page of The Davie Record, Mocksville, N.C., Oct. 18, 1922. Yes, the law that said only people who could read should be allowed to vote was meant to take the right to vote away from Blacks, Native Americans, etc., not white people.
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