Report of the Joint select committee appointed to inquire into the condition of affairs in the late insurrectionary states, so far as regards the execution of laws, and the safety of the lives and property of the citizens of the United States and Testimony taken.

1920 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
but in our county I do not think there were any extreme measures to prevent them
from voting. In our county we were not disturbed much.
By Mr. RICE:
Question. How have the colored people voted, generally?
Answer. They voted the republican ticket.
Question. Almost universally?
Answer. Yes, sir; with few exceptions-a very few exceptions. They are all republicans by nature, I believe.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. Have you or your family been ignored or slighted since you accepted office
under the State government?
Answer. Well, sir, I have no family, and I do not know whether I have been slighted
or not. I have not paid any attention to that, sir. I have been treated very kindly
by a great many hot-headed democrats and secessionists.
Question. What is the feeling of the white people in your county toward northern
men or republicans who go into your county to settle?
Answer. Well, sir, we have got a good many good people there, and we have a great
many good people that have a kindly feeling, too; and I think we have a great many
that have not. A great many, sir, are kindly.
Question. Have you known of any interference with the colored schools in Choctaw
County, or with the teachers of colored schools?
Answer. No, sir; I do not know that I have. It may be, but I have not heard of it or
paid attention to it.
Question. Have you heard of any negro school-houses being burned?
Answer. They had anegro school-house and church at Tompkinsville, that was burned
about three days before the election last fall, and another one in the upper end of the
county, near Ward's, that was burned about the same time, and prior to that there was
one in the lower end of the county. These two up here were called churches, but I
think they were occupied for both purposes; but in the lower end of the county there
was a school-house burned.
Question. Did you understand for what purposes they were burned?
Answer. Well, it was on account of the opposition to negro schools. They did not
want the negroes to have schools.
Question. Is there much oposition to colored schools in Choctaw County?
Answer. In that way there is. A great many are opposed to them, and a great many
are in favor of them. They are divided up there.
Question. Which way is the preponderance of public sentiment in Choctaw County?
Answer. I do not think I would like to say or give an opinion.
Question. How do the people of Choctaw County feel in reference to the negroes
voting?
Answer. At first they were much opposed it. It has subsided a good deal now, and,
I think, they do not care so much. I think a great many of them-a majority of
them-do not care, but they were powerfully opposed to it at first.
Question. Do they expect the negroes will finally vote with the democratic party?
lAnswer. Yes, sir, that they will vote the democratic ticket. I think that is about
the conclusion.
Question. Do you think they are employing all the means they can to cause the
negroes to vote the democratic ticket?
Answer. I do.
Question. What, if anything, do you know, judge, in relation to the existence of a secret oath-bound organization, commonly known as the Ku-Klux Klan?
Answer. I do not know anything in the world of it of my own knowledge.
Question. From information that you have derived from others, what do know of it?
Answer. Well, sir, I have very little information-no real information.
Question. What is your belief as to that organization having existed in Choctaw
County?
Answer. I believe it does exist.
Question. At this time?
Answer. I do. That is my opinion; I believe it.
Question. Have you any opinion as to how many men it embraces?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Have you any opinion as to whether men of good standing are concerned
in it, or countenance it?
Answer. I believe that there a great many good men-what we term good men there
-countenance it. These are only my opinions, sir.
Question. That is what the committee are asking for.
Answer. I believe that there are a great many men that countenance it.