The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-05
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1t is the ak among republicans that
the negro vote in the national conven-
ton must be cut down. 1t is given out
hat Henry Payne, mi o. the re-
publican national committee from
WiScons~ is to make an effort two
weeks from now when the committee
meets, to reduce the representation from
the south. The number Of delegates IS
to continue at S94, but the southern
states would lose heavily. tits an
bounced that in Arkansas, Alabama,
Florida Georgia, louisiana, MISSISSIPPI
pi, and South Carolina it would be re-
duced from 129 under the present up
portionment to 49-a loss of 50 to the
states named. Other states will fair
badly. This freezing out game of
Sambo shows how much actual regard
the northwest has for him as a political
factor and friend. He may be allowed
to vOte i'm the states fog it may Civ
him the power to keep in office the
white traitors, but he must not be po-
tent in nominating presidents and vice
presidents. The Charleston News and
Courier commenting remarks
why they are unwelcome, it is not
for us to say, of course, but possibly the
thite leaders of the party regard 1T
as an injustice to admit SO many to
the party conventions ITO help to choose
republican presidents when so few OF
them are allowed to share in the spoils
which the presidents dispense, and
deem that the best way to correct the
inequality in the ranks of negro del
egates and OF negro officeholders in
high places is to cut down the number
of the former"
We reproduce this that the best ele-
ment in the negro race may see what
is proposed by their northern friends
an allies.
But there are signs that this plan will
not suit Hanna and Mckinley. They
will not agree to any such reform
aus that Indicated by Mr.. Payne. The
truth is little Mac is not so certain of
his grip upon a second nomination as
was said two weeks age. The fact is
out that he is in need of buytable votes,
and Sambo is the man for the n
A Washington special of 2Sth ult., to
the News and Courier turned ON some
light as to how the government gang
was regarding the proposition to cut
down the negro delegates in the south.
1t is announced that the gang oppose
reducing ofthe ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
from the south. The dispatch says:
"A member of the republican nation
committee, who is close to the presl-
dent, is authority for h statement
the president expects to nave use
for the votes of the southern delegates
in the next convention, and therefore
is not in favor of the proposed re-
duction. The same authority added:
is not a new suggestion, but it
comes up regularly every four years.
It is urged that these states in h
south who never elect a republican
congressman and do not cast One-tenth
Of the republican vote to which they are
entitled. should be deprived of their
representation i'm convention, or their
representation should be regulated in
accordance with the umbe OF repub-
ican votes actually cast. This conten-
ton is met by southern republicans,
who INSIST that they are struggling to
maintain the party in the face of ter
opposition and Therefore they
be encouraged The proposition
to reduce the southern representation
Is fought out in almost every national
and the southern republic
cans win. They will, in my judgment,
continue to do so as long as present
exist"
SO it may urn out that the southern
in the congress will not be
raced, because Hanna and Mckinley
have a chance to buy as many
delegates as possible to give Nc
the needed majority for an
other nomination. Out of this nettle
danger may spring the lower safety
tor Wn1lc representation III nc 1SuSTdl
house. 1t is sometimes that rasca1s
help the worthy while manoeuvring ito
save their own bacon" Mckinley is a
rickster of much experience. He
pushed upon the south serious afhic-
ton in the way Of custom house APP
.ointees and postmasters where they
were an offence to the communities,
but he a given no negro a good
place, or a fat office in all the north.
hates the south and showed it when
member of the house, for he voted
every time he got a chance for the in
fernal Force Bill, n he did not hest
tate to aff1ict and worry people in
many communities by forcing upon
them black appointees, but he was
very tender-footed and deeply sympa-
thetic with the whites in the north and
dared not to put Sambo in office. So he
not agree to curtail negro repre-
sentation in the national convention
Hanna knows the price to be paid for
votes for little Mac.