The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-05-17
The RACE QUESTION DISCUSSED.
Proceedings of the Race Conference at
Montgomery.

montgomery, Ala, Specializing
Society for the Promotion of the
STUDY Of Race Conditions and Prob
lens in the South elected the follow
ing officers: President, Hon. Hillary
A. herbert. Of Alabama; vice presi-
dents: Alabama, James Weatherly;
Arkansas, Clifton Il. Breckenridge;
District of Columbia, Hon. J. L. NJ.
Curry; Florida. W. A. Blount; Geor-
gia, Hon. Clark Howell; Kentucky,
Rev. Chas. E. Craik; Louisiana, c. r.
Ficklin; Mississippi, R. B. Fulton;
Missouria, Rev. ]. F. Cannon; North
Carolina, Henry E. Fries; South Caro-
lima, J. C. Hemphill; Tennessee,
Charles W. Dabney; TEXAS, Governor
Jos. d. Sayers; Virginia. ]. Hogs
Tyler; West Virginia, VIM. A. Mac
C2:k!e; Secretary, Rev. E. G. Murphy,
Montgomery; treasurer, F. S. Ball,
Montgomery. The conference thus
far has been pronounced success.
The race problem conference begun
at 10:30 O'Clock. Mayor Alfred NJ.
Waddell, of Wilmington, N. c., opened
the discussion with an address largely
dealing with the conditions in North
Carolina His statements were given
enthusiastic applause. When he de-
nounced the legislation which enfran-
chised the negroes as the meanest po
litical crime in the history Of ma
tions, the audience of a thousand peo-
pie cheered the sentiment, as they did
when he demanded a repeal Of the fif-
teenth amendment. in the galleries
there were perhaps hundred negroes,
leaders in Alabama, including Booker
7. Washington. of Tuskeegee, and w.
H. Council, Of Huntsville. He said in
part:
"In this age of new religions, new
philosophers, and new theories, social
and political-if they really are new
there has been much to excite the as
tonishment and indignation, the pity
and contempt, the fears and laughter
CT the rejecting man who has any
large acquaintance with human his
tory and any love for his kind. One
only, however, Of the phases Of mod
ern civilizauon-if we may so term it
has been sufficient to excite all these
emotions in success or combination.
This phase constitutes the drama
which for SO years past has been play
ing before the eyes of the world in
these Southern States. under various
names, ranging from the high-sound-
ing phrases 'Afro-American Problem
down to the palmer, more correct and
generally accepted one of the Negro
Question
1T is not my purpose to discuss the
constitutional questions involved.
That straw has been very thoroughly
thrashed and the outcome by gen.
eral consensus of opinion among law
yers, as well as by decisions of the
Supreme Court of the United States,
has been that the constitution of the
United States does not confer the
right Of suffrage upon anyone; that an
act of State Legislature in regard to
suffrage which does not in terms vio-
late the provisions of the fifteenth
amendment is INshin the reserve pow
ers of the States and that a State has
the absolute control of the suffrage
within its own territory, provided only
that no discrimination shall be made
against a citizen because Of race, COL
or, or previous condition of servitude.
Granted the power, and admitting
the necessity for some restriction, the
question is: What Is the fairest,
wisest and most just arrangement that
can be made in regard to the franchise
under existing circumstances? In the
solution of this question is wrapped up
the future of the Southern States for
veal or woe, and therefore the well
fare of the whole country. And when
say the solution Of this question, l
mean the solution Of It by legal and
constitutional methods. So far as the
actual exercise OF the franchise by the
mass Of negroes is concerned, it is al
ready settled, at least for some years
to come, but such a condition is alb
normal and must be a source OF per-
petual trouble and discomfort"