The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-03-14
RECOGNITION
For the Negro by Republicans
Blacks are HOwling Mad.


colored people throughout the terri
tory have begun TO agltate the ques-
tion Of trying 70 induce the next Re
publican convention TO select color
ed man os cne Of the six delegates to
the national convention which meets
in Philadelphia on June 10. There are
in Oklahoma great many colored
people, with a voting population OF
nearly 10000, all Of whom are almost
to a man Republicans, and vote that
ticket. Capt Admire, of,he Kinghah-
er Free Press, under the caption,
"Aud II Not, Why Not9" has the fol-
lowing to say regarding the colcred
people of this territory:
"There are In oklahoma some six or
eight thousand negro voters. Ninety
per cent Of these voters uniformly
vote the Republican ticket. Take the
negroes as body and they do not
come up TO the standard Of the white
citizens ia education or wealth. IL
would be a very poor compliment to
tine white citizens II they did In pa
triotic devotion TO the country, how
ever, they are steadfast and unyield
ing, and in the matter Of party loyalty
and faithfulness they stand az The
head of the procession Occasional
threats of characterization are made
by their leaders. but when the critical
day comes, they march to the polls
with rnfaltering steps and cast prac-
tically solid Republican vote. Among
their representative men there are
many Of high character educata5,
able, lonorable, eloquent aud inauen-
tial. Il must be admitted that tho
negroes Of Oklahoma have had indif-
ferent politicnl recognition
Occasionally members OF their race
have been accorded places upon the
Repab .can ticket for subordinate Of.
fees but in most cases this has been
done with the full knowledge that
they would be defeated at the polls
by adverse and prpiudiced Republican
voters They havc hed scant recogui-
tiou either by the national or territor-
ial administration The negfo leaders
do not alwaya use the best judgment
They too often attempt TO compel rec
ognitiDn 6y threats against tho party
They can gain nothing by that course.
they might in this spirit defeat The
Republican party right straight along
one year after another indefinitely,
but that would result only Ia the suc-
cess % their ancient aod implacable
enemies, and az the same time, instead
Of mitigating the prejudices that now
exist against their social and political
recognition, it would only add to it's
intensity and bitterness. Republican
leaders who do not share In the com
mon prejudice against the negro race,
might be willing TO make concessions,
but Republican leaders can no more
drive the Republican rank and fle in
10 voting for negroes FOR public offices
than the negro leaders can force the
negro rank and file to vote against
the Republican ticket Malice is IT
en- powerful enough to secure defeat,
but never strong enough to WIN a vic
tory. The only thing that can over
come the prejudice OF white voters
against negro candidates for public
Offices is the healing influence of time
and the naturally orderly improve
meut in the condition OF the negro
race.
"The prejudice against the negro
race Is less pronounced In the Republic
an party than it is among the other
political parties. Uneompromislng
social and political hostility to the
negro is cardinal priaci pie Of the De
mocratic party, and even the Populisl
porty. which makes special professions
of love for the poor down-trodden
and oppressed, despises the negro with
undisguised cordiality A large major
ity Of the Republican party are ready
TO treat he negro with generosity, bui
the balance Of power, even among Re.
publics MS, is held by a minority whicl
is usually strong aud determineS
enough to hsve its own way. II Il
futile aud would be dishonest to at
tempt 20 cover up these plain every
day facts,
1T is natural and proper for the ne
vr,,es 10 deeire representation ia pnbli,