The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-09-11
THE LILY WHITE LEAD.
North Carolina's Example May be
Followed in Virginia-The Plan to
Shut Out the Negro Said to Be
President ROoseveIt'S.

Washington Special to Richmond Dis
patch.
Information received here from
white Republicans of Virginia, who
do not care TO have their names used,
is that the Virginia organization is
much inclined to follow the lead set
by Senator Pritchard and the North
Carolina Republicans in eliminating
the negro from doing any more for
the party than voting for it. Opinion
strongly prevails that Senator
Pritchard, in refusing to allow the
negro delegates participation in the
North Carolina convention, followed
couIse that he has fully outlined to
President Roosevelt. If this is true,
as is generally believed, the negro
will probably attempt to make trouble
for his white leaders and for Presi
dent Roosevelt He will not desire
to be omitted entirely, and yet be
forced to "tote' the burden of the
Republican party in the South with
ont some little prominence.
From Virginia comes substantial
information that the Bowden-Agnew
Republicans would be glad to get rid
of the negro ghost, and will do so in
some manner if they have the oppor-
tunity 1t is the other faction IF the
party in Virginia that is raising
Heaven and earth to have the consti-
nationality of the suffrage Amend
ment recently adopted passed upon
by the Supreme Court. Men like
Lawrence Groner. OF Norfolk, declare
that they have no anxiety or desire to
see the Amendment tested, and will
not turn wheel to make these tests.
They have an idea that the Republic
can party can grow into respectable
organization in the South if the negro
is put to the rear, so far in the
rear that his woolly head will not
take prominent part in their coun
ellis again. Messrs. Bowden and
Agnew hold about the same views, but
are too discreet to give them public
ity.
All kinds of hints will be made to
the Virginia negro to take himself
out OF the party councils, and if he
persists in being hard-headed in seek
ing front seat, something like the
Pritchard tactics will be resorted to,
provided the younger element of the
BowdenAgnew faction has a say. An
effort must be made TO get new white
blood in the party. and the only way
to make the effort is to scare away
the negro hobgoblin. Senator Pritch-
ard, as heretofore stated, is stalking
his political chances on white acces-
sions TO the Republican party in
North Carolina. Way down in his
boots he knows that he cannot be
elected. but he hopes to make gains
in North Carolina that will form a
nucleous for better and more success
full fights in the future. And then,
more than all, he is fighting to see a
white Republican party organized in
the South. Ii Senator Pritchard sub
mitted his plan to President Roose-
welt as was apparently the case, then
President Roosevelt has sanctioned
the farewell of the negro in the South
AS leader in politics.
The effect of this policy of the
President on the negro Republican
voters of the North. where their
votes count for something, has not
been reckoned with, the Republicans,
no doubt, believing they would again
have no trouble in fooling the negro
into accepting whatever is told him.
In Eastern, Northern and Western
States the negro vote is distributed,
so that in some of the Congressional
districts the result could be turned
from Republican to a Democratic
member of the lower House The
Republicans need members of the
House in the next Congress, and they
will need negro votes in the presiden-
tial election, two years from now.
If the Eastern negro catches on to
the trend of affairs will he accept the
edict as to the Southern negro in q
friendly spirit?