The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-08-28
Fred \ Oids in Atlanta Constitution.

freq =. OldS In Atlanta constitution.
RALEIGH, n. c., August p, 'O2.
On being asked concerning the out
look in the State Senator +. Al. Sim
| mons declared that he considered the
prospect very bright for the Demo
| Gratis and thinks there will be little
| discord within the ranks. He does
| not look for an organized iudepen-
dent movement, declares that Popu-
| lism is not now force to be reckoned
with and that the Republicans have
| no issues. The Senator does not be-
| lleve the franchise Amendment will
retard the educational progress Of
| the negro and says the white people
will give the race every possible en-
enlargement. He declare. the re-
turn of the Democratic party into
| power has restored the former good
feeling between the blacks and whites.
| SENATOR SIMMONS TALKS.
| In the course of an interview with
the CONSTITUTIONS correspondent Sena-
tor Simmons said:
You want to know what is the at
titude Of the negro toward the fran
chise Amendment. Well, that is a
question which cannot be answered
definitely without dividing the negro
into classes. The negro politician,
whose business consists chiefly in
trading in votes, selling his influence
and in trying to get office, is very
hostile TO the franchise Amendment.
because he sees it will destroy his
business. The negro who lives in
the country and works upon the farm
has long seen that politics was hurt
full TO him and made trouble between
him and his employer or landlord
He has also seen that this trouble
2 was greatest when his party was in
I power, because then the friction be
{ tween the white man and black mar
i, is greatest. These generally are, in
fla passive way, pleased with the
Amendment, though they do not say
q so. To him it means better rela-
: tions with the white man whom ht
/. recognizes as his best friend and j,
also means relief from the party lash
: | Then there is very small class o
, educated and really intelligent ne
oroes who have the education ant
welfare of their race at heart. They
have the wisdom to see that it is bes
that for the present the negro SHOULD
have little, if anything, TO do witt
politics, and that in the end th
Amendment will work great good t
their race.
II don't know what the Republl
. cans are going to do with referenc
to contesting the franchise Amend
: ment. l am sure they had at on
{ time arranged to bring it before tn
courts just before the election. Som
things have recently transpired whic
will probably either defeat their pul
pose in this regard or greatly en-
5. barrass them in carrying it out. On
thing, however, is Significant Ih
negro is participating in their locs
conventions Just as if nothiug ha
happened to affect his franchise
Those whom the Amendment disqua
ities are admitted, as understand i
to full participation, and, althoug
the white leaders are anxious this
there shall be no negroes in the Stat
and Congressional conventions, II
negroes are in many instances d.
manding their oldtime represent
ton. | have not heard of sing
instance where the question OF tt
right of negro to vote under u
81 Amendment has been raised in X
lg publican convention.
ST THE NEGRO AND EDUCATION.
r.. You want to know il the neg
nd will take additional interest in ed
eating themselves to qualify thel
= selves as electors. TO a certain
LIE tent, yes; but his interest in quallf
ing him mself will grow less every yea
However, it may be said, the neg
has shown ever since the war cor
~ meudable interest in educating b
-. children. This is the most encot
aging fact about the negro.
inclined to think, for general reason
this interest in education Will &C
tinue with him, but it is barely pc
sible that much of it was result
- desire for political power, and tt
when he sees that political power b