West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-03-05
THE RACE PROBLEM,
And The Roosevslt-Hanna Negro
Vote Hunt For The Presidency.
William Randolph Hearst President OF
the National Association Of Democratic
Clubs. and ongressman-elect from
New York. IN The New Ysrk Ameri.
can Of February 6. 1908

player to the eolored gallery has been
destroyed. Senator Hanna has bounded
onto the stage and demanded his share of
Afro-American attention and applause. II
is fully understood by the whole white
population of the country that either gentle
man is willing to make any sacrifice in
return tor Southern delegates to the next
National Republican Convention.
The contest between the two for the favor
OF their fellow-citizens of African descent
has its comic aspect, Of course, but only the
ight-minded will care TO dwell on the
ludicrous side of such a degrading tug of.
war between the President Of the United
States and the leading Republican Senator
his rivai.for the nomination in 1904
Mr.. Roosevelt, protesting the very noblest
motives the while, appoints negroes to office
IN the South and takes every occasion TO
rebuke SoutherneD for not liking too
| they, in common with Mr.. Roosevelt, refuse
to regard as their equals. This policy
appeals TO the pride of the blacks. and the
President has calculated that in exchange
for recognition" the negroes will aock to
the polls in his behalf when the time for
electng delegates arrives.
But now comes Senator Hanna with bill
providing for the peusioning Of every ex-
/ slave, a measure that would take hundreds
of millions from the Treasury were il to
become law. Nobody better than Senator
Hanna knows that there is not the remolest
possibility of his bill ever becoming law.
There is not the least probability that il will
ever be brought 10 a vote in this or any
other Congress. But that does not concern
Mr.. Hanna. What he is after is popularity
on the plantations aud In the black alleys Of
Southern cities, where Mr.. Roosevelt of late
has been having I, an bis own way. The
poor black man may be grateful to the
President for giving coilectorship and
postofhce or two to colored citizens, but
| what is such "recogniiion," however fat.
tering, in comparison with the promise Of a
Hanna pension for himself or one of the
familyp
The people of the South have right to
be indignant at this trucking to the negroes
by brace of politicians whose ambition
appears to have put their scmples sound
| asleep. No one who has any understanding
of the conditions in the Southern States,
where there is large African population,
can refrain from actively sympathizing with
that indignation. Messrs. Roosevelt and
Hanna are playing with FIRE, FIRE which
once started may devastate many Southern
communities. They are sel6shly and con-
sciencelessly trining with very grave
matier--adding enormously to the difficulties
of an already sufficiently burdensome race
problem. Deliberately they are filling the
heads of great masses of ignorant ne groes
with hopes Of political preferment. social
equality and material advantages that can
never be realized.
are intelligent men. They know perfectly
well what must be the effects of their bids
for negro popularity. They are engaged,
for political purposes, in stirring up the
blacks against the whites of the South.
That is a sinister business Not only is II
to the last degree discreditsble to the Presi-
dent and the Senator as public men, but il
Is highly dangerous--so dangerous that IL
becomes the duty of patriotic men through
out the Union, regardless of party, to III,
their voices and order halt.
The South isa part of our common country
and as such as well entitled to internal peace
as is any other part. For outside politicians
to disturb its quiet and threaten its safety in
order that they may further their personal
ends in national convention is simply
infamous. II the Chinese of the Pacific
Coast we're fifty times as numerous as they
are, and had votes, and Roosevelt and
Hanna, for the sake of delegates, should
endeavor to rouse the yellow men against the
whites there, that would be precise parallel
to wha; Roosevelt and Hanna are doing in
the South.
Every real friend Of the negro, every
enemy Of race hatred, every foe of sec.
tionalism, and every citizen who cares fos
the dignity Of the Presidential and Senatorial
Offices must deplore the course Of Mr..
Roosevelt and Mr.. Hanna Their rivalry
as aspirants for the Presidency has carried
them beyond all permissible bounds.
While they alarm and incense the South,
they humiliale the United States by debss.
ing our politics to level that puts us Ia
shame before the civilized world