Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-25
SOUTHERN POLITICAL FEELING.
G. W. Garris Says That It Is Not
Friendly tn Mr. Cleveland.

c. W. Garris, chairman OF the South Car
DINA railroad commission, and for many
Years a prominent democratic politician IN
that state, has been in Washington on
business He said to a Star reporter that
he was here strictly on business. and not to
talk politics. He had been so busy attend
ing to his official duties that he had little
time for fully gathering the opinions Of his
constituents as to prospects next year. but
the opinion as expressed in the papers OF
the state and by the people with whom he
had talked was not favorable to Mr.. Cleve-
land for the democratic nomination next
year.
Gwen blind man could see that" said
Mr.. Garris. Cleveland would not be &C
ceptable to the South Carolina democracy
for two reasons: First, South Carolinians do
rot believe he was true to party principles
during his last term; and. second, they 90
not believe any man should nave thlro
term as President OF the United States, re-
CARELESS of whether the terms are consecu-
tive or scattered over a period OF years
However. 1 do not undertake to say specl-
flcally what democrat would suit my state,
but l do say that South Carolina would be
willing to 20 a long way along the line Of
concessions to bring the federal government
back to democratic administration Many
of our people regard Senator German OF
Maryland qualified in every way to lead the
democratic party next year. Others are
partial to Judge Parker of New York. L
feel safe in saying that our people are will
ing to go again to the east for a democrauc
leader, if it is necessary. 1t begins to look
as If the old-time alliance between the
south and east, with consequent victory. Is
coming around. With the solid vote Of the
south and some Of the eastern and western
states the democratic nominee would be
elected. Our people feel that there Is q
chance for success next year, and will do all
they can to assist in making that success
certain.
1.-The south Is unalterably opposed to
negro office holders and Is willing to make
more than a reasonable concession to have
it's feelings respected in this particular. The
present republican administration has done
more, in the name of buncombe to precipi-
tate positive southern feeling in this d.
rection than all of its predecessors. How
ever. l want 1t understood that the white
people of the south have not any feeling of
prejudice against the negro as a citizen
They are still willing and ready to. and do,
as a matter Of fact, give him justice in the
courts and in business transactions, but
they do object and will for all time, to such
social and political prominence as would
inure to him out Of the RoOseveltian idea
of what ought to be done with the negro
This about sums up, from this one stand
point. the concessions that our southern
people would make to relieve themselves
from the threatened republican idea of
negro domination of the south.
"Of course. the republican tariff policy Is
not any moro satisfactory to southern
democracy than It is to the northern DEM
ocracy, and the south may be counted on
at any time to combat this one-sided sys-
tenn. Our southern people will not oppose
sound monetary system. They are fairly
prosperous now. but they are as wholly op-
posed to trust control OF manufacturing,
transportation and productive industry as
they were In the last two presidential cleo
tons"