Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-06
Democratic Determination is
to Make It an Issue.
HOPES IN THE WEST
RECENT EVENTS TAKEN AS HOS
TILITY TO THE NEGRO.
Republicans Will Not Hesitate to Take
Up the Gauntlet Thus Thrown
Down-Regret is Expressed.

The most interesting and significant de-
velopment in national politics at this time
is the evident determination Of the demo-
cratic party to make the race question q
political issue in the northern and middle
west states, with the object Of winning re-
cruits from the republican ranks on the
score of race prejudice. This determination
has taken head within two or three months
and is said to be encouraged by the fire.
quent race riots in the north evidencing a
spirit of hostility to the negro.
Within week three democratic represen-
tatives in Congress have declared them
selves publicly on this subject. Repre-
sentative Livingston of Georgia, who Is a
man of standing and influence in his party.
has said that in the coming session of Con-
gress the democrats propose to bring the
republicans to the issue of declaring wheth-
er they support their President in his posi-
ton on the negro question. He has said
that the democrats will make the republi
cans announce whether or not they are the
black mans party in the north as well as
in the south.
Representative Swanson Of Virginia, one
Of the aggressive young democrats of the
party, uttered similar sentiments indicating
determination Of his party to insist upon
drawing the line more closely on the negro
question.
Representative James of Kentucky, whose
district borders on the Indiana congression-
al district where there have been recent
fierce race riots, said that for every negro
vote which the republican party will get
In that section of Indiana 1t will lose one
white republican vote on account of the
republican party's utilization with the negro.
To Invade the North.
There is no question as to the seriousness
and earnestness of the democrats in their
irtention to invade the north with the race
question as a shibboleth in politics Since
the war it has been the one thing which has
kept the party solid in the south. which
has prevented conservative business men
whose interests made them protectionis.s
from joining the republican party. ..Its
the black mans party" has been the cry.
and in the south, where the feeling against
the black man as an associate In politics
or society was SO strong, 1t has been sue
cessful.
} Now, some democrats believing that the
race riots In the north show the existence
of strong prejudice against the negro In
tfat section, propose to take the matter
been discussed in private conversation
among democratic leaders within couple
Of months and is subject of gossip in
general Political circles.
In those sections of Indiana, Illinois. Ohio,
Maryland Delaware and other states where
there have been clashes between the whites
and blacks the democrats will proceed with
the argument that the negro is encouraged
and supported by the republican party. AMI
notably by President Roosevelt. Attention
will be called to the activity of the negroes
in republican politics and the prejudices
of the masses will be invoked against the
party which permits such affiliations. Nat
urally that argument will be made only in
those regions where events and overt acts
have shown the existence of race prejudice.
In Indiana and Illinois the negro vote in
oalo ffvy
ing the balance of power. The aim of the
democrats will be to offset 1t by defections
from the republican ranks.
Of Doubtful Effect.
The contemplated movement in the
opinion of politicians may be of doubtful
effect 1t may a two-edged sword to cut
both ways. The belief is fixed that If the
democrats essay to make an issue in the
north such as they have maintained in the
south, the challenge will be quickly accept
ed by the republican party. 1t is said that
the republicans will not hesitate to take
the black mans part, even if it comes up
to them as political question entirely
The result, it is said, will be to enlist
conservative thought throughout the north
and west in behalf Of the black man and
to draw it to the support of the party
which takes his side. Thus, the weapon
which proved effective for the democrats
Illinois. might turn to their decided disad-
vantage in other northern states, where
conservative democrats would repudiate
the issue.
No politician doubts for a moment that
the republicans will hesitate to take I'D the
gauntlet which the democrats throw down,
but in every quarter is heard expressions
Of regret that such an issue should be
raised. At time when the relations be-
tween the races seem precarious in MANY
sections of the country, to bring race pref
udices into politics WILL it is feared by
many. be an exceedingly dangerous under
taking and fraught with possibilities OF
most serious consequences.
The intention of the democrats to open
the question at the next session of Con-
gress and make 1t subject Of debate in
the House and Senate is attracting some
attention or course. the debate would be
for the congressional and presidential cleo
tions next year, and for that reason would
probably have wider range and more acri-
monious temper.