The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-06
As One Mar for White
Supremacy Plank.
YET 1T is KEPT OUT
This is Done Simply Because Davis
Thinks it Best, Not Because of
Any Change of Views
of the Pe0-
(By the Associated Press.)

1dTkeTSDurS, w. Va, aug. T. TIC
Democratic State Convention today
nominated Senator John Cornwell for
Governor. The proceedings through
out appeared to be in accordance with
the wishes of Henry G.. Davis, the
Democratic candidate for Vice-Presi-
dent.
There is no questio nabout the con-
vention being almost unanimously in
favor of the white supremacy" prop
osition, and yet at the request of Mr..
Davis it was kept out of the platform,
receiving only 81 votes out of 974. Mr..
Davis did not attend the convention
today, but was busy at his hotel in ar
ranging for the campaign. He will re-
main here until tomorrow night in
conference with State Committeeman,
candidates and others.
While there were free for ALL con-
tests for minor places on the State
ticket, the control of the party ma
chinery was said to be involved in the
head of the ticket John I. McGraW,
member of the National Committee for
West Virginia, was opposed by former
Governor McCorkle, Joseph Chiffon
and others, who had concentrated on
w. II. Thompson as their favorite for
Governor Colonel McGraw first fav-
ored Judge John Z. Holt who was the
Democratic candidate for Governor four
years age. In the interest of harmony
Judge Holt refused to be candidate.
Colonel McGraw finally selected San;t
tor John Cornwell for the head of the
ticket 1t required three exciting bal
lots to nominate Cornwell. In this
contest former Senator Davis was en-
tirely neutral
The White Mans Plank.
chairman Daily had no sooner fin
ished reading the platform than cries
were heard Where is the white mans
plank"
George Bryne offered an amendment
to the unanimous report, which added
1.-THE white MANS plank that had
been so much talked about during the
week and an animated discussion be-
gan on that issue The Byrne amend
lnent was as follows:
1--WE believe that the destinies of
West Virginia should and must be
shaped and controlled by the white
people of the State, and while we dis
claim any purpose to do any injuries
whatever to the negro population, yet
we announce without reserve sOur iiN-
ed purpose to preserve III ev6ry con-
servative and constitutional way. 'Jie
social and political supremacy of our
own race, believing by the frank atoM-
al and contamination of such purpose
alone can radical conditions be perna-
nently avoided"
Bryne made a strong speech in sup
port of his amendment, showing that
such action had been taken by some
States bordering on West Virginia as
would cause an invasion of negroes H.
TO this State, especially during cleo
tons and subsequently make social
conditions dangerous.
Chairman Daily replied, admitting
the conditions that confronted the
State, but in the interest of the Ma
tional ticket, he insisted that his as
not the time for such action. He re-
ferred the mixed schools and other
conditions in Indiana, New York, New
Jersey and Connecticut as the doubt |
full States that were wanted for Par
ker and Davis and in which the col |
ored vote was factor.
Daily, who is the neighbor to Davis, |
made strong appeal for obedience to
the wishes of the Vice-Presdential
candidate
AS soon as Daily concluded, many |
were seeking to speak, but they were !
stopped by the previous question be-
ing ordered. The amendment was de-
feated, yeas 81, nays 915.
Many Of those voting announced
I'VE favor the amendment, but vote
nay" The platform as offered was
then adopted.
The Platform as Adopted
The following is the text of the
platform as adopted:
The Democracy of West Virginia, in
convention assembled, declare:
1. That we endorse the platform
adopted by our National convention at
St. Louis and pledge our support to
the candidates of that convention.
Judge Alton b. Parker, a safe guar
dianf of our property and political
rights, and Henry Ct. Davis, our hon
ored fellow citizen and trusted coun-
sellor.
9. We arraign the Republican par
ty in this State for it's wasteful extrav-
agance in appropriation and for the
corrupt and fraudulent. use of the
machinery of elections, to the end
that it might be perpetuated in power
at the taxpayers expenses-
g. We believe that efficient and
honest government can only be Secur-
ed and maintained by confirming the
right of suffrage strictly to the legal
and bona fide citizens of the State. and
we believe that the StricteSt legislation
should be enacted to confine the right
of suffrage to this class.
We declare that the crying evil in
our State and the greatest menace to
our civic veal is the debauchery of
the ballot by means of repeating and
illegal voting, which is, and has been,
Systematically carried on III many
counties of the State by ring of cor
rupt Republican officials, State and
Federal and which is rendered pos
sible by the systematic importation
of Illegal voters into the State and by
the Republican party's refusal to enact
a registration law, as required by the
constitutional amendment
4. We further condemn the Re-
publican majority in the present Leg
islature for having defeated the sub
mission of constitutional amendment
making the payment of a poll tax
prerequisite to the right to vote.
5. We condemn the present special
and extraordinary session of the Legis-
lature, called by Republican Cover
nor upon a hollow pretense of tax re-