The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-31
The Negro Vote.

According to the last census there
were 2,065,989 negroes of voting age
in the country in 1900, and Of this
full states, New York, Connecticut,
Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware
and Indiana. In the 1900 election
the total republican plurality in these
six states was 273,l97, and in the Off
year elections of 1902 and 1903 it
was 81,361, Rhode Island being the
only one to go democratic, and that
by margin Of approximately 1900.
There are 5000 negro votes in Con-
necticut, as compared with it's repub-
lican plurality Of 26,570 in 1900 and
of 16,0Os in 19O2-obviously not
enough to control. In Delaware, how
ever, the negro holds the balance of
power, with 6,10O votes, as compared
with a republican plurality in 1900 Of
3,671 and 1902 of 4,153.
In New Jersey there are 1900
negro votes, and that state went re-
publican in 1900 by $500 and in
1908 by 1913. Allowing for the loss
to the republicans of the New Jersey
gold democratic vote this-eyear, the
negroes of that state may have much
to do with deciding for which candi-
dates the states electoral votes will
be cast.
In New York the negro vote num-
bers 1880, and if the state should
be very close, as it sometimes has
been when it has gone democratic in
determining factor. New York gave
Mckinley in 1900 plurality Of 49,
600 in round numbers, and yet two
years later 1t reelected Governor
Odell by only $500.
In Indiana this year the negro
than in any other part Of the coun-
try, and as it goes so, in all probable
tty, will go the state. In 1900 Indiana
gave Mckinley a plurality of 26,479
and in a subsequent election it's re-
publican plurality was 35,264. In In
diana, however, as in New Jersey and
also in New York and Connecticut
allowance must be made for the re.
turn Of the gold democratic vote tic
the democratic party, which will re.
duce the normal republican lead il
Indiana to 10000, or even less, leav.
ing the negroes clearly in control Of
the situation.
| While the existence of race hatred
in this country Is to be deplored, I
| is, nevertheless true that the out
rageous use which the south has made
of the Booker T. Washington inciden
will help cast every negro vote in the
north for Roosevelt. This fact viii
be likely to cut larger figure il
Indiana than anywhere else in tn,
country, since Indiana bids fair to b,
| one of the pivotal states Of the cam
pa1gn.
1t might be supposed that the ne
gro vote is always reliably republican
but such is not the case. In the Dor
der states, where this vote is far heav
Ter than in the north, and where po
litical majorities are sometimes small
1t has been the custom for years O
both the great parties to make stron,
bids for it, with the result that man.
negroes have been voting the demo
cratic ticket. This is especially tru
in states like Ohio, Indiana and I'LL
nois. The Booker T. washington in
cident, however, will make it mucl
more difficult this year to organic
coldred democratic clubs in thes,
states, or to buy the colored vote 70
democratic candidates This year, o
all others, the colored man shout,
"stand pat" in support Of the candi
date and the party which has stead
/ tasty stood by him, and we believ
/ it is his intention to do so. If three
fourths of the colored vote Of Indian,
should be republican this year, TIL