The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1904-09-30
SOUTHERN WOMAE'S REASON.
WhY Mr.. Roosevelt ShesIo Vet be Elect.
ed to the Presidency

night Mr.. ". B. MacfarIane, csndi-
date for governor OF Florida or the
republican ticket, paid very glow
ing eulogy 70 Theodore Roosevelt
and in fervid language recounted the
record Of his achievements. He had
reached his peroration and said:
And for these reasons, my fellow
citizens, Mr.. Roosevelt should be
elected president Of the United
States''-
And, for this reason" said a
young woman holding in her hand a
pistol as she was coming out of the
hotel on her way home, Mr.. Roose-
welt should not be elected president
of the United States!"
This young woman said to Us in an
undertone that since Mr.. Roosevelt
had been elected 70 the presidency
every southern woman either walk
ing on the public highway or IaIone
in her own home was forced 10 carry
a revolver She i possessed Of a con-
slant fear Of danger.
Whether or not Mr. Roosevelt's
conduct since occupying the presi-
Dental Office has vexed and intensi-
fed this question it Is true, neverthe-
less that everyday it Is becoming
more serious and pronounced.
Il Is a matter Of such transcenden-
tai importance that it, and it alone,
keeps the south solid and always in
the democratic column.
Discussing this subject in the New
York Evening Telegram under date
of Sept. u, Mr.. James Galloway, Of
MacOur Ia, says:
Few in the north know what is our
chief concern in the south. l mean
the Insecurity Of the women in their
homes or on the highways. When
you realize this you get some idea Of
the intense sensitivenes OF the
whites regarding the negro qestion.
If no negro problem it is a fearful
white wOman's problem! This con-
dition has intensified greatly within
the past two years. Now no white
woman, unless attended, can travel
on the public highways. She is de-
MED the rights and privileges her
sisters of the north and west enjoy.
And the farmers wife sits in her
home a prisoner. Fsar and trem-
bling are hers. Care and suspense on
her brow, even though her husband is
working in nearby fields This fear
ful and unnatural condition of the
white women of the south is a prob
lem! The question now shifts from
negro TO white woman. How shall
our women be safe?
This was not Away so. Even in
the most disreputable days of recon-
structiOn our women were not modest
ed. But the years of political cod
ding, especially of recent date, have
done their work. A change of pro-
gram, a change of ADMINISTRATION,
is needed to check the
negro's idea of liberty.
We need now to fight for freedom
of southern women. They should not
be prisoners in their own homes.
They have the right to the highways,
to 60 and come without molestation
as the women of the north do. Even
the negro woman can go on foot, |
alone from the Potomac TO Texas un-
molested. But the white woman
dare not! The privileges of the
the woods, the streets, the
are not hers. Hers by |
right of law, but, denied her by |
the vicious negro. Security of our
homes is our chief concern. In COM
parisOn, all talk of tariff, gold or
silver, militarism, Philippines, are
as nothing. The thing to be accom-
plished is restoration of security to
The farmers wives of the south. This
IS the southern problem. All else is
Is nothing.
Wsttsrson Throwing srIeks.
GAS a VitrioI thrOwer WattarSo,, |