The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-12-04
Fir. Williams Speaks

sissippi. speaks to the puDilc, ne may
+ be certain OF respectful attention. The
I high regard in which the Congress
man who leads the House minority is
held is not confined TO any party nor
to any section.
Mr. Williams in a recent speech at
Spartanburg, S. c., discussed with
frankness the political situation.
That he meant to be fair in every de-
tail is not 70 be doubted, and yet
there was M parts of his address the
color of unnecessary prejudice.
Some of the reasons given by Mr..
Williams for the result Of the cleo
ton are acceptable. and, indeed, have
been numerously expressed. The first
is the association in the public mind
of industrial depression with the
Democratic party and the opposite
condition with the Republican party.
The second is the popularity Of the
proposition TO curb the power Of the
South by reducing its representation
in the halls of Congress"
In this, it seems to us, the gentle
man errs. If there is any such feel
ing as he thinks he discerns. it has
escaped the notice of other observ-
ers. There could hardly be a de-
sire TO curb the power OF the South
at a time when the demonstration has
just been made that that section
lacks even the power it might lOgi-
cally be expected TO possess. Through
out the North there have been many
comments, none unfavorable to the
South, upon the anomaly that the
+ Southern voters had been dominated
by the Northern Democrats in all
matters of policy, and had by the
/ returns proved themselves the only
considerable element faithful to ex-
+ pressed principles. Their candidate
was from the North, his advisers were
from the North, but it was to the
South alone they looked for loyal
support, and were not disappointed.
/ 1t seems TO be the belief of Mr..
+ Williams that an effort will be made
arbitrarily to lessen the representa-
+ ton Of the South. He even cites as
. possible a redistricting of the States
there by Federal authority. In this
we are confident he passes out OF
the realm of the possible An at
tempt 20 restrict the right of the
South 10 such self-government as OBJ
tains in the North would be resented
over an area as wide as this broad
land In the opinion of Mr.. Williams
and probably he speaks with ful
+ knowledge OF prevailing sentiment
the South would decline to recognize
districts thus formed, but would elect
/ Congressman according to present
divisions, and trust to the courts fol
vindication in the course.
The belief is not sectional but ma.
tional, that iHiteracy should bar mel
/ from exercise Of the franchise. Tht
distinction of color does not appear
in legislation TO this purpose. Tn,
white man or the black, with tn,
T schools omen as they have been fol
! g generations, who has not learned u
read and write is unworthy to be Z
citizen equal in power of control witt
the intelligent and capable of tn,
7 two races.
That there have been outrages il
the South, elections marked by fraud
+ there viii hardly be denial In Cali
fOrnia and other far Western State.
-. Scholarships have been purchase,
openly. A few years ago Montana
vote was bought almost in a lump
I, f Delaware is an organized scandal. AM
Pennsylvania 2 crying shame Il
Colorado now there is doubt as t,
, whom the voters really have electe,
governor, but there is no doubt tina
both sides resorted TO most fagran
81 crime in the effort 10 win. These ar
facts apart from anything touche
upon by Mr.. Williams, except as the
? warn the Northern pot not to call tn
2 Southern Kettle black.
The students Of events. Urnin.
j their attention to the South, see grea
p problems there to be solved. an
p they are ready to leave the solution
. 20 the South, a people who hav
made so splendid a recovery froT
- disaster. have taken so marked a ste
S in Industrial progress, and been tru
. 90 tradition and ideal. while devote
- 10 the interests Of the whole nation
p can safely be let alone. This is tn
D sum o. their request. They ask n
special fayOr5. and they resent the at
I tempt TO patrOnize them They wan
b to be treated exactly as people il
+, Clher parts of the country are treat
e ed There is TO SAVIOR of unreaso
d iu this attitude