The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-04-30
SPEECH OF EX-SENATOR DAVIS
In the West Virginia Democratic State
Convention, Contrasting Progress Under
Republican and Democratic Rule.

1--WE are here in convention to exercise the
valuable right and duty of free and indepen-
dent people. An important part of our duty
is to select conservative representative Demo
Gratis as delegates to the national convention
at st. Louis. Let US name good men, without
reference to past differences of opinion. At
the last Presidential election the Republicans,
in Mckinley, had good and popular candi-
date. In the coming election we are likely
to have strong, popular and conservative
candidate in the person of German or Parker,
while the Republicans will most likely have
Roosevelt. an unpopular and uncertain can
didate. He went into office with a full Treas
ury, and, Notwithstanding high customs and
internal revenue taxes, the Treasury is empty
and bonds are to be issued TO meet the Panama
and other expenses.
FRAUDS IN POST AND LAND OFFICE.
Under Roosevelt gross frauds have been
proven to exist in the Postofice and Land
Departments, resulting in the indictment and
conviction of high officials, including Re-
publican Senator. The Democrats in Con
gress have made repeated efforts to have a
committee of Congress investigate and report,
but the Republican Congress has refused to
appoint committee to inquire into the matter.
THE PANAMA CANAL AFFAIR.
This Government, through the able states
men, Lincoln and Seward kept for four or
FIVE years during the Civil War representatives
at the capitals of all the great European
powers to prevent recognition of secession,
and they succeeded. Now, this accidental
President, it is said, encouraged the secession
of Panama from Colombia, and within As
hours after revolutionary meeting recognized
the secession from Colombia. a friendly and
weak republic, thereby changing the long and
well established policy of this country and of
all the Presidents from Washington TO Me
Kinley.
THE PENSION RULING.
apparently for votes and political advan-
tage, the President has approved ruling of
the Pension Bureau, without direct law or
consent of Congress. which will put upon the
pension roll thousands of able bodied men and
cost the Government annually many millions
of dollars. This, and much more, has been
done while he is a candidate for election.
There is no telling what he will do if indorsed
at the coming election.
THE WHITE AND NEGRO VOTE.
'This accidental president by inviting
Booker Washington TO his table, thereby
making him his political and social equal, aud
by appointing negroes to offices OF high trust.
has so encouraged the negroes generally that
in all sections Of the country they nave com
mitted many outrages, including robbery,
sault upon helpless women aud ir some eases
murder.
Il give you some facts relaiiy 70 tue polit,
ical vote 10 the United States. Che Repubh.
cans, by one act, for political purposes gave
the black man q vote. This vote has kept the
Republicans in power most of the time since
the days OF Lincoln. e you eliminate the
black vote, the Democrats in the United
States have a majority Of more than !, 600. OJ0
voters. According to the United States census
of 1900, there are more than ,, 900. 600 black
voters. The largest majority of any Repubii
can President has been about $50. 600 That
was the majority OF Mckinley over Bryan 10
1900. In the coming election the Democrats
would be sure TO elect President were 1t not
for the negro vote, as you viii see by the fol.
lowing figures from the official United States
census of 1900 1.-THE vote is taken from the
State elections Of 1902