Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-13
RACE ISSUE REVIVED
De mocrats Take Stand
Against Colored Voter
IN WEST VIRGINIA
THE TAX REFORM QUESTION A
DISTURBER
Democratic Minority in the Legislature
Able to Modify Programme
Prominent Hopper.
pecial Dispatch to The Evening Star.

CHARLESTON, W. Va, August 13.-The
race question Is to cut a big inquire In the
campaign in West Virginia, notWithstano-
ing the democrats who first broacheo the
subject eliminated the negro plank from
their state platform. The repupncahs ai
going to turn the democratic opposition 10
the coIored vote to their own advantage IL
possible, and the Parkersburg convention
echoes had hardly died away before thes
began to get busy At the reception tell
dered this week in Charleston TO senator
John ]. Cornwell. the democratic canoloate
for governor, he referred to a registration
law, and Major Joe Chiffon, VIII f. Cmi-
ton, George Byrne and other prominent
kanawha democrats made strong White
mans government" speeches.
This outburst, coming after the killing OF
the white mans" plank. has been pounceo
upon by the republicans as good stun 10
fla sh before the colored voter ana spur MN
to an unpurchasable activity at election
times 1t is expected to make him vote
the straight republican ticket without he
somewhat stereotyped but substantial
forms of persuasion used In FORMER cam
pagns which have made heavy lnrOaos Oh
the state committees treasury. me COZ
ored man is being warned of the dlsfran-
chisement in store for him in the event OF
democratic success, and he is inquired on
to be represented at the election "lthou'
other solicitation. The republican man
ayers say the democratic slogan VIII all3m
them to spend funds for capturing white
votes this year which otherwise would not
have been possible.
Alleged Repeating.
The democrats of southern persuasion
and confederate inheritance are clamorous
for the negro's disbarment, and they fur
nf reD0atpTS
at elections, more particularly at republic
can primaries One story told is that a
trainload of colored voters were hauled
over the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
from Clifton Forge, Va, to Huntington
and voted at several towns en- route the
same day. Another story as an onset is
being told by the republicans. 1t concerns
a man who was walking along highway
yelling Niger at every step, and When
stopped for it explained he was making
democratic speech.
The development of mining in the south
ern section of West Virginia has brought
in thousands Of negroes from Virginia and
the Carolinas, and those counties have
given republican majorities In late years IN
what were former democratic strongholds.
In this territory, which runs mostly below
the Great Kanawha river, the agitation
against the negro voter appeals forcibly,
and the democrats say white mans plank
In their platform would be indorsed by
do on the suffrage question. Naturally,
some of these republicans have been I'M
successful at primaries, and say the other
fellow voted too many of the colored breth-
rem.
Mr.. Davis an CAN'T"
Henry G. Davis is an anti-negro suffrage
man, and was for the white mans plank,
until it was pointed out it would hurt the
national ticket elsewhere, an argument that
was convincing. But the issue will be just
as much alive, for local candidates will
preach it in certain counties, and the re-
publican managers will arouse the negro to
visions of his impending fate. To that end
stenographers in republican employ will fol-
low all the democratic orators. The colored
brother is figured on to help strengthen
local republican tickets this year, for al
though nationally he has been a republi-
can he has been inclined to scratch his
ticket in some instances for local favorites
of the democratic persuasion. incidentally.
Representative Joseph H. Gaines, who was
threatened with a negro uprising because
as a member of the House committee on
elections he voted against the seating of a
negro in a contest before that committee.
will benefit by the turn of affairs in the
state campaign.
Headquarters Established.
Senator Cornwell will make his head
quarters at Fairmont, but the democratic
state committee has not yet decided
whether it will select Fairmont as the base
of operations. The republican headquar-
tiers will be in Parkersburg.
Right after the Dawson gubernatorial
nominate 1t was freely said the republi-
cans would lose the support Of the corpo-
rations. but later evidences do not justify
that belief. 1t is stated to be certain the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad will be partial
to Cornwell. but It is said the Chesapeake
md and oil ny,6
will be for Dawson.
large voting element in West Virginia
Is the oil men, who fought Dawsons nomi-
nation In solid phalanxes. and it will take
mark Of Senator Charley Caldwell Is a true
prophecy. At the republican state conven-
ton he declared that not a man of the
1900 oil men will vote for Dawson.
Then comes into consideration the farm
ing interests. The farmers have been
unanimous for the tax reform scheme OF
which Dawson was an accepted champion,
but the tax bills passed at the special ses-
sion of the legislature, which ended this
week. are not of kind. it Is said, to make
the farmer jubilate. On that score the re-
publican majority had good case in court
in laying the blame at the doors Of the
democratic minority, which opposed the
bills. two-thirds vote being required to
pass them. Since the bills were not those
originally drafted by the state tax COM
mission. and since they were compromise
Ahcdsoic Go, oiditco ny republican IcdueTS
advance, and the whole thing conferred en-
tirely around party expediency, the demo
Gratis are supplied with abundant ammuni-
ton in return.
Create Little Enthusiasm.
For the tax bills just passed there is no
enthusiasm, which is worse for the repub-
licans with the responsibility of the special
session. which. however, was called at the
instance of one man, Gov. White, an earn
est, radical tax reformer. Republican lead
ers, from Senators Elkns and Scott down
the line did not want 1t. Nevertheless, all
had to pitch in and make the best Of the
bargain.
The Mop of ex-senator N. E. Whitaker tc
the Cornwell standard marks a prominen,
step. minimized only by the fact that the
Wheeling manufacturer was defeated ir
his own precinct as an anti-Dawson dele
gate and the gradual decrease OF his loca
following. Out in the state his influence
for Cornwell may be felt. Cornwell claims
assurances of the support of other big re.
publicans, but their names are not dis.
closed.