Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-07-12
THE OPENING GUN
Secretary Of War Taft Starts Con-
gressional Campaign In Speech
in North Carolina.
ADVICE TO SOUTHERNERS,
Negro DOmInatIOn-WOrl1 of ROOse-
welt and COngress-HOw the
south Stands in Its
own Light.

Greensboro, N. c., July 10.-Secreta-
,ry Of War Taft Monday night, before
a meeting Of North Carolina republi-
cans on the eve of their state conven-
ton delivered a speech that was
generally regarded as the opening gun
of the congressional campaign OF 1905
The speech dealt with current politi-
cal questions and opening with ad-
vice to the rank and file Of the party
in North Carolina and the south par
ticularly referred to the achievements
Of the party in the session of congress
Just closed, The opera house was
packed to overlooking by a throng
eager to hear the secretary of war
and hundreds Of persons were turned
away because Of the limited size Of
the hall. Secretary Taft said in part:
n believe that nothing that could
happen in the politics Of this country
would work greater advantage to the
country at large, and to the south in
particular than the breaking up Of
what has been properly known as the
solid south say this in no parti-
san spirit, for | am not one Of those
who think, that this result would nee
essarily increase the probability of
The continuance in power Of the repub-
Iican party. The solldity Of the south
has, in a measure, furnished Its own
lntidote in restraining many voters
In the north who might have left the
republican party but for what they're
gard as the injustice and danger Of
southern political conditions.
q "The south has been kept solid by
4 the specter Of negro domination, and
by stirring up racial prejudices and
lrousing unfounded alarm over an
impossible return of reconstruction
days." said the secretary. after a
long struggle" he added, ''the ne
gros' vote was made to count for
nothing, and then the political leaders
Of the dominant party came to real
lie that dreadful decentralization Of
Ill society that followed in a govern
ment If law was fouted and fraud was
10 constitute its basis. They cast about
10 make the law square with existing
conditions by property and educational
qualifications which should exclude the
negro. They adopted amendments to
the state constitutions with the So
called grandfather clauses, Intended
TO apply the new qualifications to the
negro, and not to apply them TO the
whites"
The secretary said 1t is impossible
10 frame law establishing education
Al qualifications for suffrage which
viii stand the test of the 18th amend
ment. and which will not operate I'll
timately to exclude impartially th'
negroes and whites from the ballol
who lacked educational requirement.
A policy IN the south, he said
which excludes from the ballot impair
tally black and white, when tgnofain
and irresponsible. cannot be criticized
The question which should address
itself TO the great business, Interest,"
az, ME south, the SECRETARY STATED, !
now much longer ''the spectre OF th'
things past, 8 70 bold then, g
political allegiance that does then
no good IN national politics end de
prives their communities Of the Up
estimabls beneht Of the presence u
local politics Of two parties, each Q
which, II Il does wrong, has a req
chance 0f being punished for Its mis-
, oonductHr tsl .it1L I'D. -Iyl!
Mr.. Taft, oontsnded that u p
southern people had kept up With u
times; had they at the ballot boz, g
pressed their sentiments on the iiN
ing issues Of The day instead Of Z
lowing Themselves to be frightene
.hyaspertre and q shadow q ne paif
Their, political importance A, oommnurI
nnss ana TIE sisniananea q ne