The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-23
Republicans Alarmed Over Effect
on Politics
GREAT SCHEME IN NEW YORK
Phllanthropic Men Will Give the Dis
charged Men Easy Berths and Will
See That They Do Not
Want for Anything.
BY wArrERsoN sTEALEY.

DI w - IFt00iN 49,
Washington. November 22.-Cspecial.)-- J
There is every indication that efforts will
be made at the coming session of Con-
gress to get through bill which will
have the effect of either restoring the ne
gro soldiers of the Twenty-ffth infantry
TO their former status, or, If it is possible
will give them individual courtmartials by
which their innocence or guilt in the
Brownville "shoot up" may be deter
mined.
First. 1t is. expected a congressional in
vestigation will be demanded. Upon the
result of this investigation, if it is per-
nnitted. will depend future legislative de-
velopments Except in the case that the
Senate and House organizations take tho
view that the matter will die out before
the next election and stihe the proposed
investigation interesting developments
may be looked forward to.
Threatens to Divide Vote.
For the first time in the political history
of the last forty years the negro threatens
TO at least divide his vote. Heretofore,
he has been driven willingly by the re-
publican organization. His vote in doubt
full states has been placed by democrats
and republicans asike--in the solidly re-
publican column-a basis upon which the
politicians would commence their prelim-
mary estimates.
Prominent negro politicians. and in fact
republican leaders, assert that DIVISION
Of tha negro vote between the two par
tics is impending owing to the action OF
the President In dismssi1g the negro
troops. Democrats are skepsioal aver the
o,,tleox. Many Of tnem believe SiIat ths
ne,5As sin continue 10 VOC regularly
re.a rdIess of the Presidents action. At
the same tin1e republicans are fearful
that the time has arrived when a consld-
erable number of negroes cannot be
nlaced safely in the republican column
should this turn out to be true, the pollt-
ical effect would be far-reachins. IL
would mean that the democratic party
would almost certainly elect its presiden-
tiaI candidate and a House of represen-
tatiyes and eventually a Senate.
Has Been Controlling Factor.
Since the negro has been given the ball
lot in the doubtful states there have been
very few elections where he has not oeen
practically the controlling factor. with
the possible exception of the Roosevelt
landslide of two years ago there are many
instances where the negro vote suotracted
from the republican column and ADDED 10
that of the democrats would have carried
states for the latter. In 1896 Mr.. Bryan
would have been very close to election
had it not been for the negro vote, ana
in 1900 the result would have been un-
oJo Por Ia rpnl1hlipaDS
Figures Are interesting.
A few figures in this connection are
interesting. For instance, take the So
called doubtful states of Indiana, 1lli-
nois Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and
New York According to the census bu-
reau there are in Indiana 1886 negro
voters In 1896 Bryan lost Indiana by
only 1900 majority, and in 1900 by but
2e 600. In both elections the negro vote,
II is fair to assume, held the state in the
republican column. West Virginia gave
Mckinley a majority of about 100 In
1896 and 21 900 in 1900. The state of West
Virginia has 14,7S6 negro voters, enough
to have placed the state in the demo-
cratic colmun. In Ohio there are 3l,23o
negro voters. In 1896 Mckinley carried
the state by little more than $1,000 and in
1900 he increased this to 5000. The negro
vote in Ohio taken from the republicans
in 1896 and given to the democrats would
have carried the state for Bryan. lli-
nois has 29762 negro voters. In 1900 the
state gave Mckinley $1,000 majority. Mary
land and Kentucky which were carried
by the republicans In 1895. owed it to the
negro vote Maryland has over 10000 ne
gro voters: Kentucky has nearly $4,000 In
New York state there were In 1900 nearly
32 600 negroes Had they, with the, natural
proportionate increase, voted for Hearst
instead of Hughes. the latter and not the
former would now be making trip to
Mexico.
Similar comparisons might be made
with other states, but the above are suf-
ficent to show why the New York. Ohio
and other political organizations are so
worked up over the muster out of the
negro troops.
That their sentiments will be reflected
upon the republican membership OF the
House to an extent which may call for
a congressional investigation is at least
among the possibilities.