Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-22
VOTE OF THE NEGROES
1t Could Have Swung Several
Congressional Districts.
SOME LUCKY CANDIDATES
Decision as to Colored Troops Not
Known at Election Time.
TWO FIGHTS THAT WERE CLOSE
The Presidents Appeal Saved Long
worth and Booker Washington's
Representative Olcott.

Several republicans who were re-elected to
the Sixtieth Congress can thank their lucky
stars that the Presidents decision to dis
miss the negro troops of the 25th Infantry
was not announced until the day after cleo
ton, although it had been reached some
time heretofore. 1t is said by those In po-
sition to know that the Presidents son-in-
law, Representative Longworth of Ohio,
and Representative Olcott of New York
would have undoubtedly been defeated by
negro votes if the storm had broken in time.
1t is said further that at least half dozen
other districts in the states of Ohio, In
diana, Illinois. Maryland and New York
would have been endangered from the
same cause.
1t required the efforts of Booker Wash
ingtOn in person to save Olcott 1t is
thought that the Presidents personal ap-
peal saved his son-in-law. as the opposition
to him was most determined. BOOKER
Washington has not yet been heard from
upon the subject of the dismissal of the
negro troops, and it is not known whether
he feels aggrieved or not at the administra-
tion's repayment of his efforts in Olcott's
behalf.
Booker Washington's Timely Aid.
The Olcott case was very desperate.
There are $500 negro voters in his district
anu his plurality III the previous erection
was only LOO. The negroes in his district
this year were up in arms over an alleged
discrimination against their delegates to the
republican state convention. Mr.. Olcott
was very uncertain whether he could pull
through or not, and personally thought the
chances against him.
Charlie Anderson, a well-known negro
politicianr of New York city and who holds
lucrative federal Office bestowed upon him
by President Roosevelt, had labored hard
to hold the negro, vote. This Anderson il
New orizs For years he has been anSady
junct 0f the republican state committee and
was familiar figure about the old repub-
lican headquarters at the Fifth Avenue Ho-
tel He would stand at the bar ana take
his drink with the best of 'em and was hail
fellow well met at Saratoga when the con-
ventions were on.
But even Anderson could not hold the ne
gro vote in the Olcott district, and despite
his best efforts the vote seemed to be get
ting away from Olcott. A few days before
election Booker Washington and Anderson
strolled through the corridor of the Fifth
Avenue Hotel. Washington was in New
York on one of his periodical visits to the
north, when he calls upon phlanthropists
and others who aid his school.
Anderson was in good spirits that day.
THAT Olcott district is all right he re-
marked to an acquaintance. Booker
Washington has been UP to see the negro
leaders and has Strengthened them out for
the republican ticket" The vote showed
that the district had been Strengthened out
and Olcott was reelected.
1t was Anderson who damned through
the republican county committee after the
election the resolution of protest against
the Presidents action, demanding a re-
hearing Of the case. Representative Her
bert Parsons, the Presidents closest polit-
ical friend in New York city, is president
of the county committee. but he could not
check the passage of the resolution, as all
the district leaders were aware. of the re-
sentiment of the negro.
Attempt to Pledge House Leaders
Another indication of the state Of affairs
among the New York negro voters was
shown in an effort-which faled-to tie up
the leaders of the House of Representatives
to a scheme for the attachment of the negro
vote to the republican party in return for
assurances, definite and specific, that the
republican party in Congress would cut off
the representation in southern states which
disfranchise the negro.
The negroes were to have effected an Or
ganization with title indicating it to be
in defense of the franchise. All negroes
belonging to 1t would vote the republican
ticket in states where the negro vote
counts, being assured that republicans of
prominence would help to pass the law cut
ting down the southern representation in
Congress
1t was four or five weeks before election
that the plan was preached. A bright young
negro from New York was sent out to
sound the republican leaders in Congress.
He claimed to have the backing of big re-
publican politicians in New York He
limited, whether with or without justifica-
ton, that President Roosevelt would not
look with dsfavor upon the scheme. But
he demanded specific promises of delivery
of the goods in Congress in return for a
delivery Of the goods at the polls
The plan failed. The republican leaders in
Congress declined to pledge Congress to
any such legislation on the ground that
law of the character demanded would hit
every state which imposes a qualification
upon the franchise and would strike north
ern as well as southern states.
Those New York politicians were con-
WINGED that the negro is preparing to organ
ize his vote in sections where he holds the
balance of power, and as they had acute
examples Of the strength of that power in
their own neighborhood they were anxious
to avail themselves of It.