The Washington herald., 1907-08-23


Lexington. KY. Aug 2.-secretary
Taft and party, after luncheon at Elmen-
dorf, returned to the city at 180 o'clock.
There were few people at the Elmendorf
luncheon, rain continued throughout
the entire time. and Secretary Taft was
prevented from looking over the horses
and the splendid farm Of J. B. Haggin
with any degree Of satisfaction.
In his address he did not refer TO the
charges Of Senator Foraker that he de-
clared himself against Cox and the Gin
Ninnau government two years age, nor
did he make any comment on Foraker's
charges. In closing he indorsed the can
didacy OF A z. Wilson for governor OF
Kentucky and the work of Walter Evans
as district judge in Louisville.
The auditorium az Woodland park
where Secretary Taft spoke. was hand
somely decorated. and there were many
ladies in the immense audience.
Judge Z. c. Crear made the introduc-
tory address, commencing BIr. Taft TO The
people as one Of the foremost thinkers
Of the. country.
Discusses Negro Question.
Mr.. Taft said that he had loved Ken
lucky since he was a small boy. and
often looked across the river from Cin-
cinnat toward the green hills Of the
Bourbon State for the first sign OF the
approaching spring. Discussing the negro
question, he said.
The specter Of so-called negro domina-
ton. the threat OF a recurrence 10 the
days Of reconstruction. however mighty
they might be at one uime in the his
tory Of the far Southern States. has new
er had any substantial weight and rea-
son for being in this great state OF Ken
lucky, for the colored people Of the state
were never so numerous as the white
voters Nevertheless. Keutucky has
trailed along with her sisters farther
south.
It has always been regarded as
solid Democratic State, no matter what
the Democratic party did in its conven-
ton, 10 matter whom It nominated. In
der those circumstances. with human na-
ture as it is. why should the Northern
Democrats pay the slightest attention 20
what Kentucky Democrats desired. why
should the Northern Republicans. who
could not expect a majority in Kentucky.
pay the slightest attention 10 what the
people Of Kentucky wished?
south Likes Roosevelt.
There are. doubt not, among the
/ Democrats Of Kentucky. many sincere
protective tariff men, and yet througbout
these forty years since the war they have
come forward solidly to vote the Demo
cratic ticket. merely because Of the feeling
/ IS 1t not time for a highIy intelligent.
manly electorate 10 commune with itself
and TO say TO 5tself that the period has
arrived in which. by independent action
at the polls. it shall establish its right
/ 10 be considered by both parties as a fac
! tor in making up national policies and IN
/ selecting national candidates.
We have arrived in the history Of the
( politics of this country al what seems 10
/ be a repetition Of that condition which
/ existed at the end OF AIonroe's second ad-
ministration. called IN. era Of good-fee!-
/ ing. After a violent outburst against
/ President Roosevelt for his expressed
sympathy with the colored man, the men
/ Of the South generally have come t. rec
1 ognize the STERLING virtues and courage
and independence Of our President. and
venture 10 say that there is no section
/ Of the country in which he is more pop
ular than he Is in the South to-day"
Would Break ''SoIid South.o
After discussing the constitutional
amendment regarding the negro question
ard the grandfather's suffrage laws Of
! the Southern States, he made a plea for
! kentuckians to turn the tide by break
/ ing the solid South He said
II only under the influence OF Presi-
dent Roosevelt's administration some Of
the Southern States, including Kentucky.
could be led into the Republican column
/ in accordance with the real sympathy Of
/ the voters Of those States. 1t would be
a crowning glory OF his administration.
1t may be said that when / say the
South aenies itself the opportunity to take
/ its part to influence the course Of the
/ government and 10 determine its poll
4 cies | ignore the fact that by the sup
/ preston of the negro vote the white
/ Democrats of the South. IN rom, Of rep
! ffeseEtatives in the Senate and in The
/ House, per capita, WELD a far greater in
! fuence on the legislation Of tile country
than do the Northern voters per capita.
! because in the representation they get the
/ benefit in the proportion Of all the col
Ored adults over twenty-one. while thew
! exclude them from exercising the ballots.
This is true. and il is an Injustice.
But the very injustice leads many a
Northern voter 70 SUPPORT the Rspub-
, Iican party and 10 keep it in control. ana
thus to prevert the Southern States. fol-
lowing as they DO the Democrats party.
from taking any part in the executive
control of the government or exercise
any substantial influence.
Going into the policies advocated by
Mr.. Bryan, and concludiag, he said:
Now. l am aware that it is said that
Mr. Bryan is not the Democratic partv.
and that the Democratic party is not Mr..
! Bryan.
Your own distinguished fellow-citizen.
Mr.. Henry WatteTson. is engaged in pour
ing out at various times most interesting
views on public questions, which assume
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