The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1908-09-19
Democrats Pursuing Their Usual
Double Faced Policy.
UNFOLDING Disfranchisement In the
South While Forming Colored
Bryan Clubs in West.
(From the Baltimore Sun, Dem.)

was the Democratic nominee for Presi-
dent in 1880, declared the tariff was
principally local question''-that is
to say, a Pennsylvania Democrat might
be protectionist for projections sake
while Democrat in Georgia or In
Iowa might hold fast to the doctrine
OF tariff for revenue only. The Massa-
chusetts Democrat might be free
trader without reservation of any kind
while the West Virginia Democrat
might be free trader only with re-
spect to commodities which were not
produced by his own State. General
HancOck's pronouncemeht was consid-
cred an ingenious evasion of the tariff
issue, but it did not produce harmony
In the Democratic party, and the gen.
eral was defeated.
Twenty-eight years have passed since
General Hancock defined the tariff as
q local question upon which the Demo-
Gratis of each State were free to act
with regard chiefly to local interests.
The principle which he then formu-
lated seems to have been adopted by
Democrats in the West In respect to
the relation Of the Democratic party
to the negro Last week the West Vir-
ginia Democratic convention embodied
La it's platform planks demanding GER
tain qualifications for voters, designed
to disfranchise many negroes Their
platform also contains a declaration IN
favor of separate coaches for white
and negro passengers on railroads. The
West Virginia Democrats not only re-
fuse to hold out the olive branch to
the negro and invite him into their
fold but they are determined to limit
his political activity by disfranchis-
ing law and to bring him under the
operation of "Jim Crow" law when he
travels on the railroads Of that State.
What are the Promisesf
Out In Nebraska and in Kansas the
Democratic campaign managers are
organizing negro voters into Bryan
clubs. In Ohio no effort will be spared
to secure the support of the negro
voters for the Democratic national
Ticket. What pledges have been given
and what inducements have been Of
fered does not appear. But II II fair
inference that the managers have
rromised to do something foc the pc
gro perhaps to recognize him In the
distribution Of Offices, II Mr.. Bryan
~, he 81 oil tO
such action as the negroes may de-
mand In respect to the reinstatement
Of the negro battalion dismissed from
the army by President Roosevelt for
the attack on Brownsville. Last week
when the West Virginia Democrats
were declaring for a disfranohissment
law and for Jim Crow" law the
Democratic convention In the Twelfth
Congressional district Of Ohio adopted
a platform favoring 1.-The enactment
Of laws which shall accord to all msn
accused of wrongdoing, whether sol.
diers or civilians, q fair and impartial
trial and IA opportunity to b heard
before conviction or punishment
This apparently refers to the Browns
Vile incident. 1t may also have
broader meaning and more extended
application and may be susceptible OF
an Interpretation which will make
Southern Democrats open their eye,
with anaEsmsnt AID possibly With ap
prehensien.
Race Question "Leoal Issuer
There seems to bs Ne ground for req
ssnable dsubt that the Democratic
eeiapaisn managers In the West, In thu
exert to secure negro support for thei'
national ticket, are aetinG unea TIT
principle that the raop eusstioA 10 onl,
"lecal issue" 1t ID evident that tn
South does not APPROVE tAk plan o.