The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-07-02
. DIVISION. \.
Off, Negro Vote Proposed
by Northern News IN
!. . n: .....I paper =. Il. \.
Springfield Republican, Strong Mas,
sachusetts Friend Of Race, Sug-
M gests Is Different Policy.
.&(Sprdngfield Republican,

L . .l
There appears to ,bea growing be-
lief among the most intelligent and
leaders Of the Negro race
THAT 1T Is poor policy to have the
Negro, vote regarded as the sure
asset, under all circumstances; of one
tof the great political parties. The
class of Negro politicians may. not
sympathize with such views, q but
lthey are controlled considerably by
selfsh considerations, and their iudg-
ment should not be followed unhesi-
| tatingly. Every northern state has
Negro voters who are unimpeded In
the exercise of the franchise, and in
some states they are numerous
enough to hold the balance of pow
er. pTheirafuture attitude in politics
is more important than that OF the
| members Of their. race In southern
states, where the political influence
| of the race has BEEN annihilated,
since they are in position to make
what political power they possess
| count heavily in close contests be-
tween the great parties. it is to their
| action that this discussion has spe-
Gtal reference: r -. ., ~. -
! 1t will be 40th years, the 28th Of
July next, since the 14th amend
| ment to the federal constitution be-
came part Of the supreme law of the
land. and it was SO years ago, on
March 80 'last,e that the 18th amend
| ment went into effect. Although in
those years the republican party.
which freed the slave" has been al
most continuously in power, neither
of&these amendments today does the
! work that it's trainers intended. The
10th amendment is substantially
abandoned by Secretary Taft himself
| and there are>no signs whatever that
the republican party has any definite
policy beyond a possible enforcement
OF that feature Of the 14th amend
ment, which authorizes a reduction
| or the south In congress and the ell
/ ectorata college, Such legislation, Of
course, could mean nothing else than
the open aban donment2 OF the 18th
amendnent. The Negro race, there
ffore no longer has anything to- gain
i by doc1les ailaR the lii
lean party; andt1t fisa also pjesFisESgsetfy
I clear thatso long as ths race depends
not upon itself, but upon theHrepi1b-
-ifcan party, it's present helpless poiit=
1cai position will never be changed
Tor the better. In order to be re-
spected and feared in politics the Ne
groes must organize on an independ-
emf basis and show that their voting
strength will be>thrown where it. will
90 the race the most good:~ :
In pursuing such policy, the Ne
groes OF this country would merely
initiate the highly successful tactics
| or racial parties in certain countries
or the old world, notably the Irish in
British politics.. Thirty years of spe-
clal legislation for Ireland, forced
| through the British parliament un-
der the pressure of Irish obstruction
and the power of the independent
irish vote to determine the complex
| ION or British governments, , makes
an Impressive object lesson. If race
Is denied its rights under the consti-
tuition OF the country, and If this is
done on race lines, then the indea
pendent. political organization Of that
race for the removal Of it's grievan-
ces Is justified. Whether the Negroes
or America are yet capable Of politi-
cal action Of this character is q oues-
zion which no one can answer until
the ehort Is made, but it seems GER
tain that such policy must ultimate
ly be worked out IF the race IS to
make the most Of Itself. -
Inc republican party processes to
be the guardian of the race 1t freed
from slavery, yet it's guardianship
now amounts to nothing, because il
need not compete for Negro support
IN elections. Let it be understood
That a race, q class, section NAV
vote for the opposition unless certain
things are done, and tho party In
power usually makes great efforts at
piacatton." The Jews of New York.
VINO are numerous enough to turn
the empire state either way in q
presidential election; never fail to he
considered by the administration
Both parties fear the labor organiza-
lions and the Independent vote thew
represent. And rather than offend
the Pacific coast states, President
Roosevelt squarely reversed his poll.
cy on the Japanese coolie invasion
Both platforms this year will bid for
the Pacific coast vote with blanks on
oriental immigration. The Negyoe.
or the country, particularly Of the
nortehrn and border states, need on
ly to smash the prevalent notion that
nothing could ALLEVIATE them from the
republican party to find themselves
getting much the same consideration
They can never fix terms for an s1H-
ance, unless they prove that they are
something besides q permanent asset
and go with the plant"
The effect upon Negro interests of
the races political independence
would be advantageous in more than
one respect. II the Negroes of the
north were to vote for the Democrat
ic ticket this year, they would not
not only force upon republicans rec
ognitlon of the fact that their party
must, compete for Negro support, but