The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-09-18
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TRYING TO HOOD
WINK NEGROES
Democrats Pursuing Their Usual
Double Faced Policy.
upholding Disfranohisemsnt In the
South While Forming Colorsd
Bryan CLUBS in West.
tFrom tho Baltimore Sun, Dsm.)

General Winfield .. Hanoock, who
vas tho Democratic nominee for Presi-
dsnt IN 1880, declared tho tariff was
principally q focal question that IL
u say, q Pennsylvania Democrat might
b 4 protectionist for protsction's sake,
while 4 Democrat Ia Georgia or IN
Iowa might hold fast 10 the doctrine
Of tasiR FOR revenue only. fhs Massa-
chusetts Democrat might be q free
trader without reservation Of any kind,
while the West Virginia Democrat
might be free trader only with r.
spect To commodities which we're not
produced BY bis own State. General
Hancocks pronouncement was consld-
cred an Ingenious evasion Of the tariff
issue, but II did not produce harmony
In the Democratic party, and the gen.
efal was defeated.
Twsnty-eight years have passed since
General Hancock defined the tariff az
. lqfal 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
10 the negro. Last week the West vir-
ginla Democratic convention embodied
ip its platform planks demanding GER
tain qualifications for voters. designed
10 distranchisc many negroes. Their
platform also contains declaration in
favor Of separate coaches for white
apd negro passengers on railroads The
West Virginia Democrats not only rs-
fpss to hold out the olive branch to
the negro and invite him Into their
feid, but they are determined to limit
his political activity by a disfranchis-
Ing law and to bring him under the
operation Of "Jim Crow" law when hs
travels on the railroads Of that State.
What are the PromisssP
Out in Nebraska and In Kansas the
Democratic campaign managers are
organizing negro voters Into Bryan
clubs. In Ohio no effort viii 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
fsrcd does not appear. But Il u fair
inference that the managers have
promised to do something for the no
sro," perhaps to recognize hlp Up the
distribution Of Offices, II Mr.. Bryan
should be elected, and also to take
such action as the negroes may de-
mand In respeet 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 Acknowledgement
law and for a "Jim Grow" law, the
Democratic Convention In the Twelfth
district Of Ohio adopted
d platform favoring "the enactment
Of laws which shall accord to all men
accused Of wrongdoing, whether sol
dIers or civilians. fair and impartial
trial and an opportunity to bs heard
before conviction or punishment"
This apparently refers to the Browns
vile incident. 1t may also have a
broader meaning and a more extended
application and may be susceptible OF
an Interpretation which Will make
Southern Democrats open their eyes
With amagement and possibly with ap-
prehension.
Race Question "T,ooal TssusP"
There seems to be no ground for rsa-
sonable doubt that the Democratic
managers In the West, In the
effort to secure negro support for their
national ticket, are acting upon the
principle that the race question is only
i local issue" It is evident that the
South does not approve this plan Of
but IL powsrlesS to check 1t.
The Democracy Of the South 10 In full
accord with the position taken by the
West Virginia Democrats last week.
And vet Il Is assumed by those who
ire trying to get negroes to support
Mr.. Bryan that the South will act lp
hearty cooperation with the Ohio Ne
,raska, kpnsas ana illinois Democrats,
who Dire Welcoming the negro into free
In the Democratic patty
Ind probably promising to annul the
lecision Of President Roosevelt In the
matter. The theory Of
Western Democrats that the race prob
eai Is merely q local issue is calVp-
atsd to give the South much concern.
Many Democrats In that section may
question whether it Is worth while to
'lect Democratic president who may
open wide the door of political opb0t-
unity to the negro.
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