Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-07-25

"A committee is now in Denver
endeavoring TO have a plank favor
able 70 the race inserted in the Dem
ocratic platform. Bishop Walters is
arranging for a convention Of lead
ing colored men from various States
TO meet some time during July at
Atlantic CITY to formulate definite
plans for political action.
1.-THE formal report. after describ-
ing the call upon Mr.. Bryan and the
preliminary talk, says:
We stated 20 Mr.. Bryan that
there were three things about which
the Negroes were intensely interest
ed:
d" 'First-What would be the at
titude of a Democratic adminstra-
tion respecting the restoring Of the
three companies of the Twenty-fifth
Infantry. discharged without honor
by order OF the President
Second What would be the at
tiude of the Democratic Party to-
ward affecting public sentiment so
that the Negro might enjoy the ben
eft of the ballot I'm Southern States
and we might at least, have "a fair
and honest administration of the laws
that now disfranchise the Negro I'm
toto?
Third -That a Democratic adj
mlnistrauon would do nothing 90
make conditions worse for the Ne
gro than they now are. so that the
Negro would lose nothing I'm the way
of employment En- the service OF the
Federal government
Remember this was given out be-
fore the Democratic National Conven
tion had convened at Denver Colora-
do and that it handicapped and en-
barrassed Mr. Bryan is self-evident
when &c is observed that South
erners like Hon. James x. Vardsman
and Hon. ]. Thomas Hefiu were prom
ineut figures in this Democratic xii
kenny cat fight at Denver.
The New York World continues:
"Mr. Bryan, answering said that
as 20 conditions affecting the ballot
he was not free 20 discuss"
Mr. Bryan spoke the truth there.
He did woll not TO discuss that phase
OF the subject lie was necessarily
silent upon the political rights OF the
Negro. and yet that was the very
subject upon which the committee
must have been most Interested. for
&c is the disposition on the part OF
the Republican leaders to disregard
our political rights. that is leading 10
the present agitation by the Negroes
OF the country. The disregard OF
political rights has led TO the disre-
gard Of human rights and the treat
ment OF Companies b. c and d OF
the Twenty-hfth Infantry.
The report continues:
CAS- to the appointment of Negroes
they had received by way OF appoint
ments from the Republicans very lit
tie. His policy would be 20 give the
Negro such recognition as he was
fairly entitled 20. Personally he be-
.lieved competent and qualified Ne
.groes should Doe appointed and given
recognition along with other citizens
OF the country and where they sup
port the Democratic ticket should be
taken into account"
The question arises as to how far
will Mr.. Bryan's personal views govern
his official actions. He Is the can
didate of a great party and IL is evi
dent that as President Of the United
States his personal views will not OBJ
tain. This is true OF his opinion
relative 10 the Referendum PROPOSE
ton and the government ownership
.of railroads. Mr.. Bryan is setting
his sails this year 20 win. either with
or without the Negroes support. The
report says further:
mfr Bryan said that he regarded
the discharge OF the Negro soldiers
without honor as an outrage: that
if the men were guilty they should
be- punished In the regular way by
court-martial or trial by civil courts
as every citizen. black or white ought
20 have fair trial before he is pun
ished in any way.
THE committee said the Negro
race had further complaint 10 make
and that was that the President had
declared that If the bill pending I'm
Congress TO reinstate the battalion
was passed he would veto IL. and
II passed over his veto he would
refuse TO enforce IL. We asked III
Mr.. Bryan would give us assurance.
as 10 what his attitude would be in
the event of his being elected Pres
ident and such a bill was passed. and
further If the President had the au-
thority 10 reinstate this black bat
talon. would he be disposed to act
in the matter"
We have no doubt, but what Mr..
Bryan was quoted correctly. But
these were his personal views and
the Democratic Party is in no wise
committed to anything that he was
kind enough to say. Mr.. Bryan is
quoted further:
Mr.. Bryan replied that any man
elected President would have to take
the oath OF Office 10 uphold the Con-