The Washington times., 1908-03-29
Colored Voters Viii Be
Told Democrats Aren't
Their Friends.
Taft Managers HoldCon-
fcrenceS to Smooth
Over Brownsville
Affair.

Representative J. Thomas Hehin of
slAlabama threatens 10 be one OF the
tissues OF the coming Presidential cam
epaign- 1t is more than likely that Mr..
IHefiin viii find himself as much talked
about on the stump from now until No
sNember as If he were the incarnation
fof the tariff
Republican politicians have not been
slow to see the political Significance OF
the course of Mr.. Helm, a Democratic
member Of Congress from the South, in
shooting a negro as the result Of a
street car alteration. They have been
casting about for material with which
40 combat the argument that the Re-
publican party treated the colored race
with injustice in connection with the
brownsville matter, OF 20 distract the
attention Of colored voters from Il at
Ssubject. Mr.. Helm has supplied It.
tAt least, shrewd Republican politicians
said yesterday that he had.
Fight Taft.
It is conceded in Republican circles
sthat the Brownsville affair has stirred
sup a most unpleasant and difficult sit
Enation with respect to the coming Pres
stdential election. All over the coun-
Try. clever leaders Of the colored race
t1Iave been at work stirring I'D saati-
sInent against Secretary Taft 1t is on
Fugly condition of things for the Secre-
Ftary of War, and his lieutenants admit
ut when they get down 10 bed rock and
uaIk straight from the shoulder as TO
e1he real situation
How to placate the negro vote IS the
ireaI, big, serious problem Of the Taft
management Efforts Will be made TO
sslnooth things over before the nonina-
sSion. 1t is realized that it viii be more
troublesome to make peace after the
termination than before it. Besides. *
sSnight initiate against Taft's nomina-
ifiOn at Chicago to have the opposition
present evidence to convince the dele
5gates that Taft would lose the colored
vote. But much work viii, no doubt,
have to be done after the nomination,
providing Taft gets it
Will Advertise Hehin Case.
AT any rate. from now on, the case
of Mr. Helm Will be cited to the col
sDred people all over the country. They
twill be reminded again and again that
The Republicans are their only real
Friends The fact will be dinned into
ttheir ears that a Southern member Of
scf the Capital Of the Nation, shot down
zone Of the colored race. They viii be
Stold it is unthinkable for them 70 turn
no party in which the controlling
element is as rancorous against che ne
qgro as Hefiir. and that the only thing
for them TO co is to get in line for the
.1lepublican Presidential and Congress
s6ional ticket. In this connection. thew
will be told that every possible effort
has been made by a Republican Congress
10 do justice TO the men discharged on
faccount of the Brownsville incident
tand that Il was not race hostility that
lied the President 20 do as he did. since
sthe same penalty would have been i'm
Eoosed on white troops.
AS Illustrating the concern felt by the
gTaft leaders over the colored vote, it
rs learned that leading members OF the
lcolored race IN various States are be
ting met by Taft managers, and efforts
Sare being made 70 placate any feeling
Sstirred up by the Brownsville con-
sfroversy-