Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-09-10
TRYING TO HOOD
WINK NEGROES
UNFOLDING Disfranchisement In the
South While Forming Colored
Bryan Clubs in West
tFrom the Baltimore Sun, Dem. }


General Winfield 5. Hancock. who
was the Democratic nominee for Presi-
dent In 1880, declared the tariff wss
principally a focal question"-that is
20 say, Pennsylvania Democrat might
be protectionist for projections sake,
while a Democrat In Georgia or in
Iowa might hold fast to the doctrine
Of tariff for revenue only. The Massa-
chusetts Democrat might be a 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
Hancocks pronouncenient was eonsid-
cred an ingenious evasion OF the tariff
issue, but IL did not produce harmony
In the Democratic party, and the gen
eral was defeated.
Tweny-eight years have passed since
General Hancock defined the tariff as
a 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
10 the negro. Last week the West vir-
ginia Democratic convention embodied
IN its platform planks demanding GER
tain qualifications for voters, designed
% 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
field, but they are determined TO limit
his political activity by disfranchis-
fng law and TO bring him under the
operation OF "Jim Crow" law when he
travels ON the railroads Of that State.
What are the Promisesa
Out In Nebraska and In Kansas the
Democratic campaign managers are
organizing negro voters into Bryan
clubs. In Ohio no effort will be spared
~ 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 IL 10 fair
inference that the managers have
promised to do something foc the ne
gro." perhaps to recognize him In the
distribution OF offices, II Mr.. Bryan
should be elected, and also TO take
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 Acknowledgement
law and for Jim Grow" law, the
Democratic convention In the Twelfth
Congressional district OF Ohio adopted
= platform favorlng the enactment
q laws which shall accord TO al men
accused OF wronsdoing whether sol
6lsrs or civilians, a fair and impartial
trial and an opportunity to DO heard
hsfore conviction or punishment. :"
This apparently refers to the Browns
VILE incident. II may also have a
broader meaning and more extended
application and May be susceptible Of
m Interpretation which will make
Southern Democrats open their eyes
With anaxement and possibly with APP
prehension.
Race Question "Loel Issuerr
There seems to BE- no ground for rsa-
oenable doubt that the Democratic
1alnpaiGn managers In TIE West. In the
GGsrt e secure negro support for their
nattenai ticket, are aotxag u~on the
pwinolpls mat the race QUESTION h only
= ..ioeni Issue" It il evidsnt that the
Oo1fh de&s not approve this plan Of
onmpsign. but II pcwsrlsss % check It.
~ Democracy - The South b N full
Aecee1 with ~ pos1akos taken BY the
Uoc< ftrginia peznscra1s last week.
~ - II n assumed " thoss who
- 1ry1nS ~ 1T neGroes - support
~. Hryan nat NJ nouth viii act In
henrxv ee-epesAt1on MA tie Ohio, Ne
kxanke, kaneos an Klllnsis Democrats,
UIhe ~ w>iesmins the negro into free
fol1ourhip ~ ~ Democratic party
- prpha>ly pponiainG to annnl the
icaf1ion of Ryeel1snt Roosevelt In TIE
1rewnsy1lle n.aftsr. The thsory 81
srprp Do~ecr4ts that ths race prob