Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-08-13
POLITICAL GOSSIP
FROM STATE
CAPITAL

NiNo'Su III poiitlcS IN THIS part of
the moral vineyard has been the
negro question as embodied and
presented in the DISTINGUISHING and
Jim Crow planks OF the Demo-
cratic platform. Wherever You see
two or three people gathered to-
gether you will be safe in betting
that sometime during the meeting
the negro question will be talked
about, and you can feel pretty sure
you are right when you bet that
the platform Is receiving endorse
ment from at least a majority OF
those engaged in the discussion.
For some days after the adoption of
those planks certain Democrats ex
pressed a good deal OF fear lest what
ever chance their party had to carry
the state had been destroyed: but
latterly these same gentlemen have
allowed their Judgment to get the
better of their fears, and have
reached the sensible conclusion that
instead of being a weakness the race
p'anls will prove source of much
strength to the party. The first
whSe man who confesses himself to
be Influenced against the Democrat
ic party by the adoption of those
planks has yet to be found, while
scores of Republicans are openly ex-
pressing themselves determined to
vote the Democratic ticket because
OF their adoption. And there is no
Republican in the state of anything
like average sagacity who will deny
the fact that the Democratic party
greatly strengthened itself when
those two planks were INSERTED.
If you want to see how the thing
works, just ask any Republican can
didate for county office where he
stands on the Jim Crow" law. Ask
him whether he Is in favor of the
passage of law requiring railroads
to furnish separate coaches for
white and colored, or whether he IS
in favor Of continuing to compel the
wives and daughters of white men
to ride in the same coaches and fire.
quently in the same seats with ne
groes. You won't be able to get a
direct answer from him, unless you
push him. He will try to avoid and
evade, for he knows the question
is dangerous one. If he says he
is opposed to the Jim Crow" law
he will lose white votes. and if he
declares himself in favor of 1t he
Will lose negro votes. But make
him answer the question If you can.
In regard to the disfralchisment
plank the Republicans seem to have
less trouble. They profess to think
that while it cinches the negro vote
for the Republican ticket, 1t VIII
also drive ilHterate whites to vote
1t. because, as they tell the Hitter
ates. any law that will operate to
disfranchise the negro will also dis
franchise them. That is not a fact.
as is proven by what has been done
in other southern states. In North
Carolina, for instance, most of the
negroes are deprived of the right
to vote, and yet the whites are pro.
tected in their right. This is done
by means of the "grandfathcr''
clause and other safeguards thrown
about the white voter The Dem
ocrats in West Virginia aimed their
declaration at the negro. and at no
body else. There Is no use being
squeamish or mealy mouthed about
L. that's what II means and that's
the way II will be carried out II the
Democrats get the rover
The people OF W, virginia are
suffering from too much negro at
their elections, and they should get
rid OF Il.
The facConal fight in the Repub-
lican party Is, Ike the old negro's
wife, getting no better fast" There
has been a good deal OF talk about
getting together, but IT has been
All Adih anu HOlhiuk tiHts. htlt
are still two Republican tickets in
the held and so far as can be fore
told at present there will be no less
between now and the election. To
all propositions for compromise
Swisher has replied that he is the
reglar nominee Of the party, and has
nothing TO compromise with lot of
boilers. Scherr says he VIII do eth
or Of two things-submit his claims
and swisher's to state primary
or withdraw in favor OF a third
man. to be agreed upon by leading
Republicans; but he refuses to talk
Of any plan that contemplates his
withdrawing and leaving the field to
Swisher. II looks like the present
status would be maintained through
out the entire campaign.
There is feeling among many
here that II both Swisher and Scherr
stay on the ballot Scherr will got
more votes than Swisher, in spite of
the fact that Swisher has the advan-
tage Of regularity II is pointed
out that the second district will be
largely for Scherr; that he will car
~ Ohio Marshall WetZelI bod