Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-09-17
TRYING TO HOOD
WINK NEGROES
Democrats Pursuing Their Usual
Double Faced Policy. .--4
Upholding Disfranchisement In che
South While Forming Colorsd
Bryan Clubs in West "a
v vrrom the Baltimore Sun, DENY


: General Winfield S. Hancock, who
was the Democratic nominee for Presi-
dent in 1880, declared the tariff was
principally local question"-that lis
to say, q Pennsylvania Democrat might
be protectionist for projections sake
while O Democrat In Georgia or i'm
Iowa might hold fast to the doctrine
Of a tariff for revenue only The Massa-
chusetts Democrat might be a free
trader without reservations 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
Hancock's pronouncement was consid
cred an ingenious evasion Of the tariff
issue, but 1t did not produce harmony
In the Democratic party, and 1.-THE gen
eral was defeated.
Twenty eight years have passed since
General Hancock defined the tariff as
q local question upon which the Demo
Gratis Of each State were free to act
with regard chiefly to local interests
The principle which he them formu-
lated seems TO have been adopted by
Democrats In the West In respect to
the relation of the Democratic, party
TO the negro. Last week the lWest V1r-
ginia Democratic convention embodied
in Its platform planks demanding GER
tain qualifications for voters, designed
TO disfranchise many negroes. Their
platform also contains a declaration IN
favor of separate coaches for 'whMe
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
fold, but they are determined to limit
his political activity by disfranchis-
ing law and to bring him under the
operation of Jim Crow" law wherA he
travels on the railroads Of that STATE.
What are the Promasese
Out In Nebraska and in Kansas the
Democratic campaign managers are
organizing negro voters iuto Bryan
clubs. In Ohio no effort will be spared
10 secure the support Of the negro
voters for the Democratic national
ticket. What pledges have been given
and what inducements have been Of
fered doee not appear. But 1t II fair
Inference that the managers have
promised to do something foc the ne
gro" perhaps to recognize him In the
distribution of Offices, If 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 a Acknowledgement
law and for Jim Crow" law, the
Democratic convention In the Twelfth
Congressional district Of Ohio adopted
Q platform favoring the enactment
Of laws which shall accord to all men
accused Of wrongdoing, whether sol
aisrs or civilians, a fair and impartial
trial and an opportunity to be heard
before conviction or punishment.
This apparently refers to the Browns
vile incident 1t may also have
broader meaning and a more extended
application and may be susceptible Of
an Interpretation which will make
rs
with amaxement and possibly with ap-
sfehensien.
Race Question "Local Issuef"
There seskas to be mo ground for raa-
ssnable dSrst that the Democratic
campaign managers In the West, In she
sssrt to sseare negro Seaport for their
national ticket, are acfiag uYon the
principle thft the race dnsstioA 10 only
local issas" 1t IL evident that the
South does net approve this plan Ct
campaign, but is pewerless TO check It,
Tue Democracy Of the South 10 in full
accord wifa the pesitieA taken by the
West virg.aia Democrats last week
Ana yet it IL assumed by those who
are trying to get negroes to support
Mr.. Bryan that the South will act in
hearty cooperation with the Uhio, Ne
braska, Kansas ana Iliiaois Dexiocrsts,
who are welcoming the negro int free
fellowship In the Democratic party
and probably promising to annul the
decision of President Roosevelt in the
| Brownsville matter. The theory Of
Western Democrats that the race prea-
| len, IL merely local issue is caleu-
lated TO give the South much concefn.
Many Democrats In that section may
| question whether 1t is worth while TO
elect a Democratic president who may