Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-09-30

From the number OF Republicans who
have told me they favor this plank.
I cannot but believe that they. too, as
a party. have seen the wrong OF ever
comforting this right upon them as n
class; and would gladly take IL away.
only they have not the courage to act
In accordance with their convictions.
AS a matter OF fact. I'm this State
Il is more hurtful TO them than To
Democrats. According to the last
Presidential vote, they are far from
being the balance OF power between
the Republicans and Democrats. and
the franchise could be taken away
from them without changing the re-
suits. hut us between themselves.
they are the balance OF power. and
their corrupt and fraudulent use OF
their privilege 20 debauch primaries
and control conventions has done
much TO build up machine and
bring about the downfall OF those
who stand for purer politics and
cleaner methods. And which ele.
ment win ever feel It's crushing Of.
feet TN II joins hands with the Dem
ocats. and deprives the machine and
It's followers OF the vote itself.
As to the negro himself. the right
to- vote Is not an Unborn one. That
right In any In simply one OF policy
conferred by the state upon such Of
It's citizens as wisdom may dictate,
and under the wisdom OF this policy,
many are deprived OF the privilege
without the shadow OF objection. l
see before me many ladies' OF culture
and marked intelligence. Many OF
them are In no manner DESTROYS OF
| elective franchise. but Il does seem
TO be the very irony OF politics that
our women. who stand for purity and
honesty and clearly methods are de-
barred from taking part In the affairs
of state, while the negro. many OF
whom have not the slightest concep.
ton of its purpose or use. are per
mitted to debauch our ballot aud con.
troll our policies.
II is the belief OF Democrats that
the negro, with few exceptions, are
not yet 1T to appreciate and rightly
exercise n privilege that took the
white race thousands OF years to win
and enjoy. And so believing. they do
not hesitate To stand by their belief.
The Jim Grow" car In one OF ne
| cessty IL we care for the comfort OF
our wives and daughters who are
compelled to travel In parts of this
| state where illiterate negro popula-
| ton predominates. and where they
| look upon IL as an evidence of their
freedom and social equality to force
| themselves wherever undesired-and
whore from these causes. bad blood
and friction are constantly arising
between the races.
As result OF all this, separation
OF the races while travelling has be-
come necessary, just as IL has In your
barbershops, In your hotels, In your
opera houses, In your churches and
In your schools, where it has hecome
an accepted condition. IL is better
for both races and Is not desired by
the more educated negro. But Re
publicans say that these planks can
not be made effective or carried into
laws. In reply, ! say that should
the Democrats gain control OF the
| Legislature, they can pass the "Jim
Grow" law by n majority OF each
house. In order to- pass "a law dig
franchising the negro as n whole, or
only certain party OF them, there
must be an amendment to our con-
stitution, which must not conflict
| with the federal constitution. In or.
der to get this amendment, II must
first be ordered TO be submitted by Il
two-third vote OF each house of the
Legislature And 1t must then be
adopted by majority vote OF all the
voters OF this state, including the
| ~ hn \
submit that any policy of franchise
that Is so endorsed should meet with
the approval OF all our citizens.
Another policy that Democrats
have always strongly favored, Is that
| Of better compulsory education law,
| and of free textbooks TO our scholars,
as soon az the finances OF the state
| will permit. And free textbooks
could have been provided had not the
Republican state administration need
ed all OF our revenues and more, TO
meet their unnecessary extravaganza.
| Again, Democrats have always fay-
ored laws that will guarantee the
very best roads possible throughout
our state. Many Of you 10 whom /
speak today, know that for years,
good roads have been a special hob
by of mine. / know of no greater
blessing along progressive lines that
could be conferred upon our people
than to give them good roads II
elected Governor. shall recommend
that convict labor be used TO improve
them and thereby remove IL from
competition with other labor.
AS to the differences in the ranks
| Of the RouubIfcau marty 4 have buf