Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-07
Southern Statesmen Talk About The
Ohio Republican Platform.
TAFT's STRONG BID TOaHEGRO VOTE
No Doubt Blu. That Republicans viii
Make Race Question One OF issues
in the Coming campalan-cons-
ressman williams Statement.

WASHINGTON, March G.-The
chief topic of discussion in political
circles here Is the negro plank in
the platform adopted by the Ohio
Republican convention. which was
controlled by Taft men. Democrats
IN the Senate and House consider
that the unqualified demand for the
civil and political rights OF the ne
gro Is notice to the South that in
order for TAFT to win the negro vote
the Republican party intends to force
That issue in the impending campaign.
ana ns further proof OF sincerity will
attempt TO reduce Southern repre-
sanitation in Congress and the Elec-
toral College.
Representative John Sharp VIII
liains. Democratic leader In the House
gave out the following statement:
i nave not seen anything equal 20
the Ohio Republican state platform
since read DR.. Warren's Ten Thou
! sand Year when Tittlebat Titmouse
! ran for Parliament upon the celebrat-
cd platform promised Tittlcbat's con
stituents TO give everything without
taking anything from anybody
| Years ago" Mr.. Williams contin-
ncd. II said there was not n man who
loved the South, her institutions and
her civilization and who wanted to
guarantee her future who would not
he willing 10 consent to reduction OF
southern representation, il her OPP
ponents would act frankly with us
and repeal the Fifteenth Amendment;
but that II was unfair To hold us to
the Fourteenth Amendment unmodi.
fled by the Fifteenth, while still main
Itainink In legal force the Fifteenth.
a proposition to reduce Southern re-
presentation under the Fourteenth
Amendment accompanied with the
charge that the South is dlsfranchis-
Ing the negro rs n negro. and with
tho statement that that Ia the reason
lof the course taken, amounts to say.
ing that the Fifteenth Amendment is
imperative or should not be enforc-
ed. If SO. 1t ought to he repealed.
After the passage of the Fifteenth
Amendment. whereby the South wa.
forbidden to dlsfranchlse anybody or
account OF race. color or previou,
coalition OF servitude. II lies in nc
mans mouth to say that any Southern
state does diatranchisc anybody Oh
either OF these accounts. without pro
viding his statement. The statement
cannot be proved, because 1t Is abso
lutely false. The Fourteenth Amend
ment left the Southern states with the
option for each state TO let the ne.
groes vote or not. as II chose; bu
II 1t did not give all of them tho RICH
to vote 1t would be subjected to re.
ductlon OF representation.
'Nnvy cnn,aa out a ,olt
Ing out 4 hope 10 the ear OF the ne
gro voter TO regard that option rs
still existing, Notwithstanding the en-
actment OF the Fifteenth Amendment
and not accompanied by any sort o
promise or hope to the Southern whit,
man OF repeating the Efficient Amend
ment. a more startling piece of po
litical pcttifogglpg was never at.
tempted"
Representative Clayton. of Alaba-
ma. chairman of the Democratic eau
Gus, concurs in Mr.. Williams opin.
ion. Mr.. Clayton said lie felt slrs
that the Southern people would cheer
fully suffer reduction OF representa-.
tion in Congress- and the Electora
College II the Republicans would sub.
nit to the repeal of the Fifteenth
Amendment and the modification o
the Fourteenth
Senator Bailey. OF Texas said tina,
he believed that the Republicans. as
n resort to desperate methods to make
amends for the Brownsville incident
Will attempt 10 cut down the South:
representation. Many other Demo
Gratis discussed the question along tn,
same lines.