Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-04
THE COLORED VOTE.
Taft Managers Await Brownville Re
 port With Fear.

l
 Washington, D. C., Feb. Alp t certain point the Taft and anti-Taf managers as to the southern vote il the republican national convention are identical. Beyond that they art widely different.
 } The point of agreement is in some
 what late conventions in the south
 The anti-Taft managers are desiriou'
 of deferring conventions because the!
 cannot hope to do anything now il
 that section and because they are hop
 ing that a change will come in af'
 fairs, either through luck or acci
 dent or as result of some mission
 ary work they are doing.
 The Taft people feeling, that they
 have everything we'll in hand in the
 south, are purposely requiring their
 leaders down there to put off until
 along in April the holding of conven-
 tions. Their purpose appears to be a
 commendable one, according to in
 side information received from men
 from that section. They want to se-
 cure large lineup of delegates from other parts of the country before they call upon the south to get on
 the wagon. The conclusion has been
 reached that the country will not
 relish the nomination of man by the
 southern vote and without a major
 ity of the votes from states that gave electors to the republican ticket.
 Briefly, the Taft leaders hope first to secure at least half the votes from the west, east and north. Then they feel they can ask the south to do business with enough delegates to control affairs. It is pointed out that Harrison was nominated the second time by the southern vote and disaster followed.
 The Taft people have in view the fact that it would be exceedingly bad policy to have the southern states tumbling into line during February and March ahead of other states. | They know that, backed by the fed eral officeholders, it would be con- paratively easy to bring about almost immediate conventions in the south | and the election of Taft delegates. But that would look as if the big stick had been waved and the boys at the pie counter made to deliver in a hurry. No, that would be bad politics. Besides. it is hoped to give the southern men an object of Taft strength by showing them how wes- tern and northwestern states are fal- ling in line, which will keep the men keyed up with anxiety to get on the Taft wagon. Unless the Taft plans go astray there will be a comfort able string of states on the list by April. The number of votes landed will be large enough to impress the emotional southern as we'll az others above the Mason and Dixon line. Then Is when the net will be cast for the southern fish.
 Senator Foraker and the anti-Taft people understand the motives of the Taft leaders and feel that they will be able to checkmate the opposition Senator Foraker Is holding back the report of the senate committee on the Brownville affair because he feels sure that 1t will arouse the negroes in the south, force them to run over he white office holders and take ,harge of conventions. electing anti Taft delegates. In fact. the white office holders realize that 1t will be iifieult to hold the negro in if he s again aroused on this question. l. s now well known that the senate committee that investigated the 3rownville incident has been ready O report for some time. but Senator 'oraker has been absent in Ohio yreat deal and he is not ready for he report to come out. The report trough democratic support, will put he blame upon the negro soldiers enatOr FOraker knows that. but a trong minority support will be sub. nitted and this report is likely to ave great effect in the south. It is eclaTed that arrangements are un- r Ter way to placard the south with 1 Opies of both reports or extract. rom them. The negro will get all hat he wants to arouse him. Soonl fter will follow quick work on inc art of the antl-Taft people. They -ill advise the negro to turn out everywhere and overthrow the white saders and pie counter boys and run he conventions in the fnteres. of hIsi :, -iends Will the negro do it? Many V elieve that he will and there is |, nown to be some fright in Taft uarters over this possibility. TrI | uard against it everything possible being done in adEance.
 It Is declared that white men ipi aeh southern state who have faileS } get patronage will be placed fin large of the onslaught of the black rigades They will manipuIats. lings 90 that If they do not eoutrnIl . le regular conventions they uiui old rump conventions and send asla- stes to the national convention.
 An increase m nusInexs 1