The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-04-16
RELIGION
OF Foraker All Lost, He
Says
When He Heard Of Treatment Of
Negroes at Atlanta, the Browns
vile Afflrad and Other Hap
pcnings-Says Party Is
Not Lilly White.

Washington, d. c., April H.
Representative Henry T. Rainey
democrat, Of Illinois, got into the
Congressional Record this afternoon
a letter which he received recently
from Walter s. Thomas, of Colum-
bus, chairman Of the Ohio Afro-Am-
erican League, with headquarters at
the state capital The purport Of the
letter is that the Negroes Of Ohio
would vote the democratic ticket at
the next national election If Secreta-
ry' Taft were nominated for presi-
dent. 1t reads as follows:
Dear Sir:-Permit me, a stran-
ger, to address you this letter in obe-
dience to what l consider my duty
to the colored republicans Of the
state of Ohio. / note in the Congers-
sional eRcord of March IS, as l had
already noted in the public press on
March IS, that Representative Ban
nan, Of the Tenth district of Ohio
In a speech delivered before the
house on March IA. took occasion in
reply to your speech made few days
prior thereto, to make the following
statement:
The gentleman from Illinois, in
a speech the other day, said that the
Negroes in Ohio would vote the
democratic ticket next November and
that Ohio would go Democratic He
failed to give the Ohio Negroes cred
1T for any intelligence. The Ohio Ne
gro knows what democratic hard
times are just as we'll as the white
people do. They arc no better pre-
pared for it. than we arc and they
would suffer from it just as much, If
not more, than We would
II agree with Mr.. Bannon in this
that we are not better prepared for
a change Of administration than are
the white people, but I. disagree with
him when, he, says to Ohio and the
country that the colored voters Of
Ohio, no matter who the standard
bearer may be, will vote solidily fol
taht standard-beArer, even II he, be
MIR. Taft Or President Roosevelt Sir
the American Negroes have reached
that point in their civilized history
where they know just as we'll what
is best for them as their friends OF
the so-called dominant race variety
Lived Under Cleveland.
I'VE have had since the close OF
the civil war two democratic presi-
dents, and | am frank enough to say
to you as a republican Of the Lincoln
Garfield, Mckinley and Foraker type
that the colored people during the
two terms Of Mr. Cleveland as pres,
ident lived better IN the south social
ly, morally, finan cially and politically
than they have ever done under any
other administration. mean tc
say this, that the colorcd people were
more free from petty chickering's
caused by political chicanery on the
part Of Just such men as now sur.
round the president and try to die
tate to the colorcd people Of this
country as to whom and for what
| they should vote.
| eve have reached that point
! where we believe it Is our duty tc
emphasize our position as FREQ Am
ericans, by refusing to be led like
dumb cattle to the voting booths and
there cast our ballots for President
Roosevelt, his secretary Of war, or
any man he may see fit to support
for the nomination for the presidency
qat Chicago. We believe that a great
| Injustice was rendered our people
| by the act Of President Roosevelt In
| his summary discharge without hon
Or Of the Colored soldiers, who were
entitled to fair and impartial trial
! az provided under the constitution
| and statutes. We are not so much
drawn to the support OF any man by
| reason of our resentment along this
| line as VIC are for the reason that if
| the president can discharge without
| honor humble black soldiers, he can
commence at the head Of the army
and navy and discharge In disgrace
| the highest officer in either branch
| Of the service.
| Il want to add, in conclusion, that
the colorcd people Of Ohio and al
| over the United States, wherever
they have the free and untrammeled
right Of suffrage, will support nc
| candidate for president who does not
! stand squarcly upon the broad Drin.
| ciDleS Of justice and equality as ex.
| emDlified and typificd in the lives OF
| Lincoln, Grant and Mckinley, who
obeyed the constitution and dealt
Justly by all Americans, whether
black or white. We have almost
reached that point where we can say
| Thank God for Senator Tillman, fol
| we believe him to be at least honest
in nS expressions and we believe him
| convinced Of this one fact, that
should Secretary Tafe be nominated
for president the colored voters oj
Ohio and Of the United States, 95
per cent Of them at the least calcu.
1,,4i l.o,.