The Washington herald., 1908-05-06

convention selects either President R0Ose-
welt or Secretary Taft as the partys can
didate in the Presidential race.
In letters addressed 10 the "allied can
didates," Vice President Fairbanks,
Speaker Cannon. Senator Knox. and Sen
ator Foraker. by Rev. J. Milton Waldron,
F. D., president of the National Negro
American Political League of the United
States, the purpose Of this Organization,
which is out to fight the candidacy OF
either Roosevelt or Taft. is fully dis
closed.
The organization. which has opened
headquarters in Washington has for the
past nine months been perfecting a cam
paign which is TO be waged to the end
tnat the negro shall be impressed with
the idea that the salvation OF his race
and his own best interests demand that
he shall vote against Taft or Roosevelt"
The letter sent to Messrs. Fairbanks
Cannon. Knox. and Foraker is dated
April 3. It's contents were given pub
hcity yesterday. The letter breathes of
negro hatred of Taft and Roosevelt. and
gives notice to the party that If either
is nominated the national ticket will be
defeated this year. thus endangering Re-
publican supremacy in the House and
possibly reducing the Republican ma
1ority in the United States Senate.
Comprises Many Societies.
The National Negro American. Political
League. according 10 the communication
Of its president, Is composed Of the Afro
American Council the Niagara Move
ment the Negro Independent Civil and
Political League. the New England Suf-
frage League. the Negro Suffrage Broth |
erho0d Of America. and the Boston Suf-
frage Society.
Among It's officers are these prominent
negroes:
Gurley Brewer Indiana Rev Byron Gunner I . /
D. New York =. T. Morris Massachusetts,; Rev. /
l. c. Jordon, D. D, Louisville, Ky: william /
Monroe TrottUr esq, Boston Mass; Rev. S. l. !
Corrothers d. D. Hon George II. White Phi'a- /
celphia, Pa; Granville r. Martin New York /
Bishop Henry NJ Turner. d. d. George H. Wood /
son. esl., IoWa; W. A Hawkins. esq Maryland 1
W. I. Ferguson Washington, D. C.
The executive committee of the league
is composed of.
Rev J. Milton Waldrun. District Of Columbia:
Bishop Alexander Walters New York, Rev George
" Lee. District Of Columbia: ". A Hawkins 1
Maryland, A II. G-imke Massachusetts; William /
Monroe Trotter Mass; Bishop j. s. Caldwell {
Pennsylvania: Rev. Garrett r. Waller Maryland 4
Res. z. ". Moore Pennsylvania; Rev E. L. /
Gllaim. Ohio: ]. K. Clih0Ed. West Virginia.
The letter announces that the National /
Negro American Political League was or
ganized 10 defeat the nomination Of
Roosevelt or Taft by arraying the /
negroes of the country against them. /
Their effort will be TO convince every
negro delegate 10 the Chicago convention
that the salvation Of his race and his
own best interests demand that he shall
vote against Taft or Roosevelt.
some OF It's Aims.
In Waging its campaign against the
President and the Secretary of War the
league announces that IL purposes
To arouse the women Of the race 10 the necessity
Of defeating Taft or Roosevelt
To use the churches 10 which the cOlorad people
belong and their pastors to the SINE end
To hold public meetings Throughout the Uaited
state TO protest against the nomination Of Taft or
Roosevelt.
It viii attempt. further. to convince the
negro that the triumph of Roosevelt or
Taft means the triumph of Lilly White
ism ana the ultimate elimination OF the
negro in politics both North and South
In the coming campaign, should Roose-
fDt~ u -oAL DC AI4A4lutEQs LllC league VIII
have meetings OF protest in those North
ern and Western States where the ne
groes hold the baIasce Of power polit-
cally, notably In Delaware, New York. !
ONO, Indiana, Connecticut, Illinois, and
Kansas
Il is proposed 10 hold a series OF meet
ings protesting against the nomination of z
Roosevelt or Taft in Chicago. beginning
ten days before the meeting Of the Repub-
Acan national convention. q
Ninety per cent of the cOlOred vote [
will be cast against the Republican ticket S
II either Roosevelt or Tart is nominated
the letter says. This is bound to have Z
Its effect also upon the Congressional
nominees. The letter continues:
Are Republicans. :
we are by training and inclination Re- r
publiCans. and as such our race does. not
desire TO part company with the party.
But it has come to a point now where it
is a matter OF life or death. If We can
live and have the rights guaranteed TO us
under the Constitution respected by the
Republican party, we shall vote the Re y
publican ticket If not We shall vote q !.
against II.
The negroes IN the South are practi-
cally without the ballot Ninety per cent
Of the race in the North and West have a,
come 10 the conclusion that their rights Of
will not be safe IN the hands Of Mr. "
Roosevelt or Mr.. Taft and We think it is oi
q question OF self-preservation. It is
either defeat Roosevelt or Taft or die az
politically. And ii we must die. we pro " "
pose 10 die hard" -
The negroes connected with the Ieague n
give notice that they cannot be dissuaded
from their course by Booker T. Wash hs
ington, William T. Vernon, Of Kansas, the til
negro Register Of the Treasury, and for th
mer Gov Pinchback. Of Louisiana, who =
are supporting Secretary Taft. These ~
men, the league points out, know all
about political conditions in the South. an
but they are unfamiliar with conditions pu
affecting negroes in the North. NJ
It is recalled that at a conference of an
negro Baptists recently held in Washing / as
on, 1000 delegates were In attendance. ~
An effort made by Washington and Yer -,
lon 70 induce the conference to indorse ~
Taft failed. There are 2500.Ooo negro tiv
3aptists communicates In this country" AT
he letter says: We are in a position wa
o state that the sentiment among them an
-gainst Taft and Roosevelt has increased,
atheF than decreased"
Refer to Brownsville. WI
Reference Is made to the Brownsville DO
Incident as follows: THE discharged # 81
legro soldiers win never be able to get gre
'ack into the army without stultifying A
themselves" The letter concludes with q q
he declaration that white Republicans ~ -,
ave not been aroused TO the danger that ssi
0nironts the party ny reason Of the dis ON
OF the negroes he
While the Taft r7anaears a.. 4,,.,,~., the
al far nj a.
ountrv uiI swing int ft-s- 80. =. on
icket has bee..- nominated at Chicago m lll