The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-04-15
TAFT SUPPORTED
BY NEGRO VOTERS.
In MANY STATES

Washington. April 15.--In the con
vass which Is now in progress for the
selection OF delegates TO the R-publ'
can national convention much has
been said and printed regarding the
alleged opposition of negro voters to
the candidacy OF Mr.. Taft. Effort has
been made to show that colorcd men
4, great numbers are antagonistic ia
Mr.. Taft, that they are seeking To
prevent the choice of delegates to the
convention favorable to him, that they
will refuse TO support him In the con
ventlon, and fight his election at the
polls in the event OF his nomination.
While II may be true that certain
agitators have made an attempt TO
align negro voters against Secretary
Taft the effort has not met with sue
cess as certain facts and the pro
nounccd attitude OF the leaders of the
race show. As evidence of this II
may he cited that the First district OF
Illinois which embraces the bulk of
the negro vote of Chicago went on
record recently as actually instructing
its delegates to the national conven-
ton to vote for Secretary Taft. The
Second district wherein reside a ma
jority of the remainder of Chicago's
negro population refused to instruct
it's delegates for the states favorite
son. and left them free to vote for
Secretary Taft should they see fit 20
do so.
In addition to this there are num-
crous indications IN various parts of
the county that Mr.. Taft @lll receive
the enthusiastic support Of colored
Gepublioans. Intelligent negro vot-
ers are rapidly coming to- realize that
designing politicians are seeking to
mislead them. and they are therefore
more determined to assert their indie
pcndcnce by standing by the candi-
date against whom the effort has been
made unfairly to prejudice them.
The New York Age" one OF the
leading negro journals In the north IN
a recent editorial under the caption
The Negroes and Secretary Taft. 4"
said:
"It Is pleasing TO note that there Is
very strong sentiment growing NJ
among colored people In all parts of
the country IN behalf Of the candidacy
OF Secretary Taft for the nomination
az Chicago in June. Thoughtful men
have begun 10 study the man and his
splendid career as they touch the life
and place In the body polite of the
dark races recently brought under the
protecting wing OF the United States
government. what he has done for
the Filipino and the Cuban he will
opportunity comes to him. william
" Taft Is the son OF Alonzo Taft.
statesman and aboltionist. lie Is the
scion OF the stock that has always
stood for equal rights for all men. and
he Is the only cabinet officer the coun-
try has had who has ever held up the
order of president for any period,
however brief, for any cause what
ever Colorcd men are beginning 10
appreciate the full significance of the
act of the secretary of war when he
held back the presidents order rcla-
tive TO the dismissal of the black bat
talon for twenty-four hours, in order
20 stay the execution OF 1t finally, "
possible"
Upon returning home from visit
10 Washington. the editor Of the To-
poka "Plaindealer" (colored) wrote.
"Our meeting with the war secretary
and his expressions on the race has
convinced us that he will be n friend
OF the negro and the lal,oring man OF
this country when he takes the oath
o. office March 1909"
"The Enterprise" Omaha. lead
ing colored newspaper of the west
speaking of Secretary Taft's visit to
that city said: "The colorcd people
have never cherished against him the
spirit Of III will voiced by some of the
members of the race. And they fully
endorse his program of reform. They
have confidence in his ability and his
genius of government and recognize
in him man of capacity who will
hold the reins of power with the grasp
OF statesman.