New-York tribune., 1908-12-08
EDUCATIONAL
QUALIFICATIONS.
Tells North CaroIiniaHs Suffrage
Ld1cs Are Just If They DO
Not Discriminate.


negro problem facing the South.
Mr.. Taft made it clear that he believed tbs
Individual Southern states had the constitutional
right to enact such suffrage laws the people
Of those states demanded through their legts-
Iatures so long as the laws themselves did not
discriminate between the white man and the
black man. He made it clear that the South
would have to fight out and solve its own racial
problems without aid from recourse to tbs
federal government; that it must rely upon tbs
constitutional rights Of it's states. He said that
there need be no fear that in any way social
equality between the two races could be en-
forced by law brought about by political
measures. for ''the federal government has noth-
ing do with social equality
Emphaticaly the President-eIeCt stated his
position the question Of the repeal of the FIJI
tcenth Amendment The proposal To repeal
that amendment" said he. is impractical bis
and should be relegated to the limbo Of forgot
ten issues"
The negro Mr.. Taft argued should ask Moth
ing more than equal chance with the whits
man to qualify himself for the right Of suffrage.
and If he fails to measure I'D to the standard
by the election laws Of various states. as
surnfng that these laws are not discriminatory.
he have nothing to complain Of
FAvORs BROAD EDUCATION.
Primary and industrial education for ths
masses of the negro race. Mr.. Taft said. would
be one of the greatest factors in eliminating ths
race question. He emphasized the necessity Of
educating the negro. and also brought out tHs
fact that ultimately the great burden OF sdu-
eating the race must fall on the South This
Southern man. he said. he believed the
negro's best friend. The great interest tbs
South was taking. he said. in the development
of the negro was one Of the most encouraging
reasons for believing that the problem would BE-
solved. Moreover, Mr. Taft said that he saw
that the views Of the Northern and Southern
men on this question were coming together mors
and more.
Judge Taft slipped into the banquet room with
his brother Henry w. Taft. unnoticed- In fact.
it was several minutes before the diners knew
he had arrived and then they let out all OF their
pent-up enthusiasm. and the room rang with
cheer after cheer for the President-elect- Ths
North Carolinians stood up and yelled them
selves hoarse. Finally Mr.. Taft had TO rise and
acknowledge the applause
Walter H. Page. who presided as toastnaster.
proposed a toast to the President OF the United
States 1t was drunk standing. and the mention
of the President aroused applause
The dining room was decorated with cotton
bolls and masses of pine boughs and cones
Eight negro singers from the Hampton Institute
sang old Southern melodies. ard the playing 81
Dixie moved the diners to u.boUnded enthu-
sIasm.
In introducing MI Taft Mr. Page said that
Southerners had long been much distressed over
the continued soIidity of the states of Maine.
Vermont New Hampshire and Pennsylvania not
for the sake Of the Democratic party but for
the sake OF greater freedom OF political action
by "our unfortunate fellow citizens who dwell
there" Continuing in the same vein. he said
by the same token he would welcome the i'm
pending and inevitable breaking up of the solid
South. for not until then would the South play
oIdtime influence and prestige. He ended his
introduction with this toast:
To the President-eIect- May his administra-
tion mark the return of Southern character and
sincerity TO its Oldtime part in the constructive
work OF government and the end forever OF
political isolation from the achievements and
the glory of the Union.
MR. TAFT'S SPEECH
Amid turnuItuous applause Mr. Taft rose to
speak When the cheering subsided he said
Mr. President and Gentlemen Of the North
Carolina Society 1 am glad 10 attend this DIN
ner During my last four years stay in Wash
ington / have met many people from the old
North State, and OF their distinguishing
qualities has been that they all carry in their
pockets statistics Of the marvellous growth q
their industries and the wonderful array OF their
resources II would be invidiOus for me to say
that this or anything In the speeches tonight
tends TO rob the state Of its reputation for mod
esty.
no fences and of making each cattle owner look
after his own. gives pretty good indication 0f a
desire 10 attend to its own business and to make
that business as prohtable and successful as
possible.
North Carolina presents an admirable type Of
the present conditions in the South IL offers.
therefore. a suitable subject for the discussion
planned for this evening, and l count IL priv
iIege to be present 10 hear it, One in any degree
responsible for the government and welfare OF
the whole country at this time in her history
must take an especial interest in the trend OF
public opinion and the conditions, material and
political OF the South
The laws OF the United States have equal
operation from the Canadian border 10 the CUR
Of Mexico. Congress has representatives from
whose votes are recorded on national legislation
Railroads do not break bulk between North and
South. Interstate commerce goes on unveXed
be- tween the and the other The POStOfuce
Department distributes its mail with impartial
ftv on each side OF Mason and DixOn's line Pros
perity in the North is accompanied by prosperity
in the South, and a halt IN the one means 4
halt in the other. Northern people meet South
ern people and ind them friendly and charming
and full Of graceful and grateful companionshIp.
WHY ANY DIVISION"
What is it that sets the South apart and takes
which the members OF a republic ought t. share
in respect TO the conduct of the national gov
eminent Why is IL that what is done at Wash
ington seems to be the work OF the North and
state OF affairs continue" These are the queS-
tions that force themselves those OF US con-
ccrued with the government and who are most
anxious to have solid. united country OF whose
will the course of the government shall be an
intelligent Interpretation and expression
We answer these questions as the his
turap would. and We can explain the situation
IL is. but don't think can Justify or en-
CuSs 2 continuance of ~. Looking back into
the past Of course the explanation 81 The differ
ente between the south and the other tvO sec