Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1908-10-16
FARMERS REPLY TO
CRESS.

~ 3 y ! E
for the Negro contingent in the
city of Chicago at $3.50 State
street. The leading spirit in
this movement seems to be DR..
Henry C. Cress, who is chairman
Of the advisory committee. It
Is not how many positions DR..
Cress fills in this august body,
but is has been limited that DR..
Cress and one other constitute
the strength of the Bryan move
ment among the Colored people
in the city of Chicago. The sta
tionary that they send out bears
this strickingly inconsistent
motto and heading. The motto
is with malice toward none bnd
charity for, all" The heading
Is "Cook County Executive Com
mittee-The Lincoln Loyal
League" This executive has
been doing all it can to attract
attention, even to the extent OF
attempting to disturb Repub-
lican meetings by misses and I'M
gentlemanly Interruptions. I'm
able to secure an audience of its
own, they struck upon the novel
plan by which their chairman
hoped to secure an audience
through the assistance of the Ma
tional Republican committee.
With this brilliant idea in mind
DR.. Cress sent challenge to Mr..
Walter N. Farmer, a member OF
the speakers bureau, of the Ma
tional Repu blican committee Tor
Joint discussion. Below is the
Honorable Walter NJ. Farmers
answer to this challenge.
Oct , 9th, 1908.
DR.. Henry G.. Cress,
Chairman, National Execu'
tive Committee,
Negro Anti-Taft League,
Chicago,
Dear Sir:
Your communication
Of Sept 80, embodying a chal-
lenge to a joint debate on the
following subject, ''Resolved
that the success of the democrat
ic party, in the pending election
through the aid of the Negro
will prove more advantageous to
him than the success Of the of
the Republican party" has been
received. Believing as do that
there is only one side to the re-
solution you suggest, | cannot
accept your challenge. It is diff
ficult for me to believe that you
are serious in your contention
that the Negro has more to gain
BY supporting the party of Bry-
an, Ben Tillman and Vardaman,
than in supporting the Republi-
can ticket. l believe that the
Negro man who advises the race
to support the democratic party
this critical part in. our history
lis either too reckless in his con-
clusions to be trusted as leader
or is at heart absolutely indiffer-
ent to the best interest of his peo-
pie. Entering such convictions
therefore, l cannot and will not
. lend my support to any move
merit that tends in the remotest
degree to mislead the Colored vo-
tiers of this country. Our people
are showing an increasing inter-
est in the serious questions that
confront them. We believe that
never before in the history Of the
race in this country has a nation
al election meant so much to them
as the one TO take place Noven1-
Der 2rd., next. We are persuaded
therefore, that every man OF the
race who is seriously interested
in its welfare and future will
carefully weigh the situation be
fore attempting to advise any I'M.
tried aud UNUSUAL course for our
people, perchance there should
be one Of our race who has not
thurs carefully considered, clam
:Iy and seriously, the best inter-
ests Of the race, then he must
be dangerous leader. If through
Provid snce or opportunity any
!. one Of US is given advantage over
the rest Of our fellows. It is our
duty to use the power thus gained
,lin the service and interest of our
race. We oweit to them, there
fore. rot to be hasty in Judge