The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-05-14

delegates who are being instructed
for him directly during the present
wek-the last Of the delegate hunt
ing campaign. The number elected
at this writing Is S52; the number
yet to be- elected is 1913. The num-
ber instructed for the "allies' Is
227; 72 are subject to contest.
AS the day Of the convention
draws nigh it is gratifying to note
the general sentiment Of the race,
through the pulpit, the press and
sidewalk conversation, that the Me-
gro. will stand by the republican par
ty, as against the democratic party
no matter who the nominee at Chica-
go may be. There isn't q candidate
mentioned for the republican nomi-
nation who can be justly charged
the colored people There isn't a.
democrat who can be nominated who
would not owe his political life to the
bourbon democracy Of the south, and
who would not be compelled to en-
dorSe the disfranchisement, lynching,
peonage, jim-crowing and other per-
secut1ons to which the race is being
subjected. Even If they exist under
the rule of the republican party in
the nation. It must be remembered
that these Outrages are protected be-
hind the stone wall Of states rights
and cannot be reached by the federal
power at this time. Yet, the repub-
l1cans of Ohio. Illinois, Rhode Island
and other states have filed protests
against all forms of Discrimination
practtced by the bourbon south, and
IT. Is not doubted that the same influ-
enees that wrote the .plain-spoken
suffrage plank in Ohio and other
states will asee to 1t that the Chicago
convention goes on record In the
same unequivocal fashion. Press
agents may write glowingly Of this
candidate and that, but the fact re-
mains that the sensible Negroes are
going to stand by the man who is
the choice of the country and place
themselves IN position whereby
they will have claim upon him
when they come forward to ask con-
sideration for the race. The republic
can nominee will stand upon a plat
form condemning every form of civil
and political prescription, based on
color, creed Or condition The dem
ocratlc party, to which certain sem
| sat1onal agitators advise The Negroes
TO bolt dare not hope for success,
save through fraud practiced against
the race in every known form. 1t
is not difficult for the thinking Negro
TO choose today whom he will serve!
The Washington Star, the clear
| est-Visioned Caucasian journal at the
| capital, strikes a keynote in discus
sing the attitude Of the Negro toward
Judge Taft. The Star says:
"a confident contention of the on
ponents Of Judge Taft is that his
nomination would cost the republi-
cans the bulk Of the Negro vote north
or the Mason's and Dixon's line.
Nothing, 1t is asserted, will wipe out
| or even modify the effect of Browns
VILE on the colored people, They
| nave Judge Taft associated with the
president in the dismissal of the Ne
gro battalion, and only, await an op-
portunity to show their feelings at
Che polls Some Of the
| ablest colored leaders have advised
them IN case of Judge Taft's nomf-
nation either to take to the woods or
vote the democratic ticket. But will
this advice continue after Chicagoq ?
And If it does will it affect a large
number Of voters when polling day
| arrives?"
| Inc Star, after asking these lead
ing questions goes on to argue:
The intelligent Negro whose vote
| Is received and counted understands
that the contest fog control is ber
tween the republican party and the
! democratic party. One or the other
Will win in November. No other Dar-
ty VIII nave a ghost Of a chance. If
therefore, the Negro takes to the
| WOODS, he will aid the democracy
II he votes the democratic ticket, ne
Will aid 1t all the more. Will he aid
IT at all? tits hundred to one that
| were Mr.. Bryan member of the SEN
ate ne would support the president in
| the Brownsville business. AS the
| leader OF his party he endorses the
acknowledgements Of the south, and
IS willing to accept the unconstitu-
t1onaI electoral votes those measures
nave produced. He is against the en-
| torcement Of the constitution on that
subject. How then would the Negro
be benefited by helping 70 bring Mr..
! Bryan into power What would
what could Mr.. Bryan do for him in
return for his support? In effect,
therefore, the proposition is that If
Judge Taft Is nominated the Negroes