The Washington bee., 1908-05-30

The Chicago convention will bring
to the fore some of the South's very
strongest colored men, and they will
have a powerful influence in shaping
the platform and naming the candi-
date of the party. Among them
might be mentioned ]. E. Bush, DR..
E. c. Morris and Scipio A. Jones, of
Nathan II. Alexander and
DR.. L. G. Mason; T. l. Grant, Gen.
Robert Smalls and E. H. Deas, of
South Carolina; ex-Grand Master
]. McFIenry Jones, Charles E.Mitch-
ell, T. N. Norris, w. ]. Thompson
and A. L. Calhoun, of West Virgin
ia; E. w. Lane, of Kentucky; J. E.
Lee, OF Florida; Charles Banks, w.
E. Mollison, Wesley Crayton and 7.
V. McAllister, of Mississippi; Wal
ter L. Cohen and A. B. Kennedy, of
Louisiana, and many others OF like
prominence in the councils of the
Republican party.
Announcement is made that Vice
President Fairbanks is to remain in
the presidential race until the bal
loting begins. He may not secure the
nomination, although he has a host
of admirers among every clement of
the party who would prefer him un-
der circumstances different from the
ones which confront the country at
this time. Nevertheless, his brilliant
will not be lost to pub
lie life. His future is assured. Ii
he will not agree to accept a renom-
ination as vice president - as de-
sired by the party at large - 1t IS
likely that he will be asked to head
the Cabinet table of President TAFT
as Secretary of State. His persona.
bent, admirable tact and wide eX-
perience in diplomatic matters fit him
superbly for such an assignment. In
any event, the popular Vice Presi-
dent will not be retired to private
life. A grateful and ably-served ma
When Negro journals Of recogniz-
ed standing and admitted national
influence rally to the support OF Sec
retary Taft it shows the utter abb
surdity of the statement of the radi-
Gals that "ninety-nine percent OF the
coiored voters of the land are op-
posed to the nomination of the Obi
oan and will swing the pivotal States
against him in November" Some
of the leading race papers giving 10y
al support to Judge Taft, or making
it plain that they will cheerfully ac-
cept the nominee of the Chicago con-
vention, are: The New York Age;
the Advocate, Charleston, w. Va;
Fair Play, Parkersburg, w. Va; the
Journal, Cleveland, Ohio; the Free
man, Indianapolis, Ind; the Conser-
vator, Chicago, H.; the Gazette, Bux-
ton. Iowa; the Enterprise, Omaha,
Neb.; the Plaindealer, Topeka, Kan
sas; the Mosaic Guide, Little Rock,
Ark; the Florida Sentinel, Pensacola,
Fla; the Tribune, Savannah, Ga;
the Standard, Lexington, KY; the
Star, Newport News, Va; the Echo,
Long Branch, N. J.; the Weekly
Press, Mobile, Ala; the American
Citizen, Atlanta, GAY; the Texas
Freeman, Houston, Texas; Western
Enterprise, Colorado Springs, Col;
the Rising Sun, Kansas City, Mo;
the Argus, Cincinnati, Ohio; the
Odd Fellows Journal, Philadelphia,
Pa; the Southern Reporter, Charles
ton, S. c.; the Forum, Springfield,
ILL.,; the Peoples Recorder, Orange
burg, S. c.; the Reporter, Birming-
ham, Ala; the Appreciator, Fort
Smith, Ark; and the Watchman,
Austin, Texas. 1t will be noticed
that every section is ably represent
ed, and that few, if any, of the edi-
tors of the papers are ofhceholders.
Such spontaneity Of opinion in favor
of Secretary Taft can be accounted
for upon no other ground than that
of sound common sense and recog-
milton of the fact that to his success
the race must look for its highest
opportunities.
AS the day of the convention draws
nigh it is gratifying to note the gen
eral sentiment of the race, through
the pulpit, the press, and sidewalk
conversation, that the Negro will
stand by the Republican party, as
against the Democratic party,no mat
ter who the nominee at Chicago may