The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-04-02


ton a candidate for, the honor.
But once in the history Of the re-
publican party in West Virginia has
1t seen fit to send a Negro to a nat
tonal convention in any higher cana
city than that Of altcrnate--an emp
~ honor. Though, during its dark
est pcriod-for years and years
the black man constituted the bulk
OF its strength and is even now the
deciding factor in all state and many
municipal and county elections. one
district delegate to a Single national
convention has been the only rccog-
milton he has received.
For President Roosevelt there
were cast in West Virginia, in 1904
1872 $40 votes: Of these. placing the
Negro population at 55,O00-a con-
s"rratirr cstimatc--thcrc were 49,
600 Negroes who voted the republic
can ticket. Allowing for the large
democratic vote. which Mr. Roosc-
welt undoubtedly received it would
be safe to assume that the republic
can party in West Virginia is one
tenth colorcd.
Inserting the probe Il little deeper,
what would have been the fate of the
state ticket. if the Negro vote had
been cast solidly for the democratic
instead Of the republican ticket?
The governor Of the state would now
be O democrat: the majority in the
legislature would be democratic;
and the vote for the other state Of
Dcials would have been so uncom-
fOrtably close as to have made it
child's play for a democratic legisla-
turc to call two "twe''-abbrcvia-
tiCn for twelve-and count in their
whole ticket.
Since this state has a delegation
Of fourteen in the republican nation
al convention, is it too much for the
Negro to expect at least one? Can
the Darty-if there be any thing at
all in its protestations Of square
deal-afford to ignore this modest
request? To the dominant portion
Of the party goes every state Office
No county oficial-barring, Of
course, justices Of the peace and
cOnstaDleS-is Negro No man Of
color holds even a clerkshiD in a city
or county office, and in the state gov
eminent We have but six places. all
appointive, above that of janitor;
while three Of these six are members
Of boards. And, yet. "muzzle not
the OK which treadeth out the corn"
Having set forth. we hope, clearly
the causes which impel our request
and the justice of our position, we
ask, not as a favor but because we
the big four For the benefit of
those who think we aim too high,
in addition to the reasons above stat
ed. is cited Kentucky. which, with
conditions almost parallelng those
in this state, comedies a Negro dele
gate at large as matter of course
Maryland has her Negro delegates.
and the states from further down
are represented by delegations Of
equal proportions Of white and col
ored men.
The Advocate does not ask this
honor for a curbstone politician nor
for one Of the peanut variety. 1t
has decent respect to the opinions
of mankind. The man it proposes
is of our best. He lacks neither in
culture nor refnment. He is a son
Of Yale and has given Of his time
and means for the success Of the re-
publican party as much, in proportion
to his ability. as other men claiming
the same or higher honors Dr.. II.
r. Gamble, of this city. for whom
We ask the support Of the delegates
to the state convention and the party
at large. has received no fayors at
the hands Of the party and that is
one Of the reasons we name him
Then. again, we know that he, whcth
CT hOnorcd or not. will support the
chicago nominee as uEsclfiShly as
he has all others. His position is
not such that he can not afford to
take an active part in the campaign,
lest he jcODardize his personal inter
csts, and If he enters the fight he
may be depended upon to keep the
faith till he finishes the course.
EOR SHERIFF OF FAYETTE, II.