The Columbus journal., 1908-10-07
nYnNc 70 noop-
Wink NEGROES
Demeerats PursulaI Their Usual
Double Faced Policy.
UNFOLDING Disfranohisement In the
South While Forming Colorsd
Bryan Clubs in West.

(From the Baltimore Sun, DENY
General Winfield 8. Hancock. who
was the Democratic nominee for PIssl-
dent In 1850. declared tie tariff was
principally . local qusstioa"-that il
to say, Pennsylvania Democrat might
b protsctionist for protsctisn's cake.
while . Democrat IN Georgia or n
Iowa might hold fast to the doctrine
Of tari0 for revenue only. The Nassa-
chusetts Democrat might be q free
trader without reservation Of any kind.
while the West Virginia Democrat
might be q free trader only with re-
spect to commodities which were not
produced by his own State. General
HancOck's announcement was cOnsid-
cred an ingenious evasion Of the tariff
issue, but 1t did not produce harmony
In the Democratic party, and the gen.
eral was defeated.
Twenty eight years have passed since
General Hancock defined the tariff as
q local question upon which the Demo
Gratis Of each State were free to act
with regard chiefly to local interesta
The principle which he then fernu-
lated seems to have been adopted BY
Democrats in the West In respect to
the relation Of the Democratic party
to the negro. Last week the West vir-
ginia Democratic convention embodied
in its platform planks demanding Ger
tain qualifications for voters. designed
to disfranchise many negroes. Their
platform also contains q declaration In
favor Of separate coaches for white
and negro passengers on railroadA The
West Virginia Democrats not emily ~
fuse to hold out the olive branch to
the negro and invite him into their
fold. but they are determined to limit
his political activity BY q disfranchis-
ing law and to bring him under tie
operation Of Jim Crow" law whsn hs
travels on the railroads Of that State.
What are the Hronisese
Out in Nebraska and In Kansas the
Democratic campaign managers are
organizing negro voters into Bryan
clubs. In Ohio no effort will be spared
to secure the support Of the negro
voters for the Democratic national
ticket. What pledges have been given
and what inducements have been Of
fered docs not appear. But il II . fair
inference that the managers have
promised to do "somethiDg 70: the ne
gro" perhaps to recognize hin In the
distribution Of onlces. II Mr.. Bryan
should be elected, and also to take
such action AZ the negroes may de-
mand in respect to the reinstatement
Of the negro battalion dismissed from
the army BY President Roosevelt for
the attack on Brownsville. Last week
when the West Virginia Democrats
were declaring for a Acknowledgement
law and for a Jim Crow" law, the
Democratic convention In the Twelfth
Congressional district Of Ohio adopted
platform favoring the enactment
Of laws which shall accord to all men
accused Of wronsdoing. whether SOL
oilers or civilians. a fair and impartial
trial and an opportunity to be heard
before conviction or punishment"
This apparently refers to the Browns
vile incident. 1t msy also have .
broader meaning and q more extended
application and may be susceptible of
an Interpretation which will make
Southern Democrats open their eyes
with amaxement and possibly with ap-
prehension.
Race Question "Local IssueP"
There seams to be no ground for rea-
souable doubt that the Democratic
campaign managers in the West, in the |
effort to secure negro support for their
ticket. are acting upon the |
principle that the race question II only |
a local issue" 1t is evident that tho |
South does not approve this plan Of
but II powerless to check It.
The Democracy Of the South IL In full
accord with the position taken BY the
West Virginia Democrats last week.
Aud yet It h assumed By those who
are trying to get negroes 10 support
Mr. Bryan that the South Will oct In
hearty cooperation with the Ohio. Ne
braska, Kansas and Illinois Democrats,
who are welcoming the negro into free
in the Democratic party
and probably promising to annul the
decision Of President Roosevelt in the
matter. The Theory Of
Western Democrats that the race prob
len, u merely . local issue II calcu-
lated h give the South much concern.
Many Democrats In that section may
question whether 1t n worth while to
fleet q Democratic president who may
open wide the door Of political oppor-