Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-24
Winning the Colored Vote for
Secretary Taft.
THE PRESIDENT Confident
Believes That the Recalcitrant Are
Being Persuaded.
AS TO THE LABOR ELEMENT
Satisfaction Expressed as to the
Sentiments Entertained - The
Third Term Declaration.

President Roosevelt IL confident that
the negro vote Of the country will De as
solid for Secretary Taft. IL re Is nomi-
mated. as it has always been for the re-
publican nominee. He is receiving infor-
nation. directly and indirectly. going 10
show that there is far. less feeling among
the negroes than there was few months
ago; that the natural tendency to be with
the winner is at work among them. and
that not only will they support Secretary
Taft in November. if he is the republican
candidate. but will make comparatively
little objection to his nomination at Chi
cago. For long time after the Browns
vile affair and the Presidents subsequent
order dismissing the colored soldiers the
feeling among the negroes was intense.
Negro leaders who had been ardent sup
porters Of the President fell awav from
him. and some Of these. notably a num-
Der of colOred bishops Of the large
churches. denounced the President in SER
mons.
Visits of the colored leaders to the
White House ceased altogether. and II
looked as If the negro voters had really
determined to pursue an independent
political course. Then some OF the faith
full began quietly TO restore harmony
This task was intrusted to Booker Wash.
instOn. who has for years kept the Presi-
with the negro race: w. T. Vernon. reg
iste- of the Treasury: Charles Anderson
the negro collector of internal revenue in
New York city: Ralph Tyler. the colored
auditor for the Navy Department. and one
or two others. Register Vernon. said to be
the most eloquent negro speaker in the
United States. has borne the brunt Of the
work. That he has been succeeding is
shown by the fact that In the last fev
weeks he has been taking to the White
who have been cordially received by the
President. They have again pledged their
support to the President and his policies
and their devotion to the republican party
an'i its nominees at Chicago.
Winning the Colored Vote.
Vernon first began work out in his own
state Of Kansas. where he gradually
brought the colored vote around to q
quiet support of Taft. AS q reward he
was elected delegate at large to Chicago
Nick Childs. who is. next to Vernon, the
most influential negro in Kansas. was
one OF the first to pledge himself to Taft.
He came on here and saw the President
Childs went to Kansas from South Caro-
lima and in a few years had made for
tune. Vernon was at the White House
y
M. e. Church. New York. who declared
that the negroes would be for the repub-
lican nominee. no matter who he IT, and
that they were grateful to President
Roosevelt for what he has done for them.
Bishop Gaines Of Georgia, Bishop Gin
ton and Bishop Hood Of Zion NJ. e
Church. all men OF great influence with
their race. are out in support or the al
ministration and Secretary Taft. John
r. Hawkins Of North Carolina: DR.. II. T.
-, a1>A ALL 1Sy{n ho
the local District leader. as well as Whit.
field Mckinley of the District. are all
working for Taft. The most notable
change among prominent negro politicians
10 ex-Gov. Pinchback Of Louisiana. Sew
eral months ago he Joined hands with
ex-senator Chandler OF New Hampshire
in appealing to the negroes OF the south
to rise and smite Taft and anybody else
smiled upon by the President. Having
seen the handwriting upon the wall. ne
put to work aiding Vernon and Washing
ton.
The Labor Vote.
AS to the labor vote. the President Is
convinced that 1t will be no menace to
Secretary Taft when the campaign opens.
Some quiet work is being done among
the labor leaders. and 10 said to be turn
ing out satisfactorily. The President does
not believe that the labor vote can find
any genuine objection to him. and the
only objection it has to Secretary Taft il
on account of rulings made years ago
when on the Ohio bench. Since that
time and during his ofhcial career with
the Mckinley and Roosevelt administra-
tons he has shown no hostility to labor
Secretary Taft is credited with the ap-
pointment Of John 8. Leech. an honorary
member Of the International Typograph-
ical Union, public printer. having rec
commended him TO President Roosevelt.
Both the President and Mr.. Taft are said
to feel that the labor vote can be ap-
pealed to by argument after the nomi-
nation Is made. At any rate. they are
satisfied with the way things In the labor
camp are going.
The Third Term Declarations.
At recent private dinner President
Roosevelt is said to have declared with
heat that there was no chance for . mis-
understanding as TO his third-term decla-
rations. repeating that ne considered 1t
an Insult to continue talk of this kind in
the face OF his determination.
Senator Daniel and Represents tive
Glass of Virginia called on President
Roosevelt today and invited him TO at
tend the state fair Of Virginia, to be held
early in October at Lynchburg. Follow
ing his usual cours, the President was
compelled to decline.