Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-09-23
TRYING TO HOOD
Wink NEGROES
Democrats Pursuing Their Usual
Double Faced Policy.
UNFOLDING Disfranchisement In tho
South While Forming Colored
Bryan Clubs in West.
(From the Baltimore Sun, Dem.)

(From the Baltimore Sun, Dem.)
General Winfield S. Hancock, wht
was the Democratic nominee for Presi
dent in 1880. declared the tariff was
principally local Question''-that /.
to say, Pennsylvania Democrat might
be a protectionist for projections sake
whlle a Democrat in Georgia or in
Iowa might hold fast to the doctrine
OF tariff for revenue only. The Massa.
chusetts Democrat might be a free
trader without reservation of any kind
while the West Virginia Democrat
might be a 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 it 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
local question upon which the Demo-
Gratis of each State were free to act
with regard chiefly to local interests
The principle which he then formu-
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 a declaration in
favor of separate coaches for white
and negro passengers on railroads The
West Virginia Democrats not only re-
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 disfranchis-
Ing law and to bring him under the
operation of Jim Crow" law when he
travels on the railroads of that State.
What are the PromisesP
Out in Nebraska and in Kansas the
Democratic campaign managers are
organizing negro voters into Bryan
.lubs. In Ohio no effort will be spared
70 secure the support of the negro
'oters for the Democratic national
clket. What pledges have been given
md what inducements have been Of
erred does not appear. But il is fair
inference that the managers have
to do something for the ne
no." perhaps to recognize him ip the
distribution Of Offices, II Mr.. Bryan
hould be elected, and also to take
UGH action as the negroes may de-
nand in respect to the reinstatement |
4 the negro battalion dismissed from
lie army by President Roosevelt for
he attack on Brownsville Last week |
vhen the West Virginia Democrats
Tere declaring for a disfranchisement |
aw and for "Jim Crow" law, the |
Democratic convention in the Twelfth i
district of Ohio adopted |
platform favoring "the enactment |
( laws which shall accord to all men
ccused of wrongdoing, whether SOL
iers or civilians, fair and impartial
rial and an opportunity to be heard |
efore conviction or punishment"
his apparently refers to the Browns
lille incident. 1t may also have a
reader meaning and a more extended
pplicatiOn and may be susceptible Of
u Interpretation which will make
outhern Democrats open their eyes
18th amaZement and possibly with ap-
rehension.
Race Question local Issuep"
There seems to be no ground for rea-
unable doubt that the Democratic
linpaign managers In the West, I'm the
fort to secure negro support for their
ational ticket, are acting upon the
'inciple that the race question is only
local issue" 1t is evident that the
)uth does not approve this plan of
mpaign, but is powerless to check 1t.
ne Democracy of the South is in full
cord with the position taken by the
est Virginia Democrats last week.
nd yet it Is assumed by those who
e trying to get negroes to support {
+. Bryan that the South will act in
arty cooperation with the Ohio, Ne
aska, Kansas and Illinois Democrats,
no are welcoming the negro into free |
llowship in the Democratic party
d probably promising to annul the ;
cision Of President Roosevelt i'm the
'ownsviile matter. The theory OF
estern Democrats that the race prob
II Is merely local issue is calcu- {
ed to give the South much concern.
any Democrats in that section may /
estion whether IL is worth while to l
CT Democratic president who may \
en- wide the door Of political oppor. Z
lity to the negro. \