Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1908-09-23
TRYING TO
HOODW|NK NEGROES
Democrats Pursuing Their Usual
Double Faced Policy.
UNFOLDING Disfranchi sement In tho
South While Forming Colored sry an
Clubs In West.

Clubs In West.
GFrom the Baltimore sun Dem.l
General Winfield S Hancock. who
was the Democratic nominee for pres
! ident in 1880. declared the tariff was
principally local question"-that is
! to say, Il Pennsylvania Democrat
| might be prOtectionist for protec-
tion's sake, while Democrat I'm Geor-
| Sia or in Iowa might hold fast to the
! doctrine of tariff for revenue only
The Massachusetts Democrat might be
free trader without reservation OF
any kind, while the West Virginia
Democrat might be free trader only
with respect to commodities which
were not produced by his own state.
General ilancocks pronouncement
was considered an ingenious evasion
OF the tariff issue. but it did not pro
duce harmony in the Democratic par
". and the general was defeated.
Twenty-eght years have passed
since General Hancock defined the
tariff ms local question upon which
the Democrats of each state were free
10 act with regard chiefly to local in
terests. The principle which he then
formulated seems to have been adopt
ed 10y Democrats in the west in re-
spect to the relation of the Democrat
ic party TO the negro Last week the
West Virginia Democratic convention
embodied in It's platform planks de-
handing certain qualifications for
voters, designed to dsfranchise many
negroes. Their platform also contains
n declaration in favor of separate
coaches for white and negro passen-
gers on railroads. The West Virginia
Democrats not only refuse to hold out
the olive branch to the negro and in
vite him into their fold, but they are
determined to limit his political activi-
ty by DISTINGUISHING law and ia
bring him under The operation of a
Jim Crow law when he travels on
the railroads of that state.
What Are the Promises?
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
ana what Inducements have been of
iered does not appear. But 1t is fair
inference that the managers have
promised to do something for the ne
gro" perhaps to recognize him I'm tbe
distribution of offices. If Mr. BRYAN
should be elected. and also TO take
such action as the negroes may de
mand in respect TO the reinstatement
or 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 disfranchisement
law and for a Jim Crow law the
Democratic convention In the Twelfth
congressional district of Ohio adopted
Il platform favoring the enactment
OF laws which shall accord to all men
accused of wrongdoing. whether sol
diers or civilians. fair and impartial
trial and an opportunity to be heard
pelore conviction or punishment"
This apparently refers to the Browns
VlIIe incident. 1t may also have
broader meaning and a more extended
application and may be susceptible of
an Interpretation which will make
southern Democrats open their ewes
with amazement and possibly with an
prehenslon.
Race Question Local Issue7,
There seems to he no ground for rea
sonable doubt that the Democratic
campaign managers i'm the west. i'm the
eHort TO secure negro support for their
national ticket, are acting upon the
principle that the race question is only
q local issue" 1t is evident that the
south does not approve this plan Of
campaign, but Is powerless TO check II
/ The Democracy of the south IS I'm full
accord with the position taken bv tho
, west Virginia Democrats last week
And yet II IS assumed 10y those who
are trying TO get negroes to support
MT. Bryan that the south will act I'm
hearty cooperation with the Ohio Ne
braska, Kansas and Illinois Democrats
VINO are welcoming the negro into free
Fellowship in the Democratic party
ana probably promising To- annul the
decision Of President Roosevelt i'm inc
Brownsville matter. The theory Of
western Democrats that the race prob
lem is merely a local issue Is cnlcn
lated to give the south much concern
Many Democrats I'm that section may
f.. question whether 70 Is worth while 10
elect a Democratic president who may
open wide the door Of political oppor.
UNITY TO The negro