The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-04-04
G0L0RED MAN
for DELEGATE
Is Strongly Advocated BY State
Librarian and the
Advocate.


cessful newspaper published in
Charleston by the eolored race In
their interest In particular and the
state and nation in general. has
started q strong agitation for coiored
representation from West Virginia In
the Chicago convention, and this
weeks issue contains the following
editorial. written by S. w. starks. coll
ored, state librarian, who died Fri
day:
That was a capital suggestion of
the Pioneer Press that the Negroes
Of West Virginia make a determined
effort to secure fuli hedged represen-
tatlon 1t the Chicago convention, and
the Advocate takes pleasure, not only
in seconding the motion, but also In
placing IN nomination a candidate for
the honor.
But once in the history OF the Re-
publican party In West Virginia has
1t ft to send a Negro to a ma
tionai convention in any higher ca
pacity than that Of alternate-an
empty honor. Though. during its
darkest period-for years ana years
the black man constituted the bulk OF
It's strength and Is even now the de-
Gliding factor in all state and many.
municipal and county elections, one
district delegate to a single national
convention has been the only recogni-
ttfon he has racafvad
For President Roosevelt there were
cast in West Virginia, In 1904, 132,-
$50 votes; Of these, placing the Ne
gro population at 55,Oo0-a conserv-
alive estimate, there were 10000 Me-
groes who voted the Republican tick
ct. Allowing for the large Demo.
cratic vote, which Nj. Roosevelt UNI
doubtedly received, 1t would be safe to
assume that the Republican party in
West Virginia is one-tenth colored.
Inserting the probe a little deeper,
what would have been the fate OF the
state ticket if the Negro voted would
have been cast s6lidly for he Demo-
cratic Instead Of the Republican tick
ct? The governor of the state would
now be a Democrat; the majority In
the legislature would be Democratic;
and the vote for the other state Of
ficials would have been so uncom-
fortably close as to have made it
child's play for a Democratic legisla-
ture to call two 'twe"-abbreviation
for twelve-and count in their whole
ticket.
Since the state has a delegation of
fourteen in the Republican national
convention, is It too much for the Ne
gro to expect at least one? Can the
party-lf there be anything at all in
Its pro~testations of a 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 con-
stables-is a Negro. No mar OF color
holds even a clerkship in a city or
county office. and in the state govern
ment we have but six places, all ap-
pointiye. above that of ianitor; while
three of these are members of
boards. And, yet, "muzzle not the OK
which treadeth u 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
deserve 1t, one representative among
the big four. For the benefit Of those
who think We aim too high, in addi-
ton to the reasons above stated, is
cited Kentucky, which, with ,condi-
lions almost ,%paralleling those In this
state. comedies a Negro delegate at
large as a matter OF course. Mary
land has her Negro delegates, and the
states from further down are repre-
sented by delegations OF equal proper
portions OF white and colored men.
The Advocate does not ask this
honor for a curbstone politician nor
FOR one Of the peanut variety. It has
a decent respect for the opinions or
mankind. The man it is Of
our best. He lacks neither in culture
nor refinement. He is a son OF Yale
and has given Of his time and means
for the success of the Republican
party as much, in proportion to his
ability. as other men claiming the
same or higher honors. Or. f. II.
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 favors at the
hands Of the party and that Is one OF
the reasons we name him. Then,
again. we know that he whether nom
ored or not, will support the Chicago
nominee as unselhshly as he has all
others. His position is not such that
he cannot afford to take an active
part in the campaign, lest he leopard
lie his personal interests. and II he
pnfnrE Tho aghA -