The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-03-26

'''iiS |oliilolleS, Alaska, Ha-
wall, Philippines, etc, 4.
Total, 552.
New York, Indiana, Illinois, Wis
consln and Pennsylvania, conceded to
the 'faVorites sons" cast total of
the tavorite sons, cast a total of
Inmates will stand by Messrs
Hughes, Fairbanks, Cannon, La Fol
lette and Knox not longer than
through the first ballot. With the
nomination Of Mr.. Taft practically
assured, there will be no effort made
TO interfere with the complimentary
program outlined for the pre-emDt-
ca staes, the feeling among Mr.
Taft's friends being that in the event
OF any shortcomings on the first BAL
lot, enough second choice" siren 9Th
VIII be found to bag the game 'on
the second. The colored supporters
OF MT. TAFT are handling themselves
and the situation with GOODNESS,
Dolse and dignity, interposing no OBJ
stacles in the path of the men who
prefer other candidates. They offer
no ter-demonstrations at public
meetings, and in the papers and cor
respOndence controlled by them, they
exhibit a spirit Of fairness toward
even those who impugn the honesty
or their motives, and suggest only
that there should be a proper re-
Spect for differences Of opinion and
regard for conflict of interests be-
tween Negroes just as there is be-
tween factions of white men. The
increased strength. Of the war secre-
tary among the thinking classes of
the cu1ored people. grows more and
more apparent with the develop
ments of the past ten days The suf-
frage plank in the Ohio platform, for
which Messrs. Taft, Roosevelt and
their colOred allies in the Buckeye
state, are primarily responsible, has
bitterness engendered by the Browns
vile episode, and the generous at
tltude Of the president with reference
to the re-enlistment of the soldiers
has restored confidence in his dis
position to do the right thing by all
concerned. Secretary Taft'3 broad
gauged speech at Brooklyl in praise
OF Hampton institute and Of the
character and capacity of the Negro
race was also a fOrceful factor in
promoting the EZRA Of good feeling"
that has come to pass. Highly sig
niticant Of the growing sentiment for
the secrctary's nomination is the
number Of influential Negro jour
nails that are saying complimentary
things about him and giving him full
credit for the square-toed and Datri-
Otic stand he has taken on the great
questions Of the Gay-QueStions that
involve not only the welfare Of the
Negro, but which vitality concern
every citizen beneath the flag we all
love to honor. Prominent among the
race papers taht are disposed to treat
the war secretary with the greatest
consideration are the New York
Age, the indianapolis Freeman, the
Charleston (W. Va.) Advocate, the
Cleveland Journal, the ToDkinsville
(kyD Morning News, the Florida
Sentinel (Pensacola), tn Western
Enterprise COLORADO Springs, ColD
the Chicago Conservator. the New
port News (VaD %or, the Cincin-
natl Argus, the Rising Sun (Kansas
City, MOI, and others Of the high
est standing in the world Of politics
and literature. The men behind
them have character, influence and
are potent in business and religion.
Many others, including in the first
rank, Fortunes Freeman, edited by
the ncstOr Of Negro Journalism, r.
Thomas Fortune. have announced
that Mr.. Taft should have square
DEAL and that they would cheerful
ly support him if nominated. The
word bolt" has lost caste with Drac-
tiCal-minded cOlored men every
where, and there isn't the slightest
doubt that as far as the Negro vo-
ters can control the matter, the nom
inee Of the Chicago convention will
be the next president Of the United
States.