Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-09-29

Il party. nave seen tue wrong OIL ever
comforting this right upon them as
class; and would gladly take 1t away.
only they have not the courage to act
in accordance with their convictions.
AS matter OF fact. in this state
it is more hurtful 10 them than to
Democrats. According to the last
Presidential vote, they are far from
being the balance of power between
the Republicans and Democrats, and
the franchise could be taken away
from them without changing the re-
suits. But as between themselves,
they are the balance of power, and
their corrupt and fraudulent use of
their privilege to debauch primaries
and control conventions has done
much to build up a machine and
bring about the downfall of those
who stand for purer politics and
cleaner methods And which ele-
ment will ever feel its crushing eff
feet till il joins hands with the Dem
ocrats. and deprives the machine and
it's followers of the vote itself.
AS to the negro himself. the right
to vote is not an Unborn one. That
right in any is simply one OF policy
conferred by the State upon such OF
its citizens as wisdom may dictate,
and under the wisdom of this policy,
many are deprived OF the privilege
without the shadow of objection.
see before me many ladies OF culture
and marked intelligence Many of
them are in no manner DESTROYS OF
elective franchise. But 1t does seem
TO be the very irony OF politics that
our women, who stand for purity and
honesty and clearly methods are de-
barred from taking part in the affairs
of state, while the negro, many OF
whom have not the slightest concep-
ton of its purpose or use, are per-
mitted to debauch our ballot and con
troll our policies.
1t is the belief OF Democrats that
the negro, with few exceptions, are
not yet fit to appreciate and rightly
exercise privilege that took the
white race thousands of years TO win
and enjoy. And so believing. they do
not hesitate to stand by their belief.
The Jim Crow car is one Of ne
cessity If we care for the comfort OF
our wives and daughters who are
compelled to travel In parts OF this
state where illiterate negro popula-
ton predominates, and where they
look upon 1t as an evidence Of their
freedom and social equality to force
themselves wherever undesired-and
where from these causes, bad blood
and friction are constantly arising
between the races.
AS a result Of all this, separation
OF the races while travelling has be-
come necessary, just as IL has In your
harbershops. in your hotels. In your
opera houses, in your churches and
IN your schools, where 1t has become
an accepted condition. II is better
for both races and is not desired by
the more educated negro, But Re
publicans say that these plankg can
not be made effective or carried into
laws. In reply, ! say that should
the Democrats gain control OF the
Legislature, they can pass the Jim
Grow" law by a majority OF each
house In order TO pass a law dis
franchislng the negro as a whole, or
only certain party of them, there
must be an amendment TO our con
stitution, which must not conflict
with the federal constitution. In or
der to get this amendment, II must
first be ordered to be submitted by
two-third vote of each house OF the
Legislature. And 1t must then be
adopted by a majority vote OF all the
voters Of this state. including the
vote OF the negro himself And !
submit that any policy Of franchise
that Is so endorsed should meet with
the approval of all our citizens.
Another policy that Democrats
have always strongly favored, is that
of a better compulsory education law,
and OF free textbooks to our scholars,
as soon as the finances of the state
VIII permit. nd free textbooks
could have bee provided had not the
Republican state administration need
ed all Of our revenues and more, to
meet their unnecessary extravaganza.
Again, Democrats have always fay-
ored laws that will guarantee the
very best roads possible throughout
our state. Many Of you to whom I
speak today, know that for years,
good roads have been a special hob
by Of mine. / know of no greater
blessing along progressive lines that
could be conferred upon our people
than to give them good roads. If
elected Governor. ] shall recommend
that convict labor be used to improve
them and thereby remove It from
competition with other labor