The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-09-23
TRYING TO HOOD
WINK NEGROES
Democrats Pursuing Their Usual
Double Faced Policy.
UNFOLDING Disfranchtsement Tn the
South While Forming Colored
L Bryan Clubs in West.
trrom the Baltimore Sun, Dem.)


was the Democratic nominee for Presi-
dent in 1880, declared the tariff was
principally local question"-that 10
to say, Pennsylvania Democrat might
be protectionist for projections sake,
while 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 free trader only with re-
Epect to commodities which weSe not
produced by his own State, S&aeral
Hancock's pronouncement 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 50
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 it's platform planks demanding GER
tain qualifications for voters, designed
to disfranchise many negroes. Their
platform also contains declaration In
g. = 70 a1hn= NT~tH{
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 70 limit
his political activity by a 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 Prcmisesp
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
! and what inducements have been Of
I fered does not appear But II IN ralr
Inference that the managers have
promised to do something foc the L =
gro" perhaps to recognize him In the
distribution of Offices, II Mr.. Bryan
should be elected. and also 70 take
such action as the negroes may de-
mand in respect to the reinstatement
OF the negro battalion dismissed from
tie army by President Roosevelt for
the attack on Brownsville. Last week
when the West Virginia Democrats
were declaring for Acknowledgement
law and for Jim Crow" law, the
Democratic convention in the Twelfth
Congressional district of Ohio adrpte5
q platform favoring the enactment
OF laws which shall accord to all men
accused of wrongdoi g. whether sol,
diers or civi,inrs. a fair and Impartial
trial and on opportunity TO be heard
before conviction o. p,!A.s-Dc'.t.'
This apparently refers to the Erowns-
vile incident Ii may also have
broader meaning and more extended
application ard may he susceptible CT
an Interpretation which viii make
Southern Democrats open their eyes
with amazsment and possibly with ap-
prehension. "a. 44- -. 1S>
Race Question "Local TssusP"
There seems to be no ground for rca-
sonaDle doust that the Democratic
campaign managers in the West, Ia the
effort to secure negro support for their
national ticket, are acting u1on the
principle that the race question is only
local Issue" 1t is evident that the
South does not approve this plan Of
campaign, but In powerless to check 1t.
. The Democracy Of the South 10 In full
} accord wira the position taken by the
West virg.aia Democrats last week
Aud yet it ID assumed by those who
are trying to get negroes to support
Mr.. Bryan that the South will act In
hearty cooperation with the Ohio. Nc
braska, Kansas and Illinois DeSlocrse-,
who are welcoming the negro into free
fellowship In the Democratic party
aud probably promising to annul the
decision Of President Roosevelt In the
Brownsville matter. The theory of
: Western Democrats that the race prob
lem II merely local issue 10 calcu-
latsd to give the South much concern.
Many Democrats in that section may
question whether it Is worth while to
J elect Democratic president who may
open wide the door Of political oppor-
tunity to the negro.