Semi-weekly herald., 1908-09-24
TRYING TO HOOD
WINK NEGROES
Dsmssrats Pursuing ThsiS Ussaa
Double Faced Policy.
vyAslding DisfranshissAsnA In tie
South While Forming oelsrsA
Bryan Clubs In West.
(Trom tn. B.ltinor. su., Den.)

(From the Baltinors Sun, Dsm.)
0ensral Winfield .. Kancodk, who
was the Democratic nominee for Presi-
dent in 1850. declared the tariff was
prinoipally 4 "loeal qusstion"-that II
y say. Pennsylvania Democrat might
~ a pretsctionist for protsction's sake,
while q Democrat in Georgia or In
Iowa might hold fast to the doctrine
It tarir for revenue only. The Massa-
ohusstts Democrat might b q free
trader without reservation Of any kind,
while the West Virginia Democrat
might 10 q free trader snly with re-
spect to commodities which were not
produced by his own State. General
Hancock's pronouncsmsnt vas consid-
cred an ingenious evasion Of the tariff
issue, but 1t did not produce harmony
in the Democratic party, and the gen
sral was defeated.
Twenty-sight years have passed since
General Hancock defined the tariff a.
4 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 its platform planks demanding GER
tain qualifications for voters, designed
to disfranchise many negroes. Their
platform also contains q declaration In
favor Of separate coaches for white
and negro passengers OH 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 to limit
his political activity by disfranchis-
ing law and to bring him under the
operation Of "Jim Grow" law when he
travels on the railroads Of that State.
What are the Promisssf
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 boen Of
fsred does not appear. But It IL fair
Inference that the managers have
promised to do "somsthing for the ne
gro." perhaps to recognize him In the
distribution Of Offices, If Mr.. Bryan
should be elected, and also to take
such action as the negroes may de-
nand In respect to the reinstatement
Of 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 dlsfranchisemsnt
law and for a Jim Grow" law, tho
Democratic convention In the Twelfth
Congressional district Of Ohio adopted
a platform favoring the enactment
Of laws which shall accord to all men
accused Of wronEdoing, whether SOL
disrs or civilians, q fair and impartial
trial and an opportunity to BE- heard
before conviction Or punishment."
This apparently refers to the Browns
Vile incident. It may also have
broader meaning and 4 more extended
application and nay bs susceptible Of
an Interpretation which will make
Southern Democrats spsn their eyes
with amaxsnsnt anl Dessibly with ap-
prshsnsion.
1ass Question "Lseal IssusW
Thsrs seems to ~ ~ ground for rss-
ssaabls doubt that Ne Democratic
campaign nanaGsrs in the West, In the
s6srt 70 secure negro support tor their
national ticket, are acting xosa the
principle that the race question = only
local issue" 1t 10 evident that the
South does not approve this plan of
campaign, but il powsslsss to check It,
The Democracy sf the South IL in full
accord with the position taken by the
West Virginia Democrats last week.
And yet 1t il assumed By those who
are trying to sst negroes 10 support
Mr.. Bryan that the South will act In
hearty cooperation with the Ohio, Ne
braska, Kansas and Illinois Democrats,
who are welcoming the negro into free
fellowship In the Democratic party
and probably promising to annul the
decision of President Roosevelt In the
Brownsville matter. The theory of
Western Democrats that the race prob
lsn is merely 4 local Issue is calcu-
lated to give the South much concern
Many Democrats In that section may
question whether 1t is worth while to
elect Democratic president who may
open wide the door Of pelitioal oppor-
tunity to the negrs.