The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-04-16
NEGROES Will
.SU Q !. { TAFT
REPORTS 70 TIE CONTRARY.
SHOWN TO BE FFABRlcATioNs Il
PURE AND SIMPLE. e4is

WASHINGTON April q Sin tha
!5cnnvass which is now In progress for
the selection OF tlelegates to the Re.
publican, national convention much
has been said and printed regarding
the alleged opposition of negro vot-
ers TO the candidacy OF MIR. Taft.
Effort has been made TO show that
colored men in great numbers are an
tagonistic to Mr.. Taft. TINT they are
seeking to prevent the choice of del.
rgates to the convention favorable to
him, that they will refuse to sup
aort him In the convention, and fight
IS e,ectian at the polls In the event
of his nomination.
While 1t may be true that certain
agitators have made an attempt to
align negro voters against Secretary
Taft the effort has not met with SUI
cesses as certain facts and the pro-
.nonnced attitude OF the leaders of
rthe race show. AS evidence of this
1t may be cited that the First dis
trict OF Illinois which embraces the
bulk OF the negro vote of Chicago
went on record recently ms actually
!nstructing its delegates to. the ma.
tional convention to vote for Secre-
tary Taft. The Second district where
in reside majority OF the remain.
der offChipago's negro population re-
fused to Instruct Its delegates for
the States fnvorite son. and left
them free to vote for Secretary Taft
should they see fit to do so. !
In addition to this there are num-.
eroas Indications In various parts of
! the country TINT Mr.. Taft will re-
cetve the enthusiastic support Of col
ored Republicans. Intelligent negro
voters are rapidly coming to realize
that designing politicians are seek
ing TO mislead them. and they are
therefore more determined to assert
| their Independence by standing by
the candidate against whom the ef-
fort has been made unfairly to prcju-
/! dice them.
The New York age" one of the
leading negro journals In the north
In recent editorial under the cap
ton. "The Negroes and Secretary
Taft said:
! ct Is pleasing to note that there
is very strong sentiment growing
up anong colored people in all parts
Of the country In behalf OF the am
i@dfdacy OF Secretary Taft for tn.
nomination Mt Chicago in June.
Thoughtful! men have begun to study
The man and his splendid career as
they touch the life and place in the
! holy polite OF the dark races brought
under the protecting wing OF the
United States government. What he
has done for the Filipino and the
! Cuban he will do for the negro Amer
lean when the opportunity comes to
him. William Fl. Taft Is the son
Of Alonzo Taft. statesman and abo-
| litinnisi. He Is the scion of TIL"
rights for all men. and he is the
| only cabinet officer the country has
had who has ever hell up the order
| of n President for any period. how
ever brief. for any cause whatever
Colored men are beginning to appre-
ciate the full Significance Of the act
of the Secretary OF War when he held
back the Presidents order relative
TO the dismissal Of the black batal-
ion for twenty-four hours. In order
to stay the execution of it finally, II
possible"
| Upon returning home from visit
to Washington. the editor OF the To
nekn "Plaindealer" tcolored) wrote:
"our meeting with the war secre
tary and his expressions on the race
has convinced us that he will be a
friend OF the negro and the laborine
man OF this country when he takes
oath Of office March 4. 1909"
1.-THE Enterprise" Omaha. lead
ing colored newspaper OF the west
speaking of Secretary Taft's visit to
that city said: 1.-THE coloreil people
have never cherished against him
the spirit of Ill will voiced by some
OF the members OF the race. And
they fully endorse his programme OF
reform. They have confidence In his
ability and his genius OF government
and recognize in him man OF ca.
lacity who Will hold the reins of pow,
err with the grasp of statesman
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