Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1908-09-18
TRYING TO HOOD !
Wink NEGROES
Democrats Pursuing Their Osual
Double Faced Policy.
Disfranchisement In the
q South While Forming Colored .
Bryan Clubs in West.
(Trom the Baltimore Sun, Dem.)

(Trom the Baltimore Sun, DENY
General Winfield s. Hancock. who
was the Democratic nominee for Presi-
dent In 1880, declared the tariff was
principally "local question"-that Is
to say, Pennsylvania Democrat might
be protectionist for projections sake,
while Democrat In Georgia or In
Iowa might hold fast to the doctrine
of a tariff for revenue only. The Massa-
chusetts Democrat might be free
trader without reservation of any kind,
while the West Virginia Democrat
might be a free trader only with re-
spect to commodities which were not
produced by his own State. General
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 as
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 V1r-
ginla Democratic convention embodied
In its platform planks demanding GER
tain qualifications for voters, designed
to dlsfranchise many negroes. Thelr
platform also contains a declaration IN
favor Of separate coaches for white
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 to limit
his political activity by 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 Promisesp
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
fered does not appear. But II II fair
Inference that the managers have
promised to do "something 70: 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-
mand 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 dsfranchisement
law and for "Jim Grow" law. the
Democratic convention In the Twelfth
Congressional district Of Ohio adopted
q platform favoring 1.-The enactment
of laws which shall accord to all men
accused Of wrongdoing, whether SOL
diers or civilians, fair and impartial
trial and an opportunity to be heard
before conviction or punishment"
This apparently refers to the Browns
Vile incident. 1t may also have
broader meaning and more extended
application and may be susceptible OF
an Interpretation which will make
Southern Democrats open their eyes
with amaZement and possibly with ap-
prehension.
Race Question "Local 1ssueP"
There seems to be no ground for rea-
sonable doubt that the Democratic
campaign managers in the West, in the
effort to secure negro support for their
national ticket, are acting uoon the
principle that the race question is only
local issue" 1t is evident that the
South does not approve this plan of
campaign, but is powerless to check 1t.
The Democracy Of the South is in full
accord with the position taken by the
West Virginia Democrats last week.
And yet it is assumed by those who
are trying to get negroes to 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
| lem is merely local issue is calcu-
| lated to give the South much concern.
Many Democrats in that section may
question whether it is worth while to
elect Democratic president who may
open wide the door Of political oppor-
tunity to the negro.