Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-09-08

cial conditions and would not be
benefited by the downfall OF any
individual unless he placed himself
directly in opposition to the reforms
we are advocating. If DR.. Hatfield
is opposed to conditions as they now
exist he can DO much to correct the
evils complained of. The Leader
has had it's say; We now give space
to DR.. Hatneld's defense OF explana-
tion. The Leader can AFFORD to be
just. II has exposed conditions as
they exist. and the truthfulness of
its exposures have not been den,ed
DR.. Hatfield does not deny them;
he only denies that he was aware
that such conditions existed.
He attempts TO explain his pres
ence at Northfork on the morning
after the raid. after the prisoners
had been bailed for their appear
ancc at Welch Calhoun said the
doctor was one OF his powerful
VIII tie friends who had come to his
rescue i'm answer to n telephone mes
sage. Calhoun may have been boast
ing. At any rate we would rather
believe the doctor than notorious
negro criminal like Calhoun. even
though n has been so often and so
signally honored by the Republican
machine. OF which the doctor is a
powerful factor.
The Leader has never accused Or.
HAITI Id of being a party to the fear
full cOndit ons at Keystone. but II
did accuse him OF being a stumb-
ling block in the way of any reform
of those conditions. Fearful OF los
ing control over the horde OF ne
die. he permitted the negro Calhoun
to call him up, visit n i'm at his home
and came with him to Northfork
on Sunday evening following the
raid. He joined with Calhoun and
Whyte In demanding the removal OF
J.. c. Felts as a deputy sheriff, Felts'
only offense being that ha dcaused
disruption Of the Republican par
ty in making the raid. The Leader
does not for a moment believe that
DIR. Hatfield has any more love for
Calhoun or any other negro that
the editor of the Leader has. But
the doctor is willing TO show him a
consideration and comTadeship that
is abhorrent to the Doctors nature
in order that he may swing his vote
as he pleases. Under ordinary cir
cumstances such conduct would not
do any harm. possibly; but when
the party has forced on it such nom
nations as have been made this
year it becomes serious. When the
negroes Of Keystone. grown AFRO
giant by reason Of the hattery show
cred upon them by white politicians
dominate every district convention
in the county by carrying their vot-
ers from district TO district, to secure
OF a man who is shown to encour-
age and practice social equality and
outrage law and decency is pandering
TO the dcpraved element OF the col
ored race the element engaged in
politics for revenue man who is
engaged I'm selling liquor on Sunday
and every other day in violation Of
the law as was shown by his mem
bership i'm the Union Political and
Social club; when a man who en-
couraged Mary Miller in her vii
famous work Of Turing young white
girls TO her dens Of vice, where they
become the most degraded slaves
ina snable. suffering every indhg-
nifty and being forced to submit to
the attentions OF such beasts as Cal
houn. can be nominated for an ex-
a,tcd office without a voice to DO
raised I'm protest: whom these same
negroes can be used at will TO foist
on the people as candidate for gov
crnor who is willing 20 promise
the mme operators immunity from
the operating Of the state mining
laws and defeat the will Of an over
whelming majority OF the white
vote: when witnesses who know. or
are supposed TO know, af the condi-
tiOns as they exist at Keystone can
be- arrested on trumped mp charges
and given twelve hours to leave the
state: when these things and many
others we could mention take place
then the white politician should be-
gin to consider his responsibility TO
society and morals and break away
from his evil assoc .ates. and if hs
can secure reform I'm no other way.
we say again, he ought to join with
the Democrats I'm disfranchising the
criminal horde who have gathered
here as fugItives from justice from
many states. Take the ballot from
the negro and he will make a good
citizen. Let him hold tho ballot
as n threat over the heads Of the
politicians and he makes cringing