The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-07-16
NEGROES SEE BRYAN.
Claim They arc Satisfied With
His Replies at Int ryiew.
NEGROES TO HOLD OFFICE

i
Bili 10 R-instate Negro solas~r-
Told Them That R.pabiicAns Had
shown Th-m Little Rccexns.lon.
Conference l. Called.
New York World
Bishop Alexander Walters. OF the
Methodist Zion Church. received
yesterday the report OF a committee
OF negro ciergymen and educators
who called on William J. Bryan a
and attitude toward their race. So
satisfactory were his replies consid-
cred that an organized bolt OF ne
groes from the Republican party is
being organized and open afiliation
with the Democracy arranged.
A committee is now In Denver en-
deavoring 10 have a plank favorable
to the race inserted In the Demo-
cratic platform. Bishop Walters il
arranging for a convention OF lead
ing colored men from various States
10 meet some time during July AT
Atlantic City to formulate definite
plans for political action.
The formal report, after describ-
ing the call upon Mr.. Bryan and the
preliminary talk. says:
We stated to Mr.. Bryan that
there were three things about which
the negroes were immensely inter
ested:
"First-What would be the atti-
tude of a Democratic administration
respecting the restoring of the three
companies of the Twenty-fifth infan-
try, discharged without honor by or
der of the President?
"Second-What would be the at
titude of the Democratic party to-
ward affecting public sentiment so
that the negro might enjoy the ben
eft of the ballot in Southern States,
and we might, at least, have a fair
and honest administration OF the
laws that now disfranchise the negro
in toto?
"Third-That a Democratic ad-
ministration would do nothing to
make conditions worse for the negro
than they now are, so that the negro
would lose nothing in the way of
employment In the service OF the
Federal government
Bryan's Answers.
"Mr. Bryan, answering. said that
as to conditions affecting the ballot
he was not free to discuss.
'As to the appointment OF ne
groes, they had received by way of
appointments from the Republicans
very little. His policy would be to
give the negro such recognition as
he was fairly entitled to. Personally
he believed competent and qualified
negroes should be appointed and
given recognition along with other
citizens OF the country, and where
they support the Democratic ticket
should be taken into account.
"Mr. Bryan said that he regarded
| the discharge of the negro soldiers
| without honor as an outrage; that IL
the men were guilty they should be
punished in the regular way by
court-martial or trial by civil courts.
as every citizen, black or white,
ought to have a fair trial before he
is punished in any way.
THE committee said the negro
race had further complaint TO make,
and that was that the President had
declared that il the bill pending In
| Congress to reinstate the battalion
was passed he would veto 1t, and IL
passed over his veto he would refuse
to enforce 1t. We asked IL Mr. Bryan
would give US assurance as to what
his attitude would be In the event OF
his being elected President and such
a bill was passed, and, further. II
the President had the authority To
reinstate this black battalion, would
he be disposed to act in the matter
Would Enforce Law.
"Mr Bryan replied that any man
elected President would have to take
the oath of Office to uphold the Con.
tSIitution anu CALoiCE NuC ldWSg oAI
If he was elected President and such
a law was passed he would not hest
tate to enforce 1t.
"As to reinstating the negro sol
diers, Mr.. Bryan could not say, fol
he did not know what his powel
would be. But IL the men were no
proved guilty, then the Presiden
should do all in his power to undo
the wrong that had been put upor
them.
'Mr. Bryan agreed with us tina
he would let the Southern question
alone, and turn of any question tina
may be asked having reference Il
the race question, and he would II
his speeches refer in a well-meanint
way to the duty of the President Il
|. enforce the laws passed by Congress
SO We negroes could show what 1
meant to enforce the law to rein
state our soldiers.
HE thought the campaign meth
cd of the Republican party an insul
to the negro, and pointed out hov
friendly he had always been to oul
race"
J Will Meet to Plan Campaign.
The revolt Of negroes from tn
Republican party had its inception
at Chicago Immediately after the Re
ir,hH.ou convention Rfsh0u Wal