The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-03-11
TAFT. !.
GIVES HIS IDEAS ON RELATION,
IS BtaaWEDN AT SOUTH
Thinks a Stronger, Feeling Exists be-
tween Element OF Both Races, ana
Cridcises Ar!~srts;pnt a. %eE..c,
In Violently Hostile Communities,

81 -f<| t@f.> ~, ~ - .&tn a. ~ ~ ~ =,
49, ,.,.- ~ -. g g. i x, TX =
II look forward with hope to 4n--
Ecreasing. the already good feeling
kbetween the South, and the other
Esscrions of the country My chief
purpose is not to- effect a change In
Ethe electoral vote OF tina, Southern
states That is q secondary consid-
Feration. s..' j., 2,> Z. H. :
What I look forward to is an In
crease In the tolerance. OF political
views OF all kinds and their advo-.
cacy. throughout the South and the,
existence OF a respectable political
opposition In every; state; even more
than this. to an Increased. feeling
on the part Of all the people In the
South that this Government is their
Goverpment, and that It's offiters In
their States are their offieerfs, -
The. consideration OF this question
cannot, however, he complete and
a.EaH :vwsVn8 sra ference to- the Negro
trace, its: progress add its !preaeut
condition. The thirteenth amend,
Iment SECURED them freedom; the
fourteenth amendment due process
!, of law, protection. of property and
the pursuit OF happiness, and the
fifteenth amendment attempted to
secure the Negro against any depri-
walton Of the privilege to vote be-
cause he swas q Negro. 49, = - =, !.
!. The thirteenth and fourteenth
amendments ! have been, generally
enforced and have secured the OBJ.
jects for which, they. were Intended.
l,While the fifteenth amendment has
not been generally observed in the
Ep16t, 1t ought to be- observed and,
the tendency Of Southern legislation
today Is toward the enactment. Of
electoral Qualifications which shall
square With that amendment. TX ~ =;
OF course, the mere adoption OF
CONSTITUTIONAL law is only one step
tjn the right direction. 1t must be
Fairly and justly enforced as we'll.
In time both will come. j, Hence it
lis clear TO- all that the nominations
aof. an ignorant, irresponsible Gle
fment, can be. prevented by constitu4
tional. laws which shall :. exclude
from !. voting *, both: Negroes and
whites not having education or
other qualifications thought to :: be
necessary fog4 q. proper electorate. :
r. ~ Race Situation Discussed, Z!
| I: The danger Of the control Of an
ignorant electorate has therefore
passed, With this change the inter
est which, many : of the Southern
Ewhite citizens take in the. welfare, OF,
the Negroes has. increased. !: The
Icolored men must base. their hope.
Lon the results otstheir own industry,
lsSlf RESTRAINT, thrift and business
ksueGess; as well as upon, the ala and
Ecomfort and sympathy which they
Iphay receives from their white, neighs
Ebors OF the South. - ~ ',jzH ~
I, ;? There; was a time when, North
Eefiers who .aympathize with Il the
ENesro an his; necessary struggle for
Esetter conditions sought to giyejto
Ehim the suffrage as a protection and
VITO. enforce its exercise against the
Epreyailihg n4irpent sof, hls&Sshuth.&
K The movement proved to be- a
Failure. what Amains is. the, At
Heettth amendment td |dhe Sconst i{auz g
Efiof and the right to have statutes
kof states specifying qualifications for
ELECTORS submitted to the test So1rtt
Epliance with, the amendment. This
tis D great protection toxthe Negro.
at alfe9erEwi1E be repealed, and It
meyer ought to be repealed. .l";e ~ !;
e. IT IT. had not been passed, It might
kbe difficult now to.adopt 1t; but with
TT In our fundamental law the policy
Eof Southern legislation must and will
Etend to obey,it, and so long ias, fhe
Estatutes Of the states meet THE test
for this amendment and are not other.
Swise in conflict with the. constitu,
~ irf, 4. IA t.,a ~ JTSiklA