The Washington herald., 1909-03-28

Southern newspapers TOOK up with great
vigor the editorial shall the Solid South
Be Shat;ered2~ which was reprinted in
The Washington Herald. having been
written by Julian Harris for Uncle Re
mus The Home Magazine. The scores
o. replies and hundreds OF letters induced
Mr.. Harris 10 write another article on
conditions in the South which appears in
the current number Of the Home Maga-
ziae. II IS as follows:
When the editorial C'shaH the Solid
South BE Shattered2') appeared in the
March Issue OF this magazine we felt
there would be an intelligent Endorsement
Of some parts OF it and fair discussion
or the phases Of Southern political eondi-
tions Il presented. We were sure. too.
that there would be in some places an
out-blazlng OF BourgOnlstlc arralgnment-
attacks and not arguments. sneers and
not replies; incidentally. we anticipated
that the majority OF TIE Southern papers
60 the editors OF whom advance proofs
OF the editorial were senO would refuse
TO print the editorial. yet assail portions
OF f.
And in none OF these provisions were We
disappointed.
But we were not prepared for the hun
dreds OF letters indorsing the editorial
without reservation. and urging that there
be no wavering IN the effort 10 give the
people Of the South an opportunity 70
read more of a discussion OF a subject 50
genuinely vital These letters came-are
still coming-from men IN and cut Of the
South but. with one exception, they were
nOt from politicians Il IS pleasant 10
find that the men who represent the real
progress. the present industry. and much
OF the big possibility OF this big section,
can accept the belief that discomfort
rightly directed is benign and can ap-
plaud a viewpoint which many regard as
radical and some denounce as Gamnable-
There were other kind OF letters
communications typical OF that Bourbon
ism under which the South has long SUI
fered and Of which Il IS fast tlring-
In discussing the position taken by the
dlssenters Il is best C select that as
sumed by one OF the ablest as wei as one
OF the most yiralent Of this Bourbon type
"a type whose influence. fortunately Tor
Georgia and the South. IS TOO narrow %
do any serious injury.
The one We choose IS selected not cnly
because he IS one OF the truest represent
atives OF type that al every turn seeks
70 throttle broad-minded progress wher-
ever he chances 10 have d hearing. but
because he Is a gentleman who is amply
able 70 take care Of himself IN an srgu-
ment; for IN bringing 70 the front this
question Ot the breaking OF the Solid
South" or the necessity OF the South con-
trolling the Democratic party. what We
need is TO hear all SIDES Of il. even when
those who oppose our opinions insist on
unRmiabIe or frenzied retort. acc0mpa-
MED by a tendency to distort.
TIE foregoing refers 20 Col c. r Pen
dleton. editor OF the Macon (Ga) Tele-
graph. Il IS his comment which represents
most completely the spirit OF that inani-
ton the South Is seeking 20 shake Of, and
az the same time quite IN keeping Is his
method OF dealing with the views that
fail 70 coincide with hts personal notion
OF Democratic teuets.
Col Pendleton refused 10 give his read
ers a chance TO see what he was stack
ing. for in his editorial there IS scant
semblance OF sn effort 20 reply 10 any OF
our assertions or expressed beliefs. HIS
failure 10 do this can be charged 10 no
IdiscOurtesy on our part Every fair effort
was made TO secure a hearing throughout
the South on this subject As a matter OF
fact, this very effort led to one OF his sew
eral displays OF waspishness-
The opening paragraph OF his editorial
Is an effort TO discredit our views by put
I ting US in the attitgde OF seeking pub
Mcity purely for the sake or nOtOriety-a
view that We cannot believe is based or
what Col. Pendletoa's motives would have
| been had he occupied our place
However. al that IS beside the question
lit IS irrelevant. Yet is mentioned because
Il is with triyialltes in company with ira
dition- trailing that your Bourbon clogs
/ the wheels OF progress Grasshoppers
I have been known 70 stop train, but for
I q short time only.
! In our editorial We said that the white
primary had slain craftsmanship IN the
/ South-ln this greatest section OF our
great country. You did not controvert
this IN your editorial. yet you did not
mention the names Of any statesmen to
day whom the south can claim Won't
YOU inform US on this2 What are your
views on the decadence-if there IS a de-
| cay. as We assert-of Southern statesman
ship?
The effects OF the disfranchisement OF
the negro were discussed in our editorial
and certain conclusions drawn Why did
you rot give US the benefit OF your riper
thought?
We charged-and repeat it-that because
the South Is solid she Is helpless-abso-
IuteIy without voice or power in the
] Democratic party. Is this true2 Is II un-
| true7 Why did you not discuss this in
you= editorial? We charged that the
South is cowardly-which means that the
majority Of the voters. the majority Of
the editors. and ali the politicians, who
| are selected TO and pretend 20 represent
the highest ideals OF the South. are cow
ardly; else the South long ago would
have shaken authority and recognition
/ from the grasp Of the hands that cats
paw her every four years IN the national
/ Democratic convention.
| We have never heard that you were
tsmid. Col. Pendleton- VIII you therefore
not give 70 the young men your views
| concerning this and let us know whether
with your acknowledged ability. accom-
panied by the experience OF age, YOU can
read courage into cowardice?
In our attitude on the subject OF the
Solid South we find We are not without
the sympathy Of men who represent the
awakening South. and we have the friend
/ ~ liberation. II not the full Endorsement,
OF several newspapers which stand for
/ - A. - co,,.b TI,ae.e -ava~c hon