Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-11-13
JUST|F|ES The SOUTH
Senator CuIIom Says It Did
Right In Disfrancbising
The Negro.
He Believes That With Franchise
Which Means Absolute White
Supremacy the South Will
Go Republican.

Washington, D. c., Nov. 1O.-ln a
remarkable interview dealing with
President Taft's trip through the
South the venerable Senator Cullom'
of Illinois-the man who placed Gen-
.eral Grant in nomination Tor the
presidency at the Philadelphia con-
vention-declared today that the
Southern people were justified in dis
franchising the negro. This is the
first time that a national republican
of Senator Cullom's standing IN the
Republican party has made this ad-
mission.
While making this concession to the
South. Senator Cullom interjected a
very significant political observation.
He admitted that the Presidents pres
ent tour is bid for the votes OF
Southern states in favor Of the next
Republican candidate for the presl-
.dency. In support of an appeal to be
made to break the Democratic ice pro-
tecting the "Solid South" the Illi-
nois senator said:
Eliminate the negro from politics
in the South-give that section OF
the country an exclusively white bal
lot, or a franchisement which shall
mean absolute and unequivocal white
supremacy in the management OF its
whole affairs, and there's not a state
below the Mason and Dixon line
which will not be found in the Re
publican column of the electoral col
lege."
s"The whole truth of the situation, y
continued Senator Cullom, in discuss
ing the subject, "is that the South
believes in and really needs the en-
forcement of the Republican doctrine
of a protective tariff. Therefore, the
people of that section would like to
vote in behalf Of candidates-con-
gressional, national and state-who
would support such a policy. But
they are held in leash, so to- speak, by
the fear of negro domination; the fear
of colored men in Office, both of the
elective class and those appointed at
Washington.
"They are afraid of the race issue;
there can be no doubt of that. They
are constantly in a state of excite
ment over the prospect Of a colored
vote of superior. numbers, and natur-
ally they cling together against the
black man as a matter of protection
not of their industrial interests, Du'
of their personal affairs.
"eBut am satisfied" continued Sen
10
not factor in politics in the South
there wouldn't be a state in that Sec
ton which would not be in line with
our party, and which would not sup
port our candidates and their prin
ciples.
''Take a state like Alabama, for in
stance. There is a community which
possesses vast coal, iron and other in
dustries demanding protective tar
iff. With her rank states like Ten
nessee, Texas and others. They a!
want to be protected industrially
and the people are ready to join III
were it not for the negro.
'How can you blame communitie
like South Carolina and Mississippi
for instance, for voting the Democrat
ic ticket where in some sections tn
proportion of co1ored population /
ten blacks to one white? It is il
communities like these that the whit
people are afraid.
'tNow, mind you," Mr.. Cullom wen
on, ssI do not necessarily mean that
favor the total disfranchisement c
the negro. In Illinois, for instance
we have large negro vote, just a
Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Me-
Jersey and New York have. But up |
these communities it is differer
proposition. There appears to be
distinction somewhere between til
two sections in this respect, and tn
Northern colored man uses his ba
lot with wisdom and fairness. We al
satisfied with him, but it is nott
rious, of course, that the South
not.
"And if it were not for this colore
ballot in the South, the Mason ar
Dixon line would be wiped out OF e.
istence as far as politics is concerl
ed. The Democratic party, or VIII
is left of it, would then be in sorl
plight, if indeed there would rema
any Democratic party to be in al
sort of plight.
president Taft" Mr.. Cullom CO
tinued, sis showing wisdom in
Southern tour. He is big, goo
natured, whole-souled, patriotic Al
generous statesman to whom t
south or any other section may WI
and implicitly trust its absolute dc
tiny. Mr.. Taft is just now mingli