New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-04
ATTACKS MIR. TAFT
OYER NEGRO PROBLEM
Er-GOuern0r Winston " ants
South To BE Let Alone.

Francis d Winston, Ex-Governor OF North
Carolina. discussed the negro question al
the dinner of the North Carolina Society
at the Hotel Astor last might In long
speech he attacked President Taft, who. ne
said. MAS not fully informed on the negro
question. and ceDsdred him for writing
letter during the recent campaign In Mary
land. IN which. The Ex-Governor said. MI
Taft gave the impression that the adoption
OF the amendment by the voters in Mary
land was TO be the signal for an attack IN
the courts"
The dinner was presided over by Junius
Parker president of The society. VINO. be-
fore introducing the speakers. proposed
standing toast To our honOTed guest OF
last year. referring TO President Taft, who
was the guest of the society at the last
dinner. Mr. Winston then rose 10 speak on
Jhe subject, Let Us have Peace or
President Tafts presence at the dinner last
year he said:
We rejoiced when the newly elected
PresiOenl OF the niIeu States accepted
Your invitation. We IOOk II as evidence OF
Ills sOou VIII toward the Southern people
ia general, ana toward our state IN par
ucuIar. We did not expect the fresldent
10 discuss our particular suffrage cofol-
lions. but We iooAe0 l0r SOME cheering 81
terances. some sympathetic WORDS We
knew that ne was not Iuuy informed on
that subject We knew that ne had heard
IL at long range. We knew, too, that the
Presioent-elecI was man OF keen judicial
mind ana that ne was not Ihely 10 dis
cuss a question ne did not Know thor
Oughly.
We were not disappointed. either in what
ne said or in what ne did not say. We
were charmed with his speech and de-
lighted with his presence. quote MS
language:
The negro should ask nothing other
than an equal chance to qualify himself
for the franchise. and when that Is grant
ed by Law and not denied by executive dis
of
The Southern people accepted that utter
ance as a tnal'ty on the subject and We
went about our business. But very re-
Gently the President has written with some
heat on this subject. AS you recall, the
state OF Maryland was recently considering
an amendment on the same line with all
those heretofore adopted by eight southern
states. During the campaign the Presi-
dent injected a letter which was too direct
in its language not 10 convey the impress
sion that the adoption Of the amendment
by the voters IN Maryland was 10 be the
signal for an attack in the courts
Mr.. President, that letter has given US
more concern in North Carolina than pos
sibly the occasion justified. Mind you. 1
writing Propriety forbids that and other
forums are open. We could but contrast
the utterances of the President with the
course pursued by several OF his no less
The statement was freely made that the
adoption OF the Maryland law would bring
on the tight, and a Richmond paper scored
our Maryland friends for unwisely, as IL
said. putting the grandfather clause In
their amendment. thereby imperiiling all
OF the Southern suffrage amendments.
rejoice that no such complaint went up
from North Carolina, who will never ask
a sister state 10 bear evils OF which she
has complained. and which she has cast
on. for fear that the success OF that SIS
clal. racial and political disorders North
carolina would spurn peace secured ct
the expense OF a sister state.
North Carolina Is content 10 have this
whole matter taken TO the courts and she
invites a rigid criticism OF her conduct
under all conditions. We shall insist. how
the world know the facts and the South
has no fear OF results
The South is engaged in its own recon
structl0n- The process goes on from with
In When applied from without II has
failed Men have essayed TO reconstruct
the South from without In every case
this has involved destruction OF some
thing within.
At a session Of the National Civic Fed
GRAFTON Secretary Root was one Of the
speakers Several speakers had undeviat-
tngly declared for national legislation as
a means OF remedying Ills and evils One
declared for governmental control OF in
sUrance companies. another wanted the
scope Of the employment liability law
broadened, or compensation law In the
interest " AaluiAlto OF miners VINO IGAl VIC
Tins 10 accidents, and still others had dis
cussed various topics in the same trend.
when Mr.. Root was introduced He said:
This country Is too great. It's interests
too complicated and its daily affairs OF too
great a range 10 be under the government
al Washington. Let the government exer-
else its powers TO the fullest constitutional
limit but don't let US, in our anxiety for
efficiency, cast away, break down or re-
Ject those limits that are 10 US the con-
troll OF our homes, of our domestic affairs,
OF our local governments, for there. under
the protection Of our great nation. must
be formed the character of free, liberty
loving citizens.
Whether North Carolina has one mem
Der Of Congress or ten in Washington Is
OF secondary concern The primary Ques-
ton Is: Has she peace and law and order
al home?
In the name of the millions invested IN
der the security Of our laws, in the name
Of our two million happy. contented and
prosperous people in the name OF the
three-quar tiers Of a million negroes. jusJ
taking their first steps IN civilization and
feeling their nrst response btlities as citi-
zens OF a great state, l ask that North
Carolina be let alone until some subsuan-
tial grievance. backed by the intelligent
statement Of those who have a right TO
complain, goes UNDECIDED Then II viii be
time enough for others TO speak.