The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-11-10
TAFT TO ELIMINATE NEGRO.
IS BELIEVED TO FAVOR WHITE
BALLOT FOR THE SOUTH.
statement Made BY Senator CullOm
that Elimination OF Negro Vote in
this Section Would Wipe Out the
Democratic Party and that the
Time Is Ripe for this Step is
Thought to be In Accord with the
Opinion OF the President.

Opinion OF the President.
Washington, ID. c., Now, Per-
sons close to the ADMINISTRATION regard
the statement made here today by
Senator Collom. of Illinois, that the ell
limitation of negro in the South would
mean the immediate control of that
section by the Republican party as
being the real sentiment of the Pres
ident on this subject. The Illinois sem
| ator Is close to Mr.. Taft In fact, he is
one of the Presidents valued consellors
and political advisors, the fact that he
rarely ever appears in print and has
little to say on public matters, leads to
the belief here tonight that his state
ment indicates the real mi,iI of the
President since the latter's tour of the
country.
Eliminate the negro from politics
In the south--give that section of the
country an exclusively white ballot, or
reimbursement which shall mean
absolute and unequivocal white supre-
macy in the management of it's whole
affairs and there is not a state below
the Masons and Dixon's line which
VIII not be found in the Republican
column Of the electoral college," Sen
ator Cullom said. 1.-The whole truth
OF the situation" he continued. "is
that the South believes in and really
Leeds the enforcement Of the Reputli-
can doctrine of protective tariff.
Therefore. the people Of that section
would like to vote in behalf of cam
didates-Congressional. national and
State--who would support such a po-
licy. But they are held in leach. SO
70 speak, by the fear Of negro domin-
alton; the fear Of colored men in Of
nee. both OF the elective classes and
those appointed at Washington. They
are afraid Of the race issue; there can
be no doubt that they are constantly
In state Of excitement over the pros.
pect OF colOred vote of suprior num-
bers, and naturally they cling together
against the black man as a matter of
protection. not Of their Industrial in
terests, but Of their personal affairs.
But l am satisfied" continued Sem
ator Cullom, that IL the negro were
not a factor in politics in the South,
there wouldn't be State in that Sec
tion which would not be line with our
party" and which would not support
our candidates and their principles.
Take State like Alabama, for in
stance. There is a community which
possesses vast coal. iron and other in
dustries demanding a protective tariff.
With her ranks States like Tennessee.
Texas and others. They all want to
be protected industrially, and the peo-
pie are ready to join us were it not
the negro. How can you blame COM
munities like South Carolina and Mis-
sissippi for instance for voting the
Democratic ticket when in some Sec
tions the proportion of colored popu-
lation Is ten blacks to one white? It
Is In communities like these that the
white people are afraid.
Now. mind you," Mr.. Cullom went
on. II do not necessarily mean that
1 favor the total disfranchisement OF
the negro. In Illinois, for instance,
We have large negro vote, Just as
Ohio. Indiana. New Jersey and New
York have. But up in these communi.
ties 1t is different proposition. There
appears to be a distinction somewhere
between the two sections in this re-
spect. and the Northern colored man
uses his ballot with wisdom and fair
ness. We are satisfied with him. but
IL Is notorious. Of course, that the
south Is not. And II it were not for
this colored ballot in the South, the
Mason and Dixon line would be wiped
out Of existence as far as politics IS
concerned. The Democratic party. or
what Is left or it, would then be in a
sorry plight, IL indeed there would re-
main any Democratic party to be in
any sort Of plight.
"Of course. the President doesn',
intend to surrended any principle. but
at the same time he is willing to make
concessions to the Southern people
commensurate with any fair sense Of
justice. And likewise does not intend
20 eradicate the Mason and Dixon
line. In my opinion he is Just the
man for that task, and If he doesn't
accomplish it to a certain degree at
least. shall be sadly mistaken. That
line must be wiued ont at Gonna oro or