The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-11-11
TAFT TO ELIMINATE NEGRO
Is BELIEVED TO FAVOR WHITE
BALLOT FOR THE SOUTH.

Is BELIEVED TO FAVOR WHITE
BALLOT FOR THE SOUTH.
Statement by Cullom that Elimination
of Negro Vote Would Wipe
Out Democratic Party.
Washington, D. c., November T.
Persons close to the administration
regard the statement made here to-
day by Senator Cullom, of Illinois,
that the elimination of negro in the
South would mean the immediate con-
troll Of that section by the Republican
party as being the real sentiment of
the President on this subject. The
Illinois Senator is close to Mr.. Taft.
In fact, he is one of the Presidents
valued counsellors and political ad-
visers. 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 statement indi-
Gates the real mind 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 exclusive white ballot,
or reimbursement which shall mean
absolute and unequivocal white su-
premacy in the management OF its
whole affairs and there is not State
below the Mason and Dixon's line
which will not be found in the Re-
pulican column of the electoral col
lege," Senator Cullom said. "The
whole truth Of the situation" he con-
tinued, "is that the South believes in
and really needs the enforcement Of
the Republican doctrine of protec-
tive tariff. Therefore, the people of
that section would like to vote In be-
half of candidates Congressional,
national and State-who would sup
port such a policy. But they are held
in leash, 80 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.
there can be no doubt that they are
They are afraid of the race issue;
constantly in a state of excitement
over the prospect of colored vote of
superior numbers, and naturally they
cling together against the black man
as a matter of protection, not of their
industrial interests, but Of their per-
sonal affairs.
South Afraid of the Negro.
"But I am satisfied" continued
Senator Cullom, that if the negro
were not a factor in politics in the
South, there wouldn't be State in
that section which would not be in
line with our party, and which would
not support our candidates and their
principles. Take a State like Ala
bama, for instance. There is COM
munity which possesses vast coal,
iron and other industries demanding
q protective tariff. With her rank
States like Tennessee, Texas and
others. They all want to be protect
ed industrially, and the people are
ready to join us were it not for the
negro. How can you blame COM
munities like South Carolina and
Mississippi, for instance, for voting
the Democratic ticket when in some
sections the proportion of colored
population is ten blacks to one white?
It is in communities like these that
the white people are afraid.
'tNow, mind you," Mr.. Cullom went
on, "I do not necessarily mean that /
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 COM
munities it is a diffeffrent PROPOSE
tion. There seems to be distinction
somewhere between the two sections
in this respect, and the Northern col
ored man uses his ballot with wisdom
and fairness. We are satisfied with
him, but it is notorious, of course,
that the South is not. And If 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 of 1t,
would then be in a sorry plight, If
indeed there would remain any Demo-
cratic party to be in any sort of
plight.
ss4 President Ready to Act?
Z ..Of course the President doesn't
intend to surrender 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 he intend
to 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 certain degree at
least, shall be sadly mistaken. That
line must be wiped out at some era
or another; that much is certainty,
and I can't see why there should be
any logical reason why the proper &C
ton could not come right now. There
are several States in the South sim
ply ripe for falling into the Republi-
can column. reiterate that it is the
negro vote that is holding Dixie land
aloof from the Republican count in
the electoral college. Erase that OBJ
iectionable vote and this country will
be unit politically, as it now is
patriotically.