The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1910-10-13
And Recalls the Pledge of De-
mocracy to Disfranchise
the Negroes.
.UPsETs THEIR SCHEME
Leaders Had Not Intended to
Say Anything on That Sub
ject in The Campaign.
tcharlcs Brooks smith.

CHaRL1EShON, w. Va, Oct. S.
The Lily White lss2e has bobbed
up screnely and unexpectedly in the
campaign in this state. 1t was a thi..v
almost forgotten and it would mot
have been thought OF but for the Hon.
George Byrne. Of this city, whose ar
dent campaigning OF negro disfran-
ehisement was responsible for writing
plank to that effect in the Democrat
&c state campaign OF 1908. Mr.. Byrne's
recalling Of that pledge touched on
boom In the Democratic camp, and in
terered with plans that the Democrat
ic managers had mapped out and were
executing with noticeably good effect
The Democratic candidate for the
legislature. says Mr.. Byrne. Will vote
for a dlsfranchising amendment, II
elected. They are pledged TO do this
by the Democratic platform. and i'm
PEELED as well, no doubt, by personal
predictions. The Democratic candi-
dates are also in favor of separate
coach law anc will no doubt give their
support to such a measure.
There are fifteen thousand negro
voters in this state. the greatest ma
jority OF them residing in the counties
along the line OF the Chesapeake &
Ohio and the Norfolk & Western rail-
roads. Il was that plank in the Dem.
ocratic platform declaring in favor
of DISTINGUISHING them, and the votes,
of that party's representatives in the
legislature in favor OF Jim Crow"
coach law. which held the negro vote
in line for the Republican party two
years ago. and saved that party from
defeat, when 1t was face to face with
disaster because OF a double-headedl
state ticket in the field That is what
astute and skilful Democratic cam
paign managers say, and their view
OF 1t is shared by Republican leaders
OF equal accumen in affairs political
This year the Democrats, realizing
the value OF splitting up the negro vote
and getting part Of 1t. II possible. start
ed to work early in that direction. III
is admitted that they were making de-
cided progress. especially in such large
counties as Kanawha. where negro
voters are numerous. ana a factor OF
sufficient Importance to be seriously
considered By the leaders OF both par
ties in campaign years. In this
Charleston Kanawha legislative dis
trlct-the negro vote seemingly had
been pretty well captured by the
Democrats, whose well laid schemes
10 accomplish that very thing. we're
working ont 10 more or lcss or a per-
fection Ex-Governor MaMcCorkle.
Democratic candidate FOR the state
senate in this district. and his law
mariner and political manager. ". E.
chiffon regarded the work among the
negroes Win 4 high degree Or satisfac-
,ion II seemed 10 ass,,re Maccorkle's
car,,in s,,ccess IN ] Republican dis
,r,ct mat was believed 10 be wagering
n ~ aIleriancc Then something han
n.,aa n.bIch rrocled their shrewd
,,I,ns ,r.ry
a.. d,,s since no Confederate
,o,arans ~ ,ho s,ato iorrneved 10
,harios.or .hor. NM, ,ba c,nitoI
rronrds ! s,,ondid hronze s,atne al
go, ..s..anon.a,,,, Iaor.or mas m
,,oroa a,,,h go. ao,,r,, ,nd oaroronv
,rnnnsa,a, - ,aa,,,a a,,ondaa ana
,oro anI ,horo g. .ha .nrorr wero X
10 soon H. sorato amr,i,ors ~ lns,
canso a,,,rod i, ,ho,r ,,ro,. nn,sorms
and nnrn ,bo,r I,na,s shoro +, bntton-