The Washington bee., 1910-09-10
SHALL OKLAHOMA JOIN THE
SOLID SOUTH?

In adopting the Taylor Amendment,
The Grandfather Clause" to the Con-
stltutiOn, Oklahoma has justified the
hopes of its enemies. 1t has proven
that in its makeup and intentions it is
Southern instead of a Western
State; and the ambition of the present
administration seems to be to line it
up with the Bourbon Democracy.
The adoption of the Grandfather
Clause IS a step backward 1t is a
thrust at all efforts the Negro has
made these forty-fve years to make a
man of himself, to rise in the scale of
civilization, and to develop the best
within him.
1t IS up to Us to fight this measure
to the last ditch, at whatever cost to
us. Therefore we should understand
the import of this meeting.
1t seems that the fair prOpositiOn
would have been to disfranchise the
fellow who had a grandfather who
could read and write, and whose son
could not, and place a premium upon
the fellow whose father could not
read and write, and whose son had
overcome these conditions.
The Grandfather Clause is a ma
tlOnal issue, from the fact that should
the law stand the test in Oklahoma,
other Southern States will adopt the
same law; and from this source the
Negro will lose a very large per cent
of his voting strength-the power
which has kept him safe in the affairs
of the country.
Taking the attitude of the admins
tratlon seriously, Mr. Taft said, in
outlining his policy toward the South.
that he would appoint no Negroes to
important offices in communities
where a large body of the whites OBJ
Jected. He stated that this was in pur-
suance of what he believed to be the
best policy for the preservation of
friendly relations between the races.
Growing out of this policy, he declin-
ed to appOln DR.. Crum to be collector
OF the port of Charleston, S. c. Upon
this policy he recently appointed
Henry 5. Jackson, white man. col
lectOr of Internal Revenue in Geor-
gia, IN place of II. A. RuCker, a Ne
gro, who had already held the office.
The South regards this step as a
friendly act from the administration.
tending to remove what they term
The Black Peril"
The Republican party in Texas has
Just announced that it IS now a body
tor white men, and that only white
men shall hold office in the organiza-
ton. AS result, the Negroes of the
State OF Texas are organizing with a
proposition to join with the Demo-
Gratis.
Under the Grandfather Clause the
Negro stands no chance as against
such test He may be highly edu-
Gated; but since the election boards
are made. up of white men, he is in
varlably disqualified, the ignorant
whites apparently meet the require
ments
The St. Joseph (Mo) News-Press
OF Saturday, August IS, in an edito-
rial, had this to say:
There is a question if OklahOma;s
Grandfather Clause would stand the
test Of the courts. The real purpose
of 1t is so imperfectly hidden that it
Is almost certain a court of review
would hold it a nullity; but the trou-
bic is to get it before such a court.
The Negroes of, the State apparently
lack the means or the spirit necessary
to prolonged legal fight"
The above clipping is significant
from the fact that it calls our atten-
ton to a condition. In spite of what
others may do in our favor and for US,
we are expected to show to the world
that we are awake to our interest, and
for that reason, if for no other, this
convention at Boley. Thursday. Sep
tember 8. has been called, that every
citizen of Negro descent may have
a voice and vote in his own behalf.
We Are Boosters, Not Knockers.