The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1910-12-02
THE DEFEAT OF
PROHIBITION
Accomplished Only BY the Ne
gro Vote in the Black Belt
HELD BALANCE POWER
Democratic Nominees In Palm Beach
County Defeated by Negroes Qualified
by Saloon Interests Of Florida

We give below an editorial from
The Southern Argus, Brooksville, which
Will well repay the most careful con-
sideration: b..
In investigating why the recent cleo
ton went in favor of the saloon against
prohibition division of the counties
into their Distinguishing populations
would be interesting.
In the cotton growing section of the
State, which embraces the upper tier
of counties and the upper portion of
The peninsula, the negroes have large
populations and in many they ontnum-
Der the whites.
In the peninsula section the white
populations largely predominant in the
different counties. On account OF
these facts the State has long been d.
yded into white and black counties,
according to the number of negroes re-
siding in them. Shall we apply this d.
vision to the returns of the recent cleo
ton to find out why the State went
'wet?
Twenty-six counties are classed in
the "black belt" that Is, they are
counties in which large negro pOpula-
tions reside. These counties cast in
the recent election majorities aggre-
eating $500, Of which only 26s were
dry, or cor the amendment, the others
being ''wet" or against the amendment.
Twenty-one counties are classed as
being in the "white belt, that is they
are counties in which white populations
pt edominate. These counties cast in
the recent election majOrities aggregat-
ing 1892, of which only 489 were wet
or against the amendment.
The wet" majority over the dry"
in the .'black belt" was 1913.
The "dry'' majority oyer the "wet"
in the "white belt" was 2544.
The wet" majority of the "black
belt" over the "dry" majority OF the
white belt" was 4.529.
These figures are approximately cor
rect, the exact vote OF the State not
being obtainable at this writing.
In view of these figures can our
"local option" friends reasonably COM
pl ain If we suggest that it was probably
the coon in the woodpiIe who caught
"tlat chicken?" In our opinion the
negro held the balance of power and
used it. The majority against the
amendment was due to the c0lored
vote.
From these figures our readers must
not draw the conclusion that the ma
iority of the voters of this state are
black. The majority OF them are
white, which is one reason why the
white people should govern the State.
Iii all the white people had voted for
the amendment and all the negroes
az ainst it, it would have won ny good
majority. But the whites divided on
the issue, although amajority ot,them
voted for it, and the negroes were
practically solid against it, hence the
result
We are satisfied in our own mind that
MANY good and true white men voted
AGAINST the amendment, because they
believed that they were voting Tor local
self government, sound proposition
in itself. In point of fact they voted
on the side, which always has and al
ways will in the south result IN giving
the negro at least the balance OF pow.
err in politics. The only way to prevent
the negro from being Dangerous fac
tor in politics is to vote dry In
Palm Beach county the negroes not only
defeated the amendment but also the
Democratic nominees, showing clearly
where voting on the "wet side leads.
The many friends Of white supremacy
and good government, who voted against
the amendment from an erroneous. pre-
sentation of the issue to them. Will, we
fe.l sure, be given an opportunity IN
the near future to correct the mistake
thew made in the recent election.