The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-10-13
INJECTION OF DISFRANCHISE-
MENT ISSUE DISCONCERTS
DEMOCRATIC BOSSES,
lilly White" Buttons
And George Byrnc's reminder that
party is pledged to support anti
Negro planks in last campaign
throws the fat in the fire.
(Charles Brooks Smith.)

bed up serenely and unexpectedly in
the campaign in this State. 1t was
thing almost forgotten and it
would not have been thought Of but
FOR the Hon. George Byrne, of this
city, whose ardent championing Of
negro disfranchisement was respon-
slhle for writing a plank to that eff
feet in the Democratic state cam
palgn Of 1908. Mr.. Byrnes recall
ing OF that pledge touched off boom
IN the Democratic camp, and inter
fered with plans that the Democrat
&c managers had mapped out and
were executing with noticeably good
effect
The Democratic candidates for
the Legislature" says Mr. Byrne,
will vote for DISTINGUISHING amend
ment, if elected. They are pledged
to do this by the Democratic plat
form, and impelled as we'll, no doubt,
by personal predictions. The, Dem
Ocratic candidates are also in favor
OF separate coach law and will no
doubt give their support to such a
measure"
There are fifteen thousand negro
voters in this State, the greatest ma
Jorlty Of them residing in the coun-
ties along the line of the Chesapeake
d Ohio, and the Norfolk & Western
railroads. 1t was that plank in the
Democratic platform declaring in fa-
Vor Of disfranchdsing them, and the
votes of that partys representatives
in the Legislature in favor of Jim
Crow coach law, which held the ne
gro vote in line for the Republican
party two years ago, and saved that
party from defeat, when it was face
TO face with disaster because Of
doublc-hcadcd state ticket in the
field. That is what astute and Skill
ful Democratic campaign managers
say, and their view of it is shared by
Republican leaders OF equal acumen
in affairs political.
This year the Democrats, realizing
the value Of splitting up the negro
vote and getting part Of it, if posi-
bic, started to work early in that di-
rection. 1t is admitted that they
were ma king decided progress, es-
pecially in such large counties as
kanaWha where negro voters are
numerous, and II factor Of sufficient
Importance to be seriously consider
9l by the leaders Of both parties in
campaign years. In this-Charlcs-
ton-kanaWha Legislative district
the negro vote seemingly had been
pretty we'll captured by the Demo
Gratis, whose we'll laid schemes to ac-
complish that very thing, were work.
Ing out to more or less Of q perfeC-
tlon. Ex-Governor MacCorkle, Dem
oCrattc candidate for the State SEN
ate in this district, and his law part
ncr and political manager, W. E.
Chiffon, regarded the work among
the negroes with a high degree o.
satisfaction. It seemed, to assure
MacCorkle's certain success in a Re-
publican district that was believed
to be wavering in its allegiance
Then something happened which
knocked their shrewd plans awry.
few days since the Confederate
veterans Of the State journeyed to
Charleston where, upon the capitol
grounds splendid bronze statue Of
General "Stonewall' jackson was I'm.
Yelled with great pomp and ceremo-
ny. Thousands of people attended,
ana here and there in the throng
were to be seen the heroic survivors
OF lost cause attircd IN their grey
uniforms, and upon their 1apel5
shone 8 button-the "Lily White
button of the last Democratic State
campaign. Not only did the old vet
Grams wear these buttons, but many
others wore them. There seemed to
be plenty Of these buttons left over
from the campaign Of two years ago
- that was certain. 1t created quite
q stir am Ong the politicians Of both
parties
The following day the Democratic
managers fastened to deny that their
party had anything to do with the
appearance Of these buttons. and
they charged the Republican lead
ers WIN issuing them themselves,
and denounced it in strenuous Ian
gUage. The controversy about it still
wakes warm.
Then, the Hon. George Byrnc