The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1910-10-13
To the Democratic Candidates
in Southern Part of
the State.
PROVING A LIVE WIRE
Is the Question of Disfran-
chising the Negro as They
Are Planning.
(CharIes BrooIss smithl

1850 SeAf, Oct. 4s.--ln SOUTH
!, ern West Virginia the, Democratic par
~ is having troubles of It's own, which
people upstate probably do not fully
grasp the significance OF Just at this
time. HowHyer they VIII, as dtscor-
dant events are happening quickly.
! DISTINGUISHING the negro. which,
means disfranchising thousands of I'M
educated whites II the DemncraticI
: party ever gets the legislature, has be-
come just as lively an issue In this
on year campaign as in the campaign
i Of two years ago. If the reader be
skeptical as to truth OF this statement,
let him write to friends in the coun-
, ties down-state, or better stfli, take
i. little journey down, this way. He
will find that the Democrats are I'M
much of fuss about 1t. and the men
responsible for the conduct of that
party's campaign this year, while InI
: hearty accord personally with the dis
/, franchising and separate coach planks
] OF their party's platform. for the rea-
} son Of political expediency are trying
to smother the issue. They declare
that 1t kept their party out Of victory
two years ago when every other cond-
ton attendant upon that memorable
campaign pointed to its success I'll
was not alone the failure to win any
support from tho colored race, by rea-
son of those particular planks in their
platform, which hurt them. In their
$ estimation that didn't count for much,
i but 1t actually drove hundreds of
Democrats away from their party
men who did not believe IN the law
lessness which goes with defiance oil
the constitution OF the United States.
But more important still. that mol
small element OF the states white pop
ulatlon that unfortunate circum-
stances prevented getting an educa-
ton in the days of their youth.
The planks in the last Democratic
platform, to which that party and It's
candidates this year, as well as two
years ago, are absolutely pledged to
s carry out II given the opportunity to
; do so by the voters OF the state, are
these: Believing that the extension
c of the elective franchise to race in
Q ferior in intelligence and without
J, preparation for the wise and prudent
: exercise of a privilege so vital to the
maintenance of good government was
. a mistake, IL not crime, committed
. by the Republican party during the,
/. reign of passion aud prejudice follow
I ing the Civil war. for political ends
(; and purposes, we declare that the
:. Democratic party is in favor of so
amending the constitution as to pre-
e serve the purity OF the ballot and the
y electorate of the state from the evils
: resulting from comforting power and
!, privilege upon those who are united
: to appreciate It's importance as II ar
t fects the stability and preservation Of
good government
I'VE favor the enactment of a law
requiring common carriers engaged
in passenger traffic to furnish separate
coaches or compartments for white
and colored passengers"
The above planks, which, many as
\ tute Democratic leaders believed is
what did the business" for their par
ty two years ago, have arisen to
plague them again this campaign. In
the counties, where the negrd-voters
e and the untutored electorate are num-
+ erous, the candidates for state senate
Is and House promise to be decidedly
n Embarrassed. These aspirants for
u political preferment haye been sue
/ cessfully lodging this issue but
g within the last few days, six OF
elthem have been smoke dout These
e six are Ex-Governor Maccorkle, candi-
II date for the State Senate in this dis
u trlct, and the 1--WE candidates for the
House in Kanawha county. They have
4 repudlated the DISTINGUISHING and
Jim Crow" planks of their party's
}; platform. and, IL 50 doing, have
brought upon their unhappy heads a
> storm OF criticism from their own
' party, and have doubtless not won the
confidence OF the votes Of many white
! ana colored citizens whose votes would
he taken away from them If the Dem
ocratic party would get into power
and thus have the opportunity to put
their platform into laws. In theii
r signed reputation OF their own party,
last platform, they denounce the &C.
tivity and ardor of the Hon. Georg,
- Byrne in reviylng the issue so dear Il
:, his heart They really, in fleet, reat
the Honorable George out of the mar.
uIty. But George is standing loyalty bs
j his colors. adhering to his party's plat.
i form to the letter, and hewing to the
= CcoIorl line let the chips fall wher,
they may.
! Mr.. Byrne Was asked today why he
raised the race issue at this time
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