The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-03-02

Knoxville, Tenn, Feb. 2S.-The
editor Of the Atlanta Independent
can no more prove that the courts
were once upon q time called upon
TO determine the racial identity of
Napier than he could establish his
own innocence Of the charges upon
which. he was "once upon "a time"
lndicted by Federal Grand Jury in
Georgia, If his astute lawyer had not
succeeded so admirably in scatter
ing the witnesses against him. There
is nothing in his insinuation about
the 'col0rDhobia" Of J las. C. .-4NaBier.
The Tennessee man may be proud
that he is as fair as a white man."
lie would be foolish not to be, for
he came by it honestly. Vernon is
proud that "he Is coal-black" for he
came by that honestly. The stuff
of the Georgia editor is clap-trap
Napier has a good reputation as a
man and citizen Of Tennessee. A
finger cannot be raised against his
honor. There is no black mark
against him. These facts are GER
shadow Of doubt thus far in his
life. Personally he is fit man to be
Register of the U. S. Treasury.
James G. Napier, the politician, is
an entirely different fellow from Ma
pier, the man and citizen Of Tennes-
see. He has no power. In the late
years, he has made strenuous efforts
to secure the support Of his people
but has failed. He lives among
| white people on Capitol hill in Nash
| vile and certainly cannot influence
the majority Of the voters In his own
ward for the reason that they are
white and would not, Of course, toll
crate any attempt on the part of Ma
pier to influence them politically.
Now, it IS doubtful if the Tennes-
see man could get a good audience
anywhere in Tennessee to listen to
his political eXhortations. During
the recent campaign "he shelled the
woods, in Nashville, and from
Memphis to Bristol" as the Nashville
Globe has been pleased to affirm In
Its reply to the Atlanta Independent.
In his own city he could never get
more than bakers dozen to hear
him plead his case. This was gener-
ally SO everywhere he went on his
'shelling" tour.
| The masses Of Tennessee Negroes
are not interested in the politics Of
Napier or the man himself. He can
not influence them. The classes, and
there are several in the Volunteer
State, will not listen to him and he
| can never get their political SYM
pathy.
| The men who influence the voters
| OF Tennessee are the ministers, ply
I sicians, lawyers, teachers and busi-
ness men. AS these men 20, the
voters follow. They are not politi-
clans but they make political opinion
in the State. They would be pleased
to see Napier landed in the job he
has been hunting so long but his DO
litiCs and candidates are not theirs.
| The time has passed when J. G.. Ma
pier or any other Negro can carry
| the votes Of TcnnseSsee cOlored Deo-
! pie around in their pockets. The
time has passed when the votes of
the Negroes Of Tennessee can be Sc
cured by giving a government job
to any one Of their number. These
are facts settled beyond doubt. The
colorcd voters are looking for some
thing better and more needful for
the majority Of the people. They
are not fooled any more by the race
jargon" Of leaders who are grinding
axes for themselves.
The Nashville Globe that takes
CONTINUED ON FACE FIVE,