The Lexington standard. [volume] (Lexington, Ky.) 1892-1912, 1911-10-28
COlOred
Councilman
ELECTED IN NASHVILLE.
TENN, WHEN HOWSE
ORGANIZATIONS WON,

| Nashville, Tenn, October 16 The
Howse organization triumphed in
| Nashville, Tenn, politics on THURSDAY
October 18th. The reform element
was beaten to "a frazzle." The Ne
groes elected S. P. Harris as council
! man from the Third ward and had a
| lot TO do with the reelection of the
Howse ticket.
The Bourbon Democrats, the lilly
white" Republicans, the Prohibitions
| lists and the minority element OF Ne
gro voters are all bowed down in
sackcloth and ashes. They are nn the
losing side. The liberal Democrats.
"the vets and the majority element
of Negro voters nave all been Ielling
how it happened and prophesying the
defeat of Governor Hooper and the re-
peal of the Statewide prohibition
law. So they mean to go on from
victory to victory in readjusting Ten
nessee government to the viii of tie
majority.
The recent election was significant
in that it showed conclusively the un-
popularity of the existing whisky
laws, and that Republican control OF
Tennessee will meet the fiercest kind
of opposition in the next election.
The Negro also made another step
forward in the city government.
Councilman S. P Harris is said TO
be a man Of unquestioned integrity
and honor He is fit to enjoy all the
privileges OF American citizenship.
''The white folks says so'' and the col
ored people Of Nashville know that
Harris is fully qualified to fill any po-
sition in the Nashville city govern
nlent In spite cf his fitness in every
way, Harris was openly opposed by
some members of his own race. He
won in spite of their opposition.
Those who fought him hardest were
individuals who were feeding from
the fodder rack" of the white mems
organization. 1t was pitiful to note
how securely the political paddock had
been fastened ON some who from pride
of race if nothing else, should have
felt dJty bound 10 Harris in the con-
test. The "meat and bread Negro
ward=heeler did his best to earn his
pay by contributing to the defeat of
the Negro contestant. Harris and his
supporters triumphed over all the op-
posing forces and the third ward of
Nashville had some sick Negroes Fri
day morning. They had failed to earn
their pay.
DIR. E. w. D. Isaac, Chairman Sam
uel Johnson, Lawyer John Rhines and
other Negro leaders fought hard in
behalf of Harris. They were largely
responsible for his triumph. The
Nashville Clarion was the only Negro
paper supporting Harris and the cleo
ton of the colored candidate may be
very properly looked upon as a Nash
vile Clarion victory.
There iS no onOd reason WhV the
colored people cf Nashville should
not elect three or four councilmen to
represent them. They have the votes
and majorities in as many wards of
the city. The truth is, they have been
sleeping over their opportunities.
Perhaps there will be a general awak-
ening of the Nashville Negroes now
that they have succeeded in the cleo
ton of Councilman S. P. Harris.
Now that the city contest is over
"the factions have fastened their at
tention on Gov. Benjamin Hooper.
The fusion crowd that elected him
shows decided disposition to break
to pieces as the next State and Ma
tional elections approach. The Ma
tional administration has vain hopes
of placing Tennessee in the Republi-
can column, but will be doomed to dis
appointment unless a political earth
quake happens.
The administration of Taft has the
political ostracism of the Negroes of
Tennessee charged to it. The white
rarty organization NAV renominate
Taft, hut the Negroes will later or co
some voting. If the Negroes of Ton
pessee could do 81. thew would bury
Taft politically for the prevailing
opinion here is. that the present chief
executive is one CT the biggest mis-
takes that ever sat in the chair of
the President of the United States.