The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-13
BLOODY SHIRT IS
 BURIED IN KANSAS
w. H. Sears Says There Is
 Kindness Toward South
CONDITIONS CHANGE
Kansas, Famous for Its Bitterness Against Confectionery, Has Repeat edly Honored Man Who
 Served With Wilcox
By WALTER HARPER

Washington, April 2.--fSpecial l-W. H. Sears, a prominent attorney and political student of Lawrence. Kan, who is spend | ing few days in Washington on busi- ness. talks interestingly on the changed political aspect of the country in refer ence to the souths opportunity and right to a share of power.
 | He is of the opinion that a strong south | ern man as a candidate for the high office of President would give the people of the north the very opportunity they seek to show that there no longer exists any prejudice against the south on ac- count of the late war.
 He points out that people in many sec | tions of the north have already shown a disposition to resent the expression of any criticism of the south.
 MT. Sears says:
 "The preiudices engendered by the civil war have prevented the nomination of southern man for the high office of Pres ident.
 Has not the south been on probation long enough, and is there really enough of this prejudice left in the minds of the people of the north to be worth consid- ering?
  tai feeling created in the north by the candidacy of a good southern man? ,
 ''Would, not this sentiment rise like al tide and sweep southern candidate intol the White House?
 "Is not this alleged prejudice largely traditional and imaginary?
 "A few days ago New Mexico sent an ex-Confederate to the United States Sen ate; the fact that he had served the Con fede Nlcy seemed not to be considered by the new state he represents.
 "A few years ago Kansas the most rad ical of all the northern states, a state that sent more soldiers to the union army in proportion to population than any other state in the union; state that has more old soldiers living in 1t in proportion to population than any state in the union. sent to Congress by nearly 5000 majority, as congressman at large, Col. William A. Harris, who had served four years In the Confederate army as an officer in Will cox's brigade. D. H. Hills division.
 When Colonel Harris name was pre- scented to the convention all the old sol diers who were delegates in the conven- ton who favored his nomination were asked to stand up. By actual count over 400 Union veterans rose to their feet and cheered, and Colonel Harris was unani- mously placed in nomination. During the campaign that followed great county open air meetings were held, at each of which a grave was dug and a shirt colored to initiate blood was buried with appropri- ate ceremonies; always q large number of Grand Army vetetans participating, and always, where possible, a number of eX-Confederat assisting in the cere- monies. Enormous crowds attended these meetings and expressed their sats- faction at this effort to forever wipe out the prejudice engendered by the civil war. and forever bury the bloody shirt ques- ton These ceremonies and speeches were always enthusiastically. applauded by ;he great throngs of people that attended.
 "A few years later Colonel Harris be- came a candidate for the United States Senate. The issue was squarely presented of electing an ex-Confederate to the line of succession as the famous John ]. Ingalls,. noted for his bitter speeches against the Confederates during his long years of service in the Senate. The re- suit was that Senator Harris carried the legislature by an overwhelming majority and was elected to the United States Sen- ate with little opposition.
 With these facts before us how can it be said that the nomination of south ern man born since the war would ceive the opposition of any northern state because he lived south of Mason and Dix on's line; for would not the nomination of southern man result in wiping out the last vestige of feeling and prejudice against the south and give us reunited country with the last fragment of sec tional prejudice removed, destroying for ever sectional and geogra phical lines, so that merit and ability alone would be considered in the future nomination of all presidents?"