Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-07
DEFENDS HIS STAND
Roosevelt Explains Attitude on
the Negro Question.
WHY OLD SYSTEM FAILED
Vain Effort to Force Conditions in
the South.
POINTS TO SUCCESS IN NORTH
Believes That Action Taken on Col
ored Delegates Offers Best OPP
portunity for the Black Man.
POINTS TO SUCCESS IN NORTH

CHICAGO, August 7.-Yesterday after
moons session of the national progressive
convention was given over almost entirely
to Col Theodore Roosevelt. who, in addi.
ton to delivering his long-awaited ICON
fession Of faith" answered at some
length and with q good deal Of earnest
ness a question as to his attitude on the
negro question.
The delegates cheered Col. Roosevelt
for more than an hour when he appeared
suddenly and rather dramatically upon
the platform of the Coliseum.
The session was not without its thrills
Photographic fashlight explosion SET
hung among the decorations above the
crowded balcony and for a time there was
nervousness which, 1t was feared, might
lead to a panic.
Temporary Chairman Beveridge and
Col. Roosevelt called to everybody to re-
main quiet and the band started to play
as two firemen climbed up into the steel
Orders of the roof, snatched the burning
bag back from its place before the flames
reached the infammable decora lions run
ming along the entire gallery and ex-
tinguished the fire.
The big auditorium held one of its
greatest crowds The rush for places was
so great that the fire marshal soon or
Discusses Negro Question.
Col. Roosevelt was interrupted several
times with questions.
In replying to an interruption as to the
negro question. Col. Roosevelt said:
ANY respectful requests for informa-
ton ] will always have an answer for,
and during my administration l never did
anything ! was afraid to be questioned
about and l shall not begin in the pro-
gressive party.
There has been distributed here a let
ter which / wrote to Mr.. Julian Harris
three or four days ago. In that letter
of my views in detail. and think. with
a clearness that will prevent any misap-
prehensiOn, but l can give you, by ex-
ample, just what l mean by the policy ]
am advocating.
IT think the American people is a
mighty good people to lead and a mighty
poor people to drive. l think We can get
the best results from our fellow-Amerf-
cans In other sections Of the country by
treating them as we expect them to treat
us. and by ourselves living up in our own
homes to the principles that We profess.
In republican national conventions
hitherto there has been large represen-
tation of colored men. all from non-re-
licans of the republican states taking
only the form of trying to make the
democratic states be good. Do you see
what l mean? The colored delegates all
came from the states that never cast a
republican electoral vote, that never
elected a colored man to Office. where
largely owing to the action participated
in for forty-five years by the republican
party the colored man has. as a matter
of fact, gradually lost all his political
rights. So that the old policy Of attempt
ing to impose on the southern states from
without a certain rule of conduct toward
the negro has. in fact, broken down; and,
friends, l regret to say that every man
who has ever been to national con-
vention knows that the character of the
great majority Of the colored delegates
from the south. from those old rotten
borough states, was such as to reflect
discredit upon the republican party and
upon the race itself. tApplause)
Negro Delegates From the North.
Now, as soon as the progressive party
was formed I at once set about, as
many other men in different states did,
securing from the northern states them
selves an ample recognition of the color
ed men in the states. so that, as a matter
of fact, there is in this convention a rep
resentation from the republican states of
colored men such as there never has been
anything like before in any convention
in the country. tApplause) And more
than that a representation CT colored men
who in point of character. intelligence
and good citizenship stand on an exact
equality with any of the whites among
whom they stand. (Applause.)
Peers Of White Delegates.
Just before I began my speech you
may remember that there was a good
deal doing Qaughter)-two colored dele
gates from West Virginia came up to
shake hands with me. l do not know
their names. One is the state librarian of
West Virginia, one Is a colored business
man from West Virginia. who had never
taken any great interest in politics be-
fore. Never before has West Virginia
sent two colored delegates to a national
convention, and the cOlored delegates 1t
sent are in character and standing the
peers OF the white delegates from that
state.
Now. We sent delegates from New
York. colored delegates6 We sent colored
delegates from Rhode Gaand. They sent
them. Do you think Rhode Island or