The Daily Missoulian., 1912-08-07
WNeN eouTHeRN coloREo MEN
IMPROVE IN CHARACTER,
LET THEM COME IN.
PRESENT SYSTEM IS BAD
ceiorsd Delegates From the North Are
Of . Different Mold and Places In
ths Convention should % Given
rhsn-lst Each etats Solve Cues.
zion In its Own Wsy.

Chicago. Aug. 6.-The troublesome
southern negro question, which for a
Alme threatened dissension In the first
convention of the progressive party.
finally was disposed Of today when
the convention without dissenting
voice and without discussion, adopted
the report OF the credentials commits
tee unseatlng both the white and
negro delegates from Florida and
throwing out the negro delegates
from Mississippi.
Colonel Roosevelt. while delivering
this afternoon his confession OF
faith to the convention. was heckled
by spectator who interrupted with
the demand: what about the negro
question:"
Instantly the convention was In an
uproar, but Mr.. Roosevelt silenced
those Of his friends who objected to
tho question with the statement that
no one could ask him q question ne
was afraid OF. "
The colonel then proceeded at some
length to state his Views. He said
he hoped conditions might so improve
an the south that at future progress
sive conventions those states might
send as delegates negroes who would
have the character and standing of
the negro delegates from West Vir-
ginia. who. he asserted, were In those
respects the equal OF their white as
sociates.
In taking the stand he did to bar
the negroes sent from the south as
contesting delegates to the present
convention, Mr.. Roosevelt asserted he
was sitting In advance conditions
that had led to the crushing disaster
and death OF the great republican
party itself"
The report OF the credentials COM
mittee. unanimously adopted, con-
tanned resolution recognizing 1.-The
constitutional and inherent right OF
each and every state to determine the
qualifications and manner OF election
OF It's delegates to national conven-
tions."
This resolution was regarded as CIV
ing the southern states the right to
choose delegates as they pleased It
also was interpreted as not imposing
the ect-primary system upon any
OF the states.
In replying to the interruption as
to the negro question. Colonel Roose-
welt said In part:
ANY respectful requests for infor-
mation l always will have an answer
for and during my administration /
never waa afraid to be questioned
about anything and I shall not begin
In the progressive party.
II think the American people a
mighty good people to lead and a
mighty poor people to drive. ! think
we can get the best results from our
fellow Americans In other sections OF
Z the country by treating them as. we
expect them to treat us. and by our
selves living up In our own homes to
the principles that we profess.
In republican national conventions
hitherto there has been large repre-
sentation of colored men. all from
metropolitan states. the virtue OF
the republicans of the republican
states taking only the form OF trying
to make the democratic states be
good. The colored delegates all came
from the states that never cast re-
publican electoral vote. that never
elected colored man to office, where
largely owing TO the action partici-
pated In for y years by the republican
party. the colored man has. M q
matter of fact. gradually lost all his
political rights.
Dad Character. q
80 that the old policy OF attempting
to impose on the southern states from
without. certain rule Of conduct
toward the negro has In fact broken
down; and friends, ! regret to say
that every man who ever has been Il
., national convention, knows that tn,
character OF the great majority o
colored delegates from the south
those old rotten borough states. wa
auch an tn reflect discredit Mpon tn,
lcoAtinued on Page Ftve)