Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-18
SOUTHSNECROES
HOLD BALANCE
Of POWER
G. 0. P. Can Not Survive Shame
Of Brazen Barter for Votes,
Says John Temple Graves.
BY JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES.

1t is perfectly plain that Taft has upon
the record a small but distinct major
ity of the delegates. Let us strike
conservative estimate and call it 25, or
even 40. delegates.
If it lisa lead of % it will require a
change of only 10 votes in the conven-
ton before the ballot to change the
election. If it is 40 it will require a
change of 81 votes to Roosevelt. 1t is
plain then that Roosevelt needs either
10 or 21 votes only transferred from the
Taft column to his column to prevent
Taft's nomination, if not to insure his
own.
Can Roosevelt get these 10 or 81
votes? If So will he get them?
Mr.. Grier of Georgia, and "a gentle
man from Mississippi" have changed
from Taft to Roosevelt Mr.. Grier as
serts that five of his fellow delegates
will join him. The Right Hon. Timothy
Woodruff of New York, has Topped
again, this time to Roosevelt.
Two Secede From Taft.
Two men at least have certainly Sc
coded from the president to the colonel.
This leaves II or 9 more which Colonel
Roosevelt must win. Where are they
to come from?
Bear in mind, Colonel Roosevelt is
himself on the ground and that the
whole force of his personality and his
other forces are concentrated upon
the winning of the West or the South
TO the extent of IL or 10 votes.
There are many who believe he can
do it.
To begin with, there are IS negro
delegates in this convention. Far be it
from me to say or to insinuate that
this is the only corruptible element
in the body. So far, the two men who
have Topped have both been white
men and not negroes But there is
more than ordinary interest which re-
wolves around these IS colored men
from the South. Let me say something
here that is of Importance. I say it de-
liberately, without fear of contradic-
ton. and base it upon private confess
sions from both political camps that
the followers of both Colonel Roosevelt
and President Taft will, without any
doubt on earth, spend money to the
full limit OF their capacities to buy
these votes or to retain them.
Some Are Going Home Rich
Somebody--in fact, several some
bodies who are now nobodies-are 60
ing home from this convention rich
Let us consider. then, the SIS negro
votes because they are racial and dis
tinct
There is a very remarkable fact out
do ~
So citizens or the negro race. 1t is a
fact which may be swung into an enor-
nous and controlling influence upon
their ballots and upon the final issue.
For the first time in the history of
American political parties, the negro
race through these s. delegates holds
the balance of power and can control
the nomination of a possible president
Of the United States.
Don't you see then that with the
eager ambitions and inspired aspira-
tons of struggling race, this condi-
ton may be swung by the consum-
mate political skill OF Roosevelt into
an irresistible appeal to the negro to
make history for himself-to make a
president and thereby to exercise more
control upon the presidential power
than the negro had hoped to do in a
half century.
But do not for one moment forget
that the money argument-gold and
glittering-from 81 900 to $4,000 or even
to $4,000, will be held straight and
shining against the face of every dele
gate, white or black, who can be Sc
cured in no other way.
Titanic Gamblers Play.
What is 100000 or even $500, 900 to
the opulent politicians who back either
Roosevelt or Taft against the high
stake OF the white house?
These are titanic gamblers who are
playing this game, and the stake is
great enough to make the limit daz-
zling.
The wise and INSCRIPTIONS delegate
Is in luck and If he proves himself
both wise and INSCRIPTIONS he ought
to be in jail.
1t is universally believed that Colo
mel Roosevelt has more money to spend
than President Taft. At least. what
Roosevelt has is more available and
comes more freely. The immediate
coterie that backs him is coherent,
present and fabulously rich, each one
of them many times a millionaire
But for all this, I saw today James
F. Parry, for ten years president of the
National Manufacturers association,
ten thousand million dollars strong,
openly disporting a Taft badge as big
as a sun1ower.
Holding then the solution of this is
sue to the sordid, shameless, criminal
money basis to which it has come. an
other thing is evident outside of the
negro vote.
No Scoundreis to Control
The balance of power in this CON
vention is held in the hand of the dis
honest dollar In the hand Of the dis
honest politician. The naming of the
nominee for president will be bought II
it can not be persuaded.
And finally the ultimate issue of this
last great convention Of this once great
and historic party, and possibly the ex-
ecutive destiny of the United States
for four years to come, will be held in
the hands of less than twenty disrep-
utable and vote selling scoundrels, not
one of whom any honest citizen would
trust around the corner
n
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