New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-20
TAFT THANKS NEGROES.
Stood Like Rock for Party at
Chicago, He Tells League.
BROWNSVILLE AFFAIR UP
President Asked to Restore
25th Infantry and Recon-
mend Lynching Statute.
From The Tribune Bureau. !


Washington, July le-Presldent Taft in
a speech in the East Room Of the White
House 10 a delegation from the National
Civil and Political Negro League to-day
publicly acknowledged his debt Of graft
tude to the negro delegates to the Re-
publican National Convention pledged and
instructed for him. who stood with the
to say to YOU" said the President, how
much I appreciate your standing firm in
my behalf at a time when It was init
mated to the country that we could not
depend upon you. You demonstrated
there your appreciation of the accom-
Dlishments Of the Republican party for
your race in the past, and your abiding
faith in its future friendships you stood
like solid rock"
The President listened to the rea ling O!
set OF resolutions adopted by the
league by the leader OF the delegation,
urging the restoration Of the battalion OF
soldiers of the 18th United States In
fantry, whose discharge was ordered in
compliance with the tyrannical procedure
of the slave master, and an effort on the
part Of ex-President Roosevelt 10 satisfy
the conceptions of despotlsm inherent in
Southern thought and practice toward
the colored people" asking Mr.. Taft to
make statement promising to recon-
mend 10 Congress the enactment Of a
statute comforting concurrents jurisdic-
ton on the United States courts when
ever the state courts refuse 70 punish
those guilty Of lynching." and asking
that the negroes be given equal con-
sideration in the dispensation of the
patronage at the hands of the Executive"
The resolutions concluded with this
statement:
The colored voters cannot yet take that
Keen interest in the tariff the trusts. the
conservation projects and other questions
or Importance 10 the nation as a whole,
In the face OF ever increasing efforts dc
tated by the customs and practices de-
manding the curtailment OF their personal
liberty, of the weakening OF their prOtec-
ton 10 property and Of the destruction
OF their protection OF life. Protection Of
=
the only questions demanding the serious
attention Of the colOred people When
these questions are rightly and honorably
settled. the colored people and voters will
peacefully and willingly give attention
20 tine currency, trust questions and tariff
changes.
Brownsville Matter Closed.
The President, addressing the delega-
ton, spoke on each subject contained n
the resolutions. With respect to toe
Brownsville matter Mr.. Taft said:
First, with respect 10 the Brownsville
matter. That was attempted TO be settled
by compromise between Senator Fora
ker and those who differed with him,
which was put In force as statute,
passed before / came into office, and Is
now In force. rhe limitations upon the
executive power are contained In that
statute and the Executive has already
done all that the statute directs or per-
mts him 10 do in the direction which you
indicate.
With respect 10 lynchings the President
said that every time opportunity pre-
scented itself he had with as much en-
phas!s as language would permit ex-
pressed himself ''in condemnation Of
lynching" Mr.. Taft said that it was 4
disgrace 10 the country, and the only
cure was the conviction OF the lynchers
and the hanging Of a few OF them He
said that federal jurisdiction OF lynching
was not permissible under the Constitu-
ton. lynching being an ordinary crime.
and that such crimes under our form Of
government must be covered by state
laws"
The President suggested that the best
wa to stamp out this awful crime is by
arousing public sentiment against it and
administering certain and fitting pun
ishment for those who are guilty The
President bitterly denounced mob Law
and said that petitions for Executive
clemency TO any one guilty of lynchlng
which might come before him will be re-
ceived with that feeling on my part that
there is no crime that ought TO be more
severely punished and more completely
condemned"