The Chanute times., 1912-08-16

Southern negro question, which for a
time threatened dissension in the first
convention of the national Progressive
party, finally was disposed of today
when the convention itself, without a
dissenting voice, and without discus
sion, adopted the report of the creden-
tials committee unseating both the
white and negro delegates from Flori-
da and throwing out the negro dele
gates from Mississippi.
Colonel Roosevelt, during his con
fession of faith" at the convention this
afternoon, was heckled by spectator
who interrupted with the demand:
What about the negro question:?
Instantly the convention was in an
uproar, but Colonel Roosevelt silenced
those of his friends who objected to
the question with the statement that
no one could ask him question he was
afraid Of.
The colonel then proceeded at some
length to state his views on the negro
question He declared he hoped condl-
tions might so improve in the South
that at future Progressive conventions
these states might send delegates who
have the character and standing Of the
delegates from West Virginia, who, he
asserted, were in those respects, the
equal of their white associates.
In taking the stand he did to bar
the negroes sent from the South as
delegates to the present convention,
Colonel Roosevelt asserted he was
sitting in advance conditions which
had led to crushing disaster and death
of the great Republican party itself"
The report of the credentials COM
mittee contained a resolution recog-
nizing "the constitutional and inher-
ent right Of each and every state to
determine the qualifications and man.
ner of election Of its delegates to ma
ffonal conventions"
b. The resolution was regarded as CIV
ing the Southern states the right to
choose delegates as they pleased. 1t
also was interpreted as not imposing
the direct primary system upon any Of
the states participating in the con-
yention of the new party.
In replying to the interruption as to
the negro question, Colonel Roosevelt
said:
ANY respectful requests for infor-
nation / will always have an answer
for, and during my administration l
never did anything l was afraid to be
questioned about and l shall not begin
in the Progressive party.
There has been distributed here a
letter which | wrote to Mr.. Julian
Harris three or four days ago. In that
letter l set forth my views and the
reasons back of my views in detail;
and l think, with clearness that will
prevent any misapprehension; but l
can give you by example just what |
mean by the policy l am advocating.
81 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 Americans in other sections OF
the COUNTRY by treating them as we ex-
pect 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 a large repre-
sentation of colored men, all from non
Republican states, the virtue Of the
Republicans taking only the form OF
trying to make the Democratic states
be good. Do you see waht l mean?
The colored delegates all came from
the state that never cast Republican
electoral vote, that never elected a
colored man to office, while, largely
owing to the action participated in for
45 years by the Republican party, the
colored men mas, as matter of fact,
gradually lost all his political rights.
$50 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 10
a national convention 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 (Applause)
Now, as soon as the Progressive
party was formed, at once set about
as many other men in different states
did. securing from the Northern states
themselves an ample recognition Of
the colored men in the states. so that
as a matter Of fact, there Is IN this