Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-17
TAFT BOOM GROWS
Secretary Macveagh Tells OF
Conditions in West.
OBSERVATIONS ON TRIP
Says Movement for denomination Is
Gaining Steadily.
TROUBLES IN VIRGINIA TOLD
Colored Party Leaders Object to All
the Offices Going to
White Men.
OBSERVATIONS ON TRIP
TROUBLES IN VIRGINIA TOLD

secretary MdCN edSH Oh Tie TedSuIS tO-
day reported to President Taft his obser-
walton Of political conditions in Michigan
and Illinois. the Secretary having re-
turned from Lansing, where he made a
speech that attracted attention.
Il find that opposition to President
Taft is swiftly diminishing and that he
is gaining strength every day." said Mr..
MacVeagh. "This is due to the fact that
the people are studying his record and
find it full Of achievement and wise ac-
ton. There is satisfaction over the &C
complishments of his administration.
THE most influential republicans Of the
west are forming Taft clubs, and the
movement for the Presidents renomina-
ton is spreading fast among men who do
things when they take part in politics. !
have no doubt that MFR. Taft will be re-
nominated, and as to his election in No
vember / am confident to the fullest de-
gree"
Colored republican leaders from Norfolk
and other parts of Virginia are on the
war path in Washington today, threaten
ing to do things to the lilly white
leaders Of the same state. They went to
the White House first and told their
grievances to President Taft, who sent
them to Representative MCKINLEY, man
ley promptly pulled out his oil can and
began the work of quieting the troubled
waters. Whether he will be able to set
tie the difficulty satisfactorily is mat
ter for the future.
Make Strong Protest.
This business of making the negro
furnish all the votes and giving all the
offices and positions of honor to the white
man must STOP" declared one Of the Wis
itors to the White House. There are
barely enough white republicans around
Norfolk and in other parts of Virginia to
fill the federal Offices. and now 1t is pro-
posed to send twenty-fcur white men to
the Chicago national convention, ignoring
the negro altogether 1t is getting so
that even in the precinct meetings the
negroes are excluded altogether. Now, We
don't propose to stand that. We are
going to break over and make trouble,
and If they do not give us square deal
we will send twenty-four negro delegates
to Chicago. or, at least, negro delegates
from all the congressional districts ex-
cept the NINTH
The complaint is not directed against
President Taft, the leaders said He has
treated the negro all right and is re-
garded as their friend. But they do not
like strictly lilly white affair in Vir-
g1nia or elsewhere In the south, and they
are sure he will not do SO. The COM
plant is directed against the republican
leadership in Virginia, which is tending
toward making the party there a white
mans concern, it is said. There was a
time when the colored republican was
at least allowed the joy and pleasure of
blowing Off, and voting at precinct
meetings, but now he is not sent for eX-
cept on election day.
The delegation was made up of negro
hnSfnaGS nr0fpScfnna1
them were r. G. L. Paige, lawyer: w. II.
&C. Brown, lawyer; DR.. G.. Jarvis Bowens
physician; c. s. Carter, tailor, and E..
M. Canaday. all Of Norfolk. Thomas l.:
Jones and l.. M. King, lawyers, of
Washington, voting in Virginia.
Fight in Other States.
Almost the same fight is being made
in other southern states. but in some in
stances the administration recognizes the
BLACK and cam faction to the exclusion
OF the lily white brand. AIvah Mar
tin. the republican national committee
man of Virginia, lives in Norfolk. Bas-
com Slemp. the state chairman, is the
congressional representative of the ninth
district. Both are charged with trying
to eliminate the negro from party at
fairs there. Commissioner Cabell Of the
internal revenue bureau is head of a
strong following really in control of Vir-
ginia politics when unhampered by in
f1uences from powers higher up that has
struggled to strengthen the party from
the best material to be had, excluding
Objectionable men OF both races.
II see that South Dakota is occasion
ally put in the anti-Taft column" said
Senator Gamble at the White House to-
day. THAT is a big mistake. President
Taft will get every delegate from the
state and will sweep the primaries to de-
eide who is in favor. among the presi-
Dental candidates"
Senator Gamble was accompanied to the
White House by E. E. Wagner. United
States attorney Of South Dakota.
Gov. Mead Luncheon Guest.
Gov. Mead Of Vermont was a guest of
President Taft at luncheon today, discuss
ing the Vermont situation with him. He
is understood to have reported that there
was no serious opposition to the Presi-
dent having the delegates from that state.
Ex-Gov. Franklin Murphy Of New Jer-
sey is to be house guest of Presiden mt
Taft for a day or two. He Will arrive
tonight. Mr.. Murphy is leading the Taft
fight in New Jersey. Opposed to him are
ex-Govs. Fort and Stokes, who are out
for Roosevelt. Both are candidates for
the United States Senate.
The Patent Law Association OF the Dis
trict which is to have its annual BAN
quet at Rauscher's February -, has in
vited the President to attend. He regrets
to join the Yale Club that night.
Senator Fletcher of Florida was at the
White House today to see about Presi-
dent Taft's participation in the Southern
Commercial Congress at Nashville, be-
ginning April 8. The President some
time ago promised to take part
n