The Washington times., 1912-08-03
4
PROGRESSIVE PARTY
MORAL, NOT RACIAL,
issue, SAYS I. R.
Declares Justice Will Be
/, Given Colored Voters
lS, BY Leaders.

NEW YORK, Aug. SIN a letter
written to Julian Harris, of Atlanta,
editor Of Uncle Remus' Magazine and
son OF the late Joel Chandler Harris,
Colonel Roosevelt expresses his views
on the position Of the colored man in
national politics and the representation
OF colored delegates In the convention
of the Progressive party in Chicago. In
part, Colonel Roosevelt writes:
Many letters dealing with the subject
OF which you spoke to me have been
sent to me within the last few days
Those written by men living In the
North usually ask me to insist that we
lget from the South colored delegates to
the national progressive convention.
Those written by citizens Of the South
ask that I declare that the new party
shall be a white mans party. am not
able to agree to either proposal.
Advocates Fair Deal.
II believe that the progressive move-
me1s should be made from the begin
ming one in the interest of every honest,
industrious. law-abiding colored man,
just as It y in the interest Of every
honest, industrious. law-abiding white
man.
II further believe that the surest way
70 render the movement impotent to
ored man In those regions of the South
where the colored man Is most numer-
Gus would be to try to repeat the
Icourse that has been followed by the
Republican party In those districts r for
States In question to build up q pro-
lgressive party by the same methods
which in those States have resulted in
making the Republican party worse
than impotent.
Race Hatred Deplored-
'In the South the Democratic ma
chine has sought to keep itself para
mount by encouraging the hatred of the
white man for the black; the Republi-
can machine has sought to perpetuate
Itself by stirring up the black man
IRgaanst the white, and surely the time
has come when we should UNDERSTAND
the mischief in both courses, and should
I'm many Of the States of the unior
where there In considerable coloret
population we arc able in very fac
and at the present moment to ortnt
tho best colored men into the movemen
lon the same terms as the white man
In Rhode Island and Maryland, in New
York and indiana, in Ohio and Illinois
IN New Jersey and Pennsylvania. t
speak only Of States Of which 1 hav.
done, and from some or all OF nes
lEtates colored delegates will be sent t
the national Progressive convention II
Chicago.
Scores Republicans.
I'm the Republican national conven
lions the colored members have beel
almost exclusively from tho South. an
the great majority of them have beel
men Of such character that their politi
cal activities were merely a source o
harm, and Of very grave harm, to thei
own race. ..
1--WE, on the contrary. are hoping t
see in the national Progressive conven
ton colored delegates from the YER
places where we expect to develop ou
greatest strength, and we hope to Be
these men of such character that thei
activities shall be Of benefit not only I
the people at large, but especially t
F''For forty-five years the Republica
party has striven to build up In tn
.Southern States in question a part
based on the theory that the pyrami
will, unsupported. stand permanent
forty-five years the Republican part
has endeavored in these States to bull
up a party in which the negro shoul
be dominant. party consisting almol
exclusively of negroes. 49,
Has Destroyed Party.
Those who took the lead in this e,
pertinent were actuated by high mt
tives. But in actual practice, the r
suit has been lamentable from evei
standpoint. 1t has been productive
evil to the colored men themselves;
has been productive only Of evil to Il
white men Of the South; and 1t HI
worked the gravest injury to, an
finally. the disruption and destructit
OF. the great Republican party itself.
with these forty-fve years of faflu
of this policy in the South before o!
eyes, and with catastrophe therel
caused to a great national party n
yet six weeks distant from us, 1t wou
be criminal for the Progressives to r
for such disaster, such failure, SUI
catastrophe.
y Appeals To White Men.
lit would be much worse than us
less to try to build UP the Piogressi
party in these Southern States. whe
there Is no real Republican party,
appealing to the negroes or to the m
who in the past have derived the
bOle, lTOiil iSdaih6
1ating the negroes.
AZ earnestly believe that by appeali
to- the best white men in the South. I
men of Justice and of vision, as W
as Of strength and leadership, and
frankly putting the movement In tn
hands from the outset. we shall cres
q situation by which the colored m
of the South will ultimately get justi
ss II is not possible for them to {
Justice II we are to continue and p'
petuate the present conditions.
.'The men to whom we appeal {
the men who have stood for securi
the colored man In his rights beft
the law, and they can do for him WI
neither the, Northern white man I
the colored men themselves can. do.
"Our cniy wise course from
standpoint of the colored man hims
Is to follow the course that We are
lowing toward him in the North a
10 follow the course we are follow
toward him In the South"
Girls Broken Leg