The Colorado statesman., 1912-03-23
NEGRO POLITICS IN 1871
A Review of the Part Taken by
Negroes in National Politics.
NATIONAL NEGRO DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION AT INDIANAPOLIS
WOMAN SUFFRAGE AND THE
NEGRO IN CALlFoRNIA-NEGRo
AND PROHIBITION IN TEXAS.

Tuskegee, Ala.-The Tuskegee In
Btitute has in press a negro year
book, prepared by Monroe N Work,
department of Records and Research.
The following is Mr.. Works review
Of the political activities during 1911:
May II the national negro Demo
cratic convention was held at Indian
apolis. The following appeal was
sent out: We, the negroes in the ma
tional Democratic convention assem-
bled, this, the 18th day OF May. 1911.
desire to appeal to the colored voters
Of the United States to open their
eyes to the condition surrounding us
as race. and suggest that 1t Is wis
longer follow, blindly, one party to
its own harm and detriment as he
has heretofore followed the Repub-
lican party. We believe that the
American negro should divide his
vote the same as the white man and
be found in all political parties for
precisely the same reason that the
white men are found in all parties.
Therefore, as we negro Democrats
reaffirm our allegiance to the Demo
cratic party, believing that its prin-
ciples for reciprocity and for tariff for
revenue only are the most conducive
for an economical administration OF
the affairs of the American govern
ment, and comes nearer to meeting
the approval of the masses of the
common people.
IN he Inf
gent, honest, law-abiding colored citi-
zens OF the United States of America,
to organize and bind themselves to-
gether in Democratic clubs prepare
tory for the war of the ballot in 1912.
Remember the ancient adage, THE
wise man forseeth the evil and hideth
himself, but the foo> goes out and is
overtaken in the error of his ways"
The National Independent Political
Rights league met in Boston in Sep
tember. In its address to the coun-
try 1t demanded CD the enforcement
of the constitution to stop disfran-
chisement and peonage; (2) the pass
age of an anti-Jim Crow law for inter
state passengers; (3) federal aid to
education with the same schooling for
all; (4) restoration of the discharged
Brownville soldiers; 90 legislation
making lynching a capital ofrsnse
under federal jurisdiction.
President Taft on the matter OF Of
flee holding by negroes said in an In
terview published in the Outlook:
What l have done In this line, lof
recognition of the Democracy of the
south) has been without sacrifice OF
any interest of my own party.
Il have appointed many negroes to
office. and have given some of them,
like Lewis, Johnson and McKinlay-
offices of essential dignity at Wash
ington. What | have not done is to
force them upon unwilling commune
ties in the south itself | have ap-
pointed none where | knew that the
race feeling was strong, and have pre-
ferred giving large offices to we'll
equipped negroes of the higher class
to scattering a lot of petty ones
among the mass of their race.
This is not because | lack sym
pathy with the negroes. but because 1
want to see them advance. The worst
was to keep alive any ill-feeling their
white neighbors cherished toward
them. But it stiffens their self-re-
spect and spurs them on to more
thorough preparation for public serv-
Ice If they see political honors going
to their worthiest leaders,"
In California the wonnan's suffrage
advocates appointed special workers
among the colored people and 1t is re-
ported that the negroes generally sup
ported the suffrage movement In IL
linois $50 delegates of the Coalition
league met in Springfield and adopted
resolutions in which they declared
themselves opposed to all present po-
litical parties. The negro voters OF
the state were urged to vote indie
pendently. In Louisiana there has
been bitter fight against the black
and tan faction and the lily white fac
ton of the Republican party for SUI
premacy. The fight was carried be-
fore the recent meeting OF the nation
al Republican committee in Washing
ton and the old line Republicans
charged the lily whites with not deal
ing fair with them. In Maryland the
colored voters played a part in the
recent state election which was out OF
the ordinary. They did not ask the
white political leaders for money, but
organized and contributed funds to
carry on the campaign. They placed
$500 in the hands OF the leaders OF the
campaign with the request that the
money be used for the election of the
Republican governor and to defeat the
Diggs disfranchisement bill In Mis-
souri, the negroes expressed dissatis-
faction with the policy OF both the
Republican and Democratic party in
that state. They charged the Demo
cratic party with not having kept its
prediction pledges and the Repub-
lican party with playing big game of
Jolly with the colored voters and p-fv-