The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1916-06-22
LET THE NEGRO CHOOSE
THE BETTER PART

some of the real facts why the honor
and dignity of this government is
shivering with insult, and discrimi-
nation is being sorely felt amongst
its citizenship; the uneven hand of
righteous justice is being thrust upon
ten millions of citizens, who are loyal
in peace, and unfaltering in tiocking
to the rescue of their country in the
time of war. Let US read, let US re-
member that there are two sides to
almost any question-look the issue
squarely in the face, and thereby be
found choosing the better part.
(From the Chicago Tribune.)
One of the chief issues of the cam
paign is whether or not the south
shall continue to dominate the gov
ernment of the United States as it
has done during the last four years.
That it has done it is a fact which
should be given the fullest discussion
in the coming months, for it is still
insufficiently realized.
Golfers Weekly of June II calls
attention to this phase of our politi-
cal situation and presents a signifi-
cant list of the committee chairman
ships in the house. Only one of the
important committees is headed by a
northerner, the appropriations COM
mittee, presided over by Fitzgerald
of New York. The rest of the list
is as follows:
Ways and means-Kitchin, North
Carolina.
u1iciary-Webb, North Carolina.
Banking and currency-Glass, Vir-
ginia.
Commerce-Adamson, Georgia.
Rivers and harbors-Sparkman,
Florida.
Agriculture-Lever, South Caro-
lima.
Foreign affairs-Flood, Virginia.
Military affairs-Padgett, Tennes-
see.
Postoffice-Moon, Tennessee.
Rules-Henry, Texas.
Champ Clark of Missouri is
speaker, Kitchin of North Carolina
leader of the majority. In the pres
ident's cabinet Lansing is from New
York, McAdoo from New York and
Kentucky, Baker from Ohio, Redtield
from New York, Lane from Califor-
MIA, Wilson from Pennsylvania, Dan
iels from South Carolina, Houston
from Missouri, and Burleson and
Gregory from Texas.
Now this is not merely a question
of proportionate sectional represen-
tation. If the southern Democracy
has a larger representation in office
that it ought to have on the basis Of
population or political weight that is
a matter for the northern Democracy
to consider and correct, if it can,
within the party.
But the domination by the south of
government policy, legislation, and
administration is a matter of vital
Importance to the whole nation, be-
cause the south in politics represents
reaction and sends to Washington
men who have no grasp Of the great
problems with which the nation must
deal. Though there are men and wo-
men in the south as enlightened as
any Americans they are not yet able
to direct public opinion, which in the
main is a generation behind the
times. The best thought of the
south is with the best thought
east and west Forexample, here is
what one Of the constructive leaders
Of the south, the Columbia, South
Carolina, State, says on this subject:
LET us not deceive ourselves. The
south will not hold place of direct
i've power in American affairs un-
less its leaders have horizon great
er than the old southern frontier.
For many years the south has been
eating at the side table and hungrily
devouring crumbs grudgingly flung
to it, and it is a pitiful truth that
numbers of its representative politi-
clans are now so intent upon get
ting even" that they have no eyes to
see or ears to hear when the inter
ests of the American people are con-
cerned. Federal judgeships, Offices
in the census bureau, appropriations
for this or that river or harbor or
district courthouse, are absorbing
more of their attention than is the
national defense, for example"
Southern Democracy is the bull
wark of pork barrel legislation. 1t
has been the greediest scrambler at
the trough 1t has no respect for
civil service and clings to the Jack
sonian doctrine, to the victor belong
the spoils.