Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-02-15

luc NC" YORK world, sunday
February 8, contains an editorial
reminder to former President Taft,
which is very proper reminder and
an oNcoriation, as we'll.
1t is as follows:
"EDITOR TAFT VS.. PRESIDENT
TAFT.
"Now that William Howard Taft
has become Il writer Of editorial arti-
Giles for newspapers, we feel that,
within strictly professional limits, we
are at liberty to deal with him even
though former President, as we
might with any other brother.
Editor Taft was as strenuously
opposed to tho National Prohibition
Amendmcnt as any OF US. But we
now find that our learned journalistic
confrcre accepts tho situation, and,
because tho amendment gives Con-
gross full power to doal with tho
drink question. exhorts his fellow
citizens to fall in limo with the OK.
treme Prohibitionists and do every
thing in Their power to make the
crusade n SUCCESS
ALTHOUGH bygones should DO by
cones, We canot help recalling the
fact that from March 4, 1909, to
March 4, 1913, our esteemed contem-
porary was President Of the United
States. AS such he was bound by an
oath to the best OF his ability to
preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution Of the United States
IL he evor spoke n word or performed
an official act during his torn of
Office that was calculated In any way
to enforce the Fourteenth and Fiji
teenth Amendments as to the rights
or Negroes, whore are we to look for
the record?
"Prohibition In the Constitution Is
no more selfenforcing than citizen
ship for black men. When Editor
raft asks everybody to DO for Pro-
hibition what President Taft failed
to do for millions OF oppressed citi-
|, zens. he will pardon us If We thus
refer to tho files"
Not only did Mr.. Taft, and The
World might have said this, fail to
uphold the amendments referred to,
put he, also, when he was Secretary
or War under Roosevelt and aspiring
FOR tho nomination for President,
went to Greensboro, N. c. and made
speech that was intended as a
message to the South, that he would
not interfere with disfranchisement
l was accepted as such.
There was no misunderstanding of
1t by the Southern POLITICAL autocracy
which, under Roosevelt, had fastened
this system Of minority domination
upon tho white masses and had rel
egatcd to status Of political slavery
all the colored people!
Despite these truths there was
we'll oiled propaganda, put in motion
In the East months ago, to bring
about the nomination of Roosevelt
for President; and since tho death
or Roosevelt there are some who arc
trying out" Mr.. Taft. The money
band Of New York was set upon nom
mating Roosevelt. Every sort of
publicity promotion was in action
Organization was perfected. "Man
proposes, but God disposes."
New York city hardly has tho dual
ity Of Republican leadership that Is
tit to lead Lincoln Republicanism.
Therc is, for example its record in
the Mayorality campaign last year.
The money band was set upon the
reelection OF Mitchell Mr. Mitchell
Democrat, was entered in the Re-
publican primar eS. Mr.. Bennett, a
Republican opposed him.
The Republican machine was dom
mated by the money band and the
result was that Bennett was counted
out. An invest cation followed and
the frauds overturned and the Re-
publican nomination given to Ben
nett. a half hundred election in
spcctors sent to Jail. The courts,
however, only got and only jailed the
tools of the political crooks h CHER
up. These crooks / refer to are the
Republican leaders Of New York, who
instigated this rasca!ity at the behest
Of the moEey band.
Mitchell ran as an independent. |
Over 100000 was spent to cor ,
rupt the electorate, but it failed to !
rc-elect Mitchell. The Republican
machine supported Mitchell. It
bolted the nominee Of the Republ' can !
primary. Roosevelt supported Mitch !
ell. This was not surprising. He !
had elected wilson President by bolt |
ing the Republican Party in 1912. |
fie began to wreck tho party in 1908 !
by forcing the nomination OF Taft |
with the ste"" roller tactics, which |
medicine was applied by the Taft |
supporters to Roosevelt in 1912.
Roosevelt and Taft both stood by
and saw the Southern political oil !,
garchy lynch the liberty principles
Of the United States Constitution In
the Southern States. They, each Of
them, failed to uphold democracy at !