Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-13
Taft and the "solid South"


SOUTRERN admirers Of that outstanding
~ American William II. Taft, and they arc
many, arc surprised TO learn that he has
joined the innumerabe Republican process
sion processing to foresee the carly attain
ment OF that ignis fatuus, the breaking Of
the solid South. They are more than sur
prised-they are disappointed over his
apparent lack OF political discernment, his
failure to read Alright the restless conditions
prevalent in the South in common with tho
rest Of the country. If anything were need
cd to convict him OF harboring political
Illusion. it would be found in his statement.
made i'll recent newspaper article, that
Virginia is one OF the States ripe for drop
ping over into the G.. o. p. basket That
alone. granting. as he sets forth. that Eir-
ginia Republicans are showing little more
than their usual vim and have Endorsed as
their vice-presidential candidate dstin-
guished Richmond citizen, to those who
know conditions here at once dispels any
thought that he is we'll informed on South
ern politics and feelings. Wherefore the
whole specious argument of the former
President falls to the ground with crash
Either his wish is father to his expressed
belief. or Mr.. Taft has not kept his ear close
to the earth, for even Virginia Republicans
have not the slightest expectation Of poll
ing more than respectable vote in the fall
election. In fact, their activity may be at
tributed to the vision OF Federal plums to be
gathered should their national ticket be sue
cessful. There are one or two border States
which conceivably. under certain political
circumstances. might transfer their cleo
toral votes, but conditions throughout the
South are largely similar to those in Vir-
GINA. and its breaking is improbable, If
not impossible. so long as Democracy re-
mains within hailing distance Of its time
honorcd standards.
There are three basic reasons why the
South will remain solid" which Mr.. Taft
either ignores or attempts to explain away.
They are:
/. The fear of negro domination. That
is not an idle fear, despite Mr.. Taft's COM
placent assurance that the suffrage is con-
sidercd settled since three Republican adj
ministrations have failed to NEEDLE with it.
The danger remains. reapportionment of
the Souths congressional representation
still looms large in the hopes Of the G. 0. =.
and only fear of possible consequences has
prevented its consummation in the past
Given the opportunity, the future might see
it brought TO pass. That opportunity will
not be afforded through the South's aid.
=. Despite the apparent desertion OF its
ancient principles in making possible the
ratification of the eighteenth amendment TO
the Federal Constitution, an ultra-radical
attitude 10 which in reality it was forced
by the viciousncss Of Federal excise laws
the South is rrevocably committed TO
States rights as opposed to the further CEN
traization OF all powers in Washington
which apparently is the present Republican
ambition. Southern people are in the main
satisfied with their State systems Of gov
eminent. systems which have proved more
elastic. more responsive 10 their needs than
the systems in the Republican North That
satisfaction alone keeps the Solid South"
from desire for political change.
3. The Souths utter disapproval of the
age-old Republican economic doctrine which
has tended TO center the nations wealth in
the hands OF the favored few to the impov-
erishment and encouragement Of the many.
The South is agricultural. its wealth gen
orally distributed, its stock strongly Anglo
Saxon and lacking the admiXture OF for
eign elements so numerous in the North. It
has believed and still believes in equal OPP
portunity for all. which never has been and
never can be afforded under n government
guided on Republican fundamentals.
Reasons might be multiplied. but these
are sufficient. MIR Taft in his heart knows
that he is disseminating political buncombe
for party purposes, and that the Rcpubli-
cans have no more chance of breaking the
Solid South than the Democrats have OF
erecting a Solid North"