The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-01
GOV. ROBERTS AND NEGROES.

The inability Of the Chattanooga
morning paper, which 10 now opposing
tho election Of n democratic governor
to deal Justly with an opponent Il
proverblal. II II dealt Justly with Gov
Roberts. however. II would find nothing
substantial upon which TO base III
treaoherous warfare upon him. II seeing
TO take hendish sort OF delight II
Illustrating the facts OF tho governor,
record, a record which II urged tn,
democrats OF the state to indorse. II
has alternAted back and forth In III
attacks upon tax equalization and SUI.
frage, and yesterday morning under
took 10 sneer at law enforcement, lest
the governor might receive the support
OF coiored voters because Of his EFFORTS
to protect accused members OF that
race until they could be tried In an
orderly manner.
This. II seems to W.. h tho mani
Hesitation Of an ignoble spirit. The
south has been disgraced by Ito req
ord OF lynchings. Tennessee has not
been free from this species OF lawiess.
ness which other governors have been.
In large measure. powerless TO abate.
Perhaps no newspaper In the state--or
south--has spoken more often In repro
baton OF this shameful situation than
our local contemporary. Now. however,
In seeming effort 10 adapt its methods
to those OF the republican candidate
whom Il supports. It adviscs colored
citizens that they are under no obli-
cation Of appreciation 20 Gov, Roberts
because no has tried TO give them the
same protection m other citiaens. In-
telligont negroes, however, win readily
detect the bias In such advice.
Gov. Roberts has made no special APP
peal 10 colorod voters. He has con-
tended that the issua Of law and order
has no proper place In the campaign.
However, he has been content to let
tho facts speak for themselves. No
lynchingH have occurred during his adj
mlnistration, due 90 the measures he
has taken 20 uphold the law. But he
maintains that any governor who was
worth his salt would try 90 keep the
peace and preserve public order.
While Gov. Roberts claims no special
credit for thus doing his duty, no
thinks II would have been to his dis.
credit 20 have done less. n, therefore.
attempts to protect and preserve every
citizens equality before the law 10 COM
mendable, and IL among the governors
duties. right thinking colored persons
VIII readily perceive that Gov. Roberts
is entitled to their favorable jccnsid-
Grafton.
Mouthings against the governor on
account OF the alleged violation OF the
constitution In the ratification OF sur
frhge are tho verleRt hypocrisy. His
position In that particular seems 70 IN
iinpreKnRble. II In supported and de-
Tended by the supreme court OF the
country, by the state and national law
departments. by the Iresident and the
democratic candidate for president OF
the United States. by the state and
national platforms Of both parties. even
by tho republican candidate for gov
ornorl Surely. this array Affords little
comfort 10 the morning paper In It's
support OF the republican candidate. II
seems TO be q peculiar sort OF logic
that leads an alleged democratic news
paper 10 forSake It's own party candi-
date because, as Il says, he has violated
the constitution and then give its sup
port to tho republican candidate who
is guilty OF the same offense.