Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-07-28
Plan to Invade
South.


Washington, July 25.-Just as
predicted in this correspondence on
frequent occasions, the movement to
break the "solid South" has begun
here. Months ago talks began to be
heard in the national capitol look
ing toward the end of wrecking the
South's Democratic hold and of
planting there white Republican
party. Today the matter took con-
crete form.
1t has become known here that re-
Gently many letters have come to Re-
publican leaders asking that some
thing be done to wrench the political
machinery from the Democrats of
the South in order that chances of
Republican victory might be enhanc-
ed. 1t has been suggested that Repub
lican strongholds be opened in sever
al of the leading cities of the South,
to which chairman Hayes is said to
have already given his consent and
approval. The location of these cities
is now said to be the only question
that is bothering the leaders and
that they have practically named
South Carolina as one of the places
where efforts will be commenced to
break the "solid South"
The Republicans of the South have
been informed by Henry L. john
son of Georgia and other men of the
party, that the only way to rid that
section of what they term the ''Dem-
ocratic blight is for the Republican
leaders to busy themselves.
Marion Butler of Washington, for
mer Populist-Republican senator
from North Carolina, dispatched the
following telegram to Chairman
Hays:
Southern Republican headquar-
tiers should be established because
every other section has been accord
ed separate headquarters especially
equipped to meet the different con-
ditions. Conditions in the East and
West differ.
"Second: A remarkable Republi-
can opportunity has arisen. Our
whole citizenship are descendants of
Revolutionary ancestors. They are
deeply aroused over the Democratic
attempt to surrender the republic.
They speak of the arch Tory in the
White House. Every soldier boy is a
crusader for Americanism. This is
the climax to a growing dissatisfac-
tion against eight years of monu-
mental maladministration. In North
Carolina these conditions are accen-
tuated by deep resentment against
new odious state taxation scheme.
"Third;: With impending reduction
of Southern representation, South
ern Republicans desire and deserve
this helpful recognition to enable
them to seize this opportunity and to
emancipate themselves and all our
people from the blight of Democrat
ic rule. The South needs the Repub-
lican party and the party needs the
South. What is needed is distinct
Southern headquarters managed by
those who know every phase of
Southern conditions, and located at
some point in the heart of the
South"
Marion Butler, author of the
above telegram, is well known in Re-
publican circles in the South and was
prominent as a Populist leader in the
United States senate when that cult
was rampant in many sections of the
country in the early COS and just
prior thereto. But when the pendu-
lum swung back Butler was, of
course, deposed from the senate and
his place filled by a Democrat from
North Carolina.
For many years Butler has been
Washington lawyer and G. o. P.
follower and his telegram to Chair
man Hays should be read with inter
est by Southern Democrats as giving
an indication regarding what plans
| may be on foot to break up the "sol-