The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-02
Harding's Birming-
ham Speech Pro-
vokes Criticism
Democrats in Congress De-
clare He Advocates Policy
of Social Equality

Washington, Oct. 27-President,
Harding's address on the race
question at Birmingham evoked
statements today from Democratic
senators censuring the executives
remarks, and from Republican SEN
ators commencing the presidents
speech.
Democrats who criticized the
speech included Senator Harrison,
of Mississippi; Watson, of Geor-
gia; Hef1in, of Alabama, and Nc
Kellar, Of Tennessee. Republicans
who in formal statements declared
their approval Of it included SEN
ators Calder, of New York: Spen-
Ger, Of Missouri, and Willis, of
Ohio.
The Democrats declared that
the presidents remarks on the race
question were inopportune and that
his policies would tend toward So
cial equality of the negro with the
whites. Senator Watson, of Geor-
gia, said the presidents speech was
unfortunate and mischievous."
1--WE are not going to permit So
cial. or political equality Of the kind
the president advocates" he de-
clared.
Senator Willis said, "The presi-
dents ringing statement in defense
of political and economic equality,
Of individual opportunity with rec
ognition of absolute divergence in
things social and racial is as cour-
ageous as it is true
There is no use in anybody get
ting into quarrel with facts" he
added "The president has stated
the facts; political critics may wish
the facts We're otherwise, but that
does not change the situation. The
country will applaud President
Harding's clearness Of statement
and patriotism Of purpose"
Senator McKellar declared the
presidents speech was '.ill-conceiv-
ed, ill-timed, ill-placed and can
serve no useful purpose"
Its only effect" he said, will
be to arouse racial desire and ra-
cial prejudices that had better been
left dormant. Speeches Of this
kind will not benefit the negro and
may do him serious harm.
1T is unfortunate that the pres
ident should have seen fit to discuss
in the very heart of the black belt
the race question on his first trip
south after his election to the
presidency. There was no demand
for a discussion Of the racial ques-
ton at this time
Senator Calder, Republican, of
New York, declared the presidents
speech courageous.
II thoroughly endorse the pres
ident's statements" he said ST en-
dorse his views for political rights
for negroes. We have elected ne
groes to the New York city board
of aldermen and to the New York
state assembly. If they should have
the majority of votes they would
be entitled to a seat in the United
States senate.
Senator Heflin in his statement
said in part:
Lincoln in his debate with
Douglas in 1859 said: 81 am op-
posed to making voters or jurors
of negroes" There is no escape
from the conclusion that absolute
political and economic equality
between the white man and the
negro means the wiping out of all
color lines in the partnership in
business in the election Of negroes
to office over white people. So
cial equality is next door to such
humiliating and disgraceful policy.
So far as the south is concerned
we hold to the doctrine that God
Almighty has fixed the limits and
boundary lines between the two
races and no Republican living can
improve upon His handiwork. y
Senator Spencer said that tine
timely utterance of the president
is all the more necessary if there
is any disposition to disagree to it's
manifest truth"