Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-10-27
Makes Plea to Birmingham
Democrats For Negro
Suffrage in South
GETS NO APPLAUSE
President Receives Degree From
Birmingham Southern College.
Lays Masonic Corner Stone.

Birmingham, Ala, Oct. 27.-The
democracy of the United States, in
the opinion Of President Harding,
sis lie" unless the negro is grant
ed economic and political equality
This utterance, the climax or !!
strenuous day in Birmingham, ana
received in silence by the white
people in his audiences as the ne
groes loudly cheered, was the man
topic of conversation in the city
after news of his words had spread
1t was bold, sharp extempo-
raneeous shot, directed to the whites
in his audience, as result, it would
appear, Of the failure of that sec.
ton to respond to his plea that the
negro must be given 4 far chance
in the interests Of justice and ma
tional welfare. -.
II plead with my own political
party to lay aside every program
that looks to lining up the black
man as mere political adjunct, >
he has said. THE South should
cease narrowing the negro's polltl-
cal rights"
At the close of the address,
members of the Presidents party
were frankly apprehensive rs to
how his remarks on the race ques-
ton might be received throughout
the South, Governor kilby, however
who introduced the President, sad
afterward:
at was a clear and conservative
statement Of the race question ana
/ approve it." .,
Democrats, said thee President had
merely taken the position OF
Booker 7. Washington, and, despite,
the very obvious lack OF approval
manifested toward his remarks Dy
the white people in his afternoon
audience. no one OF any import
ance ventured to express disagree
ment with Harding's position.
The great audience which haG
turned out to hear him at Capital
Park was segregated. two-thirds OF
the seats being reserved Tor Wnl!es
one one-third for the negros. NOISY
wells of approval came from tne
negro section as he spoke Tor econo,-
mic and political equality, though
warning that an absolute DIVER
,rencc" must be maintained IN
things social and racial. Racial
amalgamation there cannot be, ne
said.
The negro shouts and cheers were
in sharp contrast to the virtual ST.
lcnce from the white section OF the
audience. -.
But the Presidents speech on this
subject failed to dampen the entnu-
siasm of the gigantic crowds which
surped around him all day, both be-
fore and after his park address
Every street he passed through
was iammed to the curb, and the
hotel lobby was packed whenever ne
appeared. ~,
The President donned the academ-
ic cap and gown to receive an IL
D. degree, and then made a QUICK
change to the Masonic apron just be-
fore crossing the street through a
line Of arched swords to the site OF
the proposed Masonic Temple. With
= silver trowel he smoothed the first
batch of morta1. and guided the big
square stone into place as 1t was
lowered by the crane. Then, turn.
ing to the 500 Masons, many OF
them dressed in the brilliant rcgalla
of the Scottish rite degree. he spoke
in praise of the principles OF the
order.
He had been introduced as one
of the trinity of great Masons-
Solomon. George Washington and
Warren Gamaliel Harding.
Il want to tell those of you who
are not Masons," he said, looking
out into the street as the thousands
gathered there, ''that there IS not
anything in the ritual or oath OF
Masonry that any free, righteous
or lust American couldn't be proud
to subscribe to and be the better
citizen for it.