Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-04-20
To Decide on Pie Slice For
Negroes.


Negroes.
Washington, April 1.-THE pres
ent month, will, in all probability, de-
termine the fate of the negro in the
South to profit from the Harding ad-
ministration in the way of federal
pie. Nominations of every variety
from that of ambassador to the great
est nations in the world down to the
little post offices which are giving
so much trouble, will come pouring
into the Senate for confirmation. So
far there has been not the least ink
ling from the White House that Hard
ing was inclined to pay much atten-
ton to the colored members of the
G. o. p. one way or the other. In
fact since the date of the inaugura
tion there has been decided air OF
tranquility and quietness noticeable
about the Chief Executives abode.
A strong reason to believe that Mr..
Harding does not intend to dispense
much of his patronage among the
negroes became known here today
when copies of an appeal to him to
recognize them were distributed here
and there. among the people in and
around Washington.
This appeal is a printed statement
entitled "A reply to Mr.. Taft on the
negro in politics"
"Among the many cherished hopes
for the better things to come from
the restored Republican power" these
wishers for federal pie say "is the
hope Of millions of negro citizens that
Mr.. Harding will live up to his pre-
election platform promise to them of
justice and the square. deal. Political
ly, this promise can have no value
unless it means that the President is
going to protect the electoral rights
of colored, as we'll as all other Amer
lean citizens, and insure to them fair
representation and participation in
the government.
'Now Mr., Taft is saying that the
negroes of the South must xepect
nothing of. the kind. He thinks it
necessary to- state to the incoming ad-
ministration, the southern point OF
view, and by implication, embraces
that view himself.
:It is hard to understand why Mr..
Taft shouldafeel called upon to hold
a brief for the Pourbon South. That
South has never lacked couraged to
make plain the meaning of its policy
of keeping the negro in the place OF
the non-participating menial. These
destructive times need clear voices on
the other side of the argument, that
is, on the side of representative gov
ernment.
"The Ex-Presideat says, IN effect,
that the South has strong objections
to the appointment of negroes to po-
litical Offices; and that, therefore, Mr..
Harding would do well to give ne
groes appointments only in Washing
ton, or elsewhere in the North, so that
they may have sense of "officlal
participation, in the government" 1t
will be a great mistake, he thinks, If
Mr.. Harding appoints negroes to Of
flee South of the District, as this will
be out of harmony with "lily white"
Republicanism. 1t is his judgment
that southern Republicans will reward
this policy by an equitable distribu-
tion of school taxes, and by the re-
preston of lynching.
"The determination of the MAORI
ty of the .southerners to keep the
negro in his place seems as strong to-
day as it was. before the war. The re-
organization:of of the Ku Klux Klan and
the bold menace of that organization
in the North. are ready proofs"
This document has been spread
broadcast over the country with the
effort in view of getting recognition
for the negro, but whether OF not it
does so is another matter.