The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-30
CRITICS PREMATURE IN ATTITUDE ABOUT HARDING'S SPEECH
Analysis Shows It Reflects Best Thought in the South on Negro
 Question
nr c. M. STANLEY

NNOVyIt&hIi lNxlt ny Nhe COhsohuhtSN
 Press ASsOcIntiOn.)
 CNo presidential speech of re-
 cent years has stirred the country
 As did Mir. HardinG's Birming-
 ham utteranceS on the race ques-
 tiOn. In this article Mir, Stanley
 reflects the reaction of Btrming-
 ham md of the southern people
 to that speech. In the editorial
 comment which followed 1t, there
 is commendntlon of Mir. Harding
 by two Birmingham papers and
 censure by third. The one ele-
 ment of danger, 1t is agreed, lies
 in the possibility that the Pres
 fdent's meaning may not have
 been thoroughly understood by
 some of the negro Ienders.l
 Birmingham, October 29-Reports which attribute to the people of Bir- mingham hostility to the remarks Of President Harding Wednesday on the race question are evidently prema Q ture and ill-considered. When the President urged equality of economic and political opportunity for the white and black races he also said men of both races may well stand uh- compromisingly against every sug- gestion of soalal equality. And he emphasized the fact that even eco homie and political equality should be proportioned to the honest ca pacities and deserts of the indiyid- uals.
 These views are unquestionably in accord with the best thought not only in Birmingham, but in the entire soath There unquestionably has been misunderstanding of the mass psychology of the negro and misrep- rcsentation of certain confusion or certain silences in the audience which heard the President speak.
 It was estimated there were be- tween 3O,0o0 and 10000 people in Capitol park during the address. It was physically impossible for them to hear what the President was say ing. A section on one side was re- served for negroes and the section was filled almost to suffocation. Every time the President turned toward them they cheered as only negroes can cheer a republican Pres ident. Most of them could not hear A. 'rd being said. Those on the other side who likewise could not hear in turn began their noise -mak- ing, many of them thinking perhaps the President had said something very pleasing to his colored hearers.
 It is true there have been and al- ways will be those in the south and elsewhere who are jealous of any suggestion of justice to the negro race. Some of them were probably in Wednesdays audience, but they do not represent Birmingham nor do they represent Alabama.
 Attitude of Newspapers
 It is fair assertion that the daily newspapers of Birmingham reflect the sentiment of the people of Bir- mingham Here Is what The Age Herald said editorially on the Pres ident's speech:
 "President Harding offered a prac- tical, common sense solution of the race problem. His views coincide with the best thought Tn this part of the country and will be cordially ap- grounds of humanity and an equality opportunity, but he drew a sharp distinction between economic and so- cial recognition.
 Southern leaders, white and black, have already accepted the doctrine laid down by President Harding.
 .'It cannot be denied that politics has had much to do with aggravattny the.race question in the south. The cry of black domination has served demagogues ever since the Civil war and continues to do so. This Is due largely to the fact that negroes have been closely identified with the att teirpts Of the republican party to gain a foothold in the south, and have been used time and again by politicians for their own selfish ends"
 The Birmingham News. after point ing out that the President expressed the southern viewpoint, proceeds:
 "The south will have no quarrel with President Harding upon his ad- dress. If the speech was greeted In measure of silence it was because such statements from President