The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-04-04
AS Others See 1t
PENRosE's VIEWS ON RACIAL EQUALITY
CFlorida Metropolis

Florda MetrOpOlis)
Even during the hottest period of the recent
presidential campaign, and afterwards, the Me-
tropolis cmphatcally expressed the belief that
the South remained in the ranks Of the Demo
cratic party not because of the tariff question,
not because of tradition and custom, but because
of the race problem The outcome of the cam
paign showed one southern state in the Repub-
lcan ranks and the party piled up Il majority in
other southern states greater than it ever
ceived before, will ever receive again, and the
reason was that the problem was overshadowed
by the League of Nations and peace treaty fight.
Now. strange it may seem, after SCATTERING
the solid south, the Republican party is deliber-
ately in ;uting those Willie southerners who voted
its ticket which of course means that Democrats
also being insulted
Senator Bots Penrose the real power behind
the throne of the Republican party, in infor-
NAL address before delegation of Philadelphia
negroes recently said:
Il see no reason why the coored man or col
ored should not be able to obtain cup
of coffee AT any restaurant if they want to, CT
for that matter go to the hotels, cafes or other
public places freQuented by white persons.
The time has long since passed when there
should be any discrimination or repression to-
ward our colored citizens. They are entitled to
their rights citizens under the constitution
They free men under the constitution, and
believe they arc entitled to full commercial and
political freedom Of action. especially in regard
to public accommodations and utilities
Il am glad to be able to use what influence |
possess at Harrisburg, where a bill is pending to
give equal rights to the negro race, to secure
the passage of the measure. which has been
hanging fire too long. 1t should be passed
81 am glad to assist the men and women of the
elimination to which they are now subjected"
The southern people also believe that the col
ored man is entitled to his rights citizen
under the constitution, but social equality is
something not to be considered for a moment,
and that really is the unspoken meaning of Sen
ator Peiroses remarks 1t is talk of this kind
that has caused friction between the in
the past 1t can cause more friction in the fu-
ture. The south is the negro's best friend
when the negro is in his proper place which
does not mean that he must not enjoy liberty,
life and the pursuit of happiness but nature
drew indeible lines between the races in Gre
alton. and forever these lines must be observed
Deep in his heart Senator Penrose does not be-
lieve in racial equality: at least self-respect-
ing white could, and statements such as he
made inspired by political designs, unless
the boss of the Republican party thinks he can
bear with little of it if the South is forced to
endure great deal of it. But the South will
never countenance it for moment. Senator
Penrose and his gang can stir up strife and in
cite the colored race to false conception of
justice. but after all has been said and done, the
South will remain uncontaminated