Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-10-29
THE PRESIDENT IN ALABAMA

place to deliver his analytical address
upon the race question and to have
attempted to give information upon n
subject, which was better understood
by all classes Of citizens, regardless
Of race or color than in any othel
place in this great land of ours. Ger
tainly, the vary platform, which he
so ably laid down has been acceptca
by every white and colored leader Ia
the Southland, who had an eye single
to the South's economic prosperity.
Evidently, white mkn were much
amused at President Harding's sincor-
ity and wondered why he had not dc.
/ livcred that racial gospel" upon the
phantom Of social equality in cities
like Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia.
Omaha, Denver, st. Paul; S:nttle ant.
San Francisco. He might have carried
the mission to other States, where
! people are not informed as to the MGR
PITS of this one great issue. The distins
o''i'No oSSupblb VI luC w Hlle 1tOuSe
remarks that "racial amnlgamation
there cannot be-" This was rather an
amusing statement. when many Of the
people in Alabama, whom he took TO
b. white people were in reality color.
ed ones. There is every reason to be
Iieve that more amalgamation bctwcc,
the races is going on in the SOUTHLAND
behind closed doors than in the North
Land with it's matrimonial publicity.
No colorcd leader Of renown or OF
recognized Responsibility in the South
land will take issue with President
Harding upon the fundamental state
monts uttered by him. All of them
have repudiated social equality" 1t
would seem then that our President
was busi!y engaged in a task of telling
white and colarcd people of Alabama,
just what they already knew.
President Harding is quoted rs say
ing that the problem Of race is or con-
Germ not only to the South, but to The
United States and to the world, what
over that may mean. The surprlsns
| part Of his address Is embraced in the
| fact that he has, contrary to the run.
| damcntal princiMes as outlined in tire
Constitution elected to see certain
! CLASSES OF american citizens Through
green goggles" SO to speak and he
| has decided to treat them differently
from other mcmbcns Of the body pol
tie.
What other conclusions nro we to
draw from his emphatic remarks?
| Every Sosthcrner, who listened to his
| oratorical de!iverance knew more
| about the best manner and method OF
| dealing with their fellow American
| citizens Of color than he did and yet
he delivered to them an address,
| which not only accustomed surprise,
but elected good humored common:
| rs they remarked to themselves, IL not
to him, II told you So" He dealt with
tho migration of the coloped people
North. In the immigration PROPOSE.
| tion, the larger proportion Of the be-
ter class of Colorcd people RENAME q
! in the South, while the larger class OF
the worst lass of colored people NOV
ed their belongings North, where their
outrageous conduct in some instances
:ea&,Cd against the better class of col.
ored people, who wore working side by
side With them.
| President Harding said that he adj.
Hbcated the economic equality OF the
races in the same sense and to the
same extent that Ire would if he spoke
OF economic equality between mt m.
bers Of the same race. He recommend
ed equality in proportion to the hon
est capaciti's Of and deserts Of the in
dividual.. No right.tl.inlsing colored
man asks more and no conservative
individual OF the same race ia willing
to accept less. He declared that "men
OF both races may we'll stand uncom
promIisingly against every suggestion
Of social equality" They have been do
ing this for about $50 years.
The primary reason for this has been
that any other course led down the
'homp route The colored folks PREFER
cd to take the straight and narrow patti
which led to the New jerusalem
President Harding said that he would
let tho black man vote, when he is I'll
to1 vote and prohibit the white man
voting when he is unfit to vote. THE
question naturally arises as to why
the distinguished resident OF Washins
ton should give advice in this matter
when he has absolutely no power i,
the promises and when from his pol!
tical affiliation, which is in diroct op
position 10 the Democratic machine
the Democratic machine would ascer
tain just what he wanted done anG