The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-10-28
HARSH CRITICISM OF
PRESIDENTS SPEECH
MADE in BIRMINGHAM
Democratic Senators Declared
Harding's Remarks on Race
Question Inopportune.
RACIAL PREJUDICE
WILL BE AROUSED
Senator MacKeIlar Declared It
Was iii Timed and Can
Serve No Useful Purpose.
(nx The AssocIated Preaal


WASHINGTON oct. 27-President
Harding's address on the race question
at Birmingham evoked statements to-
day from democratic senators criticls-
ing the executives remarks, and from
republic senators commencing the
presidents position.
Democrats who criticised the speech
included Harrison Of Mississippi, Wat
son Of Georgia. Hehin Of Alabama,
and McKellar OF Tennessee. Repub-
licans who in formal statements de-
clared their approval Of it, included
Senators Calder OF New York. Spencer
of Missouri. and Willis Of Ohio.
The democrats declared that the
presidents remarks on tho race ques-
ton were inopportune and that his
policies would tend toward social
equality Of the negro with the whites.
Senator Watson Of Georgia said the
presidents speech was unfortunate
and mischievous.
I'VE are not going to permit social
or political equality of the kind the
president advocates. he declared.
Senator Willis said. 'tTho presi-
dents. ringirg statement in defense OF
political ana economic equality OF IN
dividual opportunity with recognition
Of absolute divergence in things social
ard racial IS as courageous as it IS
true."s
There Is no use In anybody getting
into a quarrel with facts he added
"The president has stated the facts;
political critics may wish the facts
were otherwise, but that does not
change the situation. The country will
applaud President Harding's clearness
of statement and patriotism of pur-
pose"
senator McKellar declared the presi-
dents speech was ill-conserved, III
timed, ill-placed and can serve no use
full purpose"
TITS only effect" he said will be 10
arouse racid discussions and racial
prejudices that had better been lefE
dormant
Speeches Of this kind will not ben
eft the negro and may do him serious
harm.
1T is unfortunate that the presi-
dent should have seen fit to discuss n
the very heart Of the black belt the
race question on his first trip south
after his election to the presidency.
There was no demand for a discus
sion of the racial question. at this
tine"
Senator Calder republican, New
&4,o
4 thoroughly endorse the presidents
statements" he said. Il endorse his
Views for political rights for negroes.
we have elected negroes to the New
Yoik city board of aldermen and to
New York state assembly. If they
should have the majority OF votes they
woLio be entitled 10 seat in The
Ufited States senate"
Senator Hefiin IN his statement, said
ii part:
Lincoln in his debate with Douglas
II 1859, said: am opposed to max
ing voters Or jurors Of negroes T'iere
u no escape from the conclusion that
4 bsolute political and economic equal-
Ity between the white man and the
rtegro means the wiping out os al
color lines in the partnership in basi-
ne IS and in the election OF negroes to
rffice over white people. Social equal
Ity is next door to such a humiliaiiHg
and disgraceful policy. So far as the
south is concerned. we hold to the
1octclne that God Almighty has fxcd
the lir1.ts ard boundary lines between |
the two races, and no republican nv-
.ng crn improve upon His handworx. =
Senator Spencer said that "Ihs |
timely usierance Of the president Il
all the mere necessary If there is any
disposition 20 disagree to It's MANIFEST
truth