The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-10-28
Compromise
By Harding
The President S Birming-
ham Speech Arouses
Much Discussion.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

WASH. h.nSton. Oc,. @7.--vres.dent Har-
G.cr.S speech - B:rm:Hcham. Alabama.
aG,cca..aE rr::.:ca; and sr"Hon:" equal
.ty tcy tac ueG-". vas t@" ;a.N ot the
town today.
Soacheru Democrats privately de-
uouuced :: and pccd:ctSd ,hat the hopes
Of ma Republican ravty ;or white
Pe?uh.:car VOTE hli been absolutely
dashed Z N" ground. E"puh!icans
commended the UtcsranCe as l"nco!n-
AsG.s rkey Cl.,ed K courageous
s?eern da.:> cred /: was n the heart
@. the south scse.:.
Irrespective % the merits o. Mr..
Nardsng's speech. tH"r" are certain m
ce-est!ns aspects 70 4 from poht'ca!
,.ew5olUt Republican cand.6a'eS ha'e
n the pas: spoken ~ poHtca! elua!itH
=, their ,aNpaiEn speeches w'taont Gre
sting mucfl Cc 4 ripple. Mr.. Harding
sad virtually the same thing n hts
presidential campa.c rs he said At Bir-
r,t-shsrr--;t pleased the negro voters
md was hard.y commented on at the
tina But as president. 10 one has gone
ci,!ts as tar ~ recent Years N hand!'HS
The negro problem as has NJ. hara'nS'
Theoretically. Republicans and peMo-
Gratis have admitted upon occasions tha'
true democracy means political eQaa!''E'
but IN actual practice both parties nave
rad Their controversies ahou; granting
that equality.
Tho Solid south
For several months the leaders ~ the
Republican party have been planning
roal campaign to break the Democratic
hold on the solid south. Some nave
advocated that the way 70 do x IL I"t
some statement - pc made tNac ~ouI"
assure the whites IN toe south tnat
they could vote the Republican ticket
r,thout fear oc negro domination. This
has, indeed been advocated b. those
R.pub,.cans who hailed from the south
and who know that some such utter1nce
VAS necessary before the whites could
be pArsua1cN - = "ar' fSe Democratic
standard On the other hand. northern
Republicans who Have been helped IN
recent years D. the influx OF negroes
into their congressional districts ha'N
feared tha. such a Statement; would
regarded as hostile By northern rHEr""s'
A Comproriss-
Mr. Harding has tried compromise
He declares he does rot he.!ev" n social
or racial equality. That's an important
statement tnr A president 90 the Intted
states 20 make. But while the south
has always insisted u0on - own right
T. determine who shall or shall not be
CONSIDERED social eQua.S the trouble is
.hay Me true GEAR ot political equality
Ia that < may lead - social ?ua.ity. AZ
'Aast the southern Democrats here who
Rave made A study ot tAs question de-
,,are that TIA tine between political AMI
social Equality IS TO haz" 70 draw.
They argue. r7rreove- that political
equality means :aA election 20 Office OF
negroes - rue "vs- whites. Such l
status. they add. :G"l .ta%ly carries with
. . social friction.
Republicans who defended NJ Ha--
dtrg's s1eecG were vHhemcG; IN their
expressions u approval. pointing out
,Na, the rreS:d"r; had made rea, ap-
pea! for united uIt.o3 and had nor
minced words IN Con."-G.GE t"- I
Ee04.Ss and r"t n mag mary demo :
-;cv The fact thar negroes n the
aud:erce apn,a,.aet and rh"erHl whia
wh:te s:o"G SEN. "a reported N the
DISPATCHES from T!rmincha:n. WAS re-
ca-dsd as {, isssAr :SlportaHrs than the
4,'c- effects .: ,he speech oa tho mass
:: 7eop,s vno reed and d:d rot hear the
urtN-aHce. Nr" thing - certain. Mr..
Harding has said something that IS
o. -. - he -" basis for discussion.