Evening star., 1927-08-19
"SOL|D SOUTH" HIT
IN INSTITUTE TALK.
Col. Anderson, Richmond
G. O.P. Leader. Says DEM
ocrat Party Is 0IigarChy.

BY the Associated Press.
CHARLOTTESVILLE. Va, August
1e.-"There are no real or effective
nolitical parties in the South today.
The dominant party consists of office
holding oligarchies in the several
States which dictate its policies ana
select lis candidates, While the oe-
Velopment Of a minority party IS pre-
vented by represslVe and dlscrlmina-
tory laws" Col Henry w. Anderson
OF Richmond. a Republican leader in
Virginia and n one-time candidate for
governor said before the Institute of
Public Affairs at the University of
Virginia today while making his ad-
dress on The Solid South"
In his opening words today Col.
Anderson said that the primary puX-
pose Of an institute of public aSfairs
Is 10 induce frank and non,partiSan
discussion of political questions.
Task Delicate One.
"Such discussion" he said. "involv-
ing as it does matters of fundamental
difference OF tradition and opinion.
presents a task OF some delicacy but
IL Is only by homes; exchange of views
that the truth may be developed"
He discussed the disfranchisement
OF the negro and said: The process
of of-disfranChisement did not stop there.
The machinery OF discrimination, de-
vised primarily for this purpose. was
employed by the dominant party or
ganiZation TO effect a disqualification
of large proportion Of the white
population opposedt to that orga anization,
while unchallenged control of one po-
litical group permitted or encouraged
political corruption. AS a result of
these measures. the vote qualified or
cast in the Southern States has been
so reduced that it includes only
small minority of the population. So
small is this vote that the State and
local authorities constitute or easily
control a majority. Governors and
elected by less than 10 per cent of the
population of voting age"
Political Freedom Held Lost.
The politically solid South is thus
maintained but at the price of po-
lltical freedom. he declared: popular
government has been destroyed and
there have been substituted for self
perpetuating political oligarchies. con-
trolled by the office.holding groups
in the several States. who are
obedient to the party organizations
and use the agencies of government
and the taxing power to maintain the
control of those organizations.
In comparing the vote of the II
States Of the solid South with that of
II States Of the North and West with
substantially the same population.
Col. Anderson showed that 1920 cen
sus figures indicated a 10 per cent
vote to population for the South
against 33 per cent vote to popula-
ton in the Northern States selected.
"A spirit of intolerance, which is
only too manifest in all parts of the
Union, is especially acute in the States
OF the South, where the principles of
political and religious liberty were
once most vigorously maintained"
Hits Eighteenth Amendment.
The eighteenth amendment to the
Constitution Of the United States "is a
violation Of human nature, an affront
to human reason, a gross invasion OF
personal liberty and, despite all the
crime and misery that has resulted
from strong drink, it can be pro
nounced totally arbitrary and un-
reasonable incubus upon the innocent
and joyous side Of human existence. -
William Cabell Bruce. United States
Senator from Maryland. said last night
IN an address before the Institute OF
Public Affairs.
Senator Bruce spoke to one Of the
largest crowds yet to attend the ses
sions of the Institute of Public Affairs
as did Edward B. Dunford, assistant
general counsel for the Anti-Saloon
League, who spoke at the morning
session in defense Of prohibition and
the eighteenth amendment.