Mr. Smith on the Situation

Hon. H.C. Smith, editor of the Cleveland, Ohio, Gazette is “much disgusted” in hearing that the Republican nominee for president is William H. Taft.

Hon. H.c. Smith, editor of the Cleveland, Ohio Gazette is much disgusted over the nomination of Hon. William H. Taft as the Republican nominee for President. It is a case of where that distinguished Afro-American has gone too far before the nomination to get back after the nomination. As he is a gentleman of hi word, he cannot support the chosen leader of the Republicanism this year. He states though the manner and the method by which his support in this campaign of the Republican nominee can be secured and his explanation is as follows: “Until the Republican nominee for President publicly repudiates his stand on the two vital issues (to us) just mentioned, and also repudiates his public endorsement of Roosevelt’s policy in the Brownsville matter, how can any loyal Negro of Afro-American voter support his candidacy? He says further: “It s not necessary for us to vote for Bryan if we do not support Taft. We are not compelled to vote for either, or vote at all. If we do not wish to. However, if we wish to cast our ballots for some candidate for President, we can vote for Eugene V. Debs or some of the other party candidates for President, Bryan and Taft excepted, of course. “For more than ten years we have read Debs’ speeches and time and again noted with much satisfaction the outspoken, manly and friendly references to our people they have contained. He is right on the co-called race question, and has the courage of his convictions. That is enough! That he is the candidate of the Socialist party is of no consequence, as far as we are concerned, just as this time. That he is right on the questions of vital interest to us is all that is necessary this year at least. “Therefore we feel it our duty at this time to call upon our loyal members of the race to suspend final judgement in the matter of voting this fall, a short time, in order to give a committee of our best leaders as an opportunity to submit to Judge Taft the three questions as to his attitude upon our three burning issues in the event of his election to the Presidency, and thus give him a last opportunity to repudiate his present position upon them, or to refuse to do so. “This much we feel is due not only the race, the Republican party and Mr. Taft, but particularly a large hesitating element among our people who will only need such sane action upon our part to enable them to reach the proper conclusion and quickly, too. Prompt action should be taken by those of our leaders who led in the racial effort against the nomination of Mr. Taft and who since the Chicago convention, have not been flirting with Mr. Bryan and Democracy. “Only such, will the great mass of our voters who are most decidedly anti-Taft, as matters now stand, have confidence in. Who will join us in this sane, sensible and loyal move? It must be done. It shall be done! The best interest of all concerned demand it.” This is quite a significant movement in the direction of Socialism. Can Hon. H.C. Smith lead the “children of Israel” into this camp, or will he go over there alone, with not even Dr. J. Milton Waldron and Bishop Alexander Walters following him? We admit that Socialism as a theory is all right and we would to God that in practical operation it was a success. No one who will read its tenets and meditate over its principles can fail to be impressed by the sincerity of its advocates and the greatness of its policies. On the race question, it is all right, but we have often wondered whether or not, if entrusted with power, its leader would remember its platform and be guided by its pledges? The conditions now existing are characteristic of the Negro race or Afro-American race or colored race, or any other name that you choose to use in designating our people. We have a veritable “Tower of Babel” on our hands. Some of our leaders and some of our organization advocate one thing and some another. This is the embarrassing predicament in which we are placed before the country. It is bewildering to us as well as amusing to the public. It may be that out of the gloom of uncertainty will come the sunshine of an united effort. The campaign is not well under way yet and it can do no harm for us to do less talking and more consulting, less threatening, and more consideration of vital issues. Hon. William H. Taft is not satisfactory and Hon. William J. Bryan is a political quantity that will bear watching. In the meantime, it will be well for us to take into consideration the platform and candidates of other parties.

“Mr. Smith on the Situation,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed February 15, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/652.