The Negro Baptists and Mr. Taft

At the National Baptist Convention in Lexington, Kentucky, Rev E.C. Morris assures Secretary Taft that a majority of African Americans are rooting for his success and presidency.

That the Negro Baptists of the United States intend to equal if not supplant the African American Methodist Episcopal Church in its influence in the political affairs of the nation seems now to be a foregone conclusion if we take note of the fact that a delegation of fifteen leading ministers with the president, Rev. E. C. Morris, D.D. at its head went over from Lexington, Kentucky, where the session of the National Baptist Convention has recently been helped and on Tuesday, September 22nd called upon Hon. William H. Taft, the presidential nominee of the Republican Party and assured him that the Negroes of this country were all right for him and those associated with him. As a result there were some interesting speeches delivered. The one by Rev. Dr. Morris was a model of its kind. It will be interesting to know whether these able divines went there in the capacity of private citizens or in the role of the official representatives of the two and a half million Baptists that they represent. We hope too, that the Republican managers will not deceive themselves into believing that there is no disaffection among the colored voters of this country; either North or South. To do so will be suicidal. The visit of the delegation was a wise political stroke but it should be followed up by other of equal importance and of similar significance. Thousands of colored men are preparing to “slip the hawser” of party allegiance and it will be necessary to employ able colored orators and campaigners to check the movement. Rev. Dr. Morris and his supporters constitute a valuable factor in the contest and their influence will no doubt be felt as a result of the contest. The Brownsville affair is uppermost in every colored man’s breast in this country and the least friendliness displayed by the Democratic managers would have been attended with most disastrous results to the Republican Party. But it seems as though the Democratic Party is blundering as usual. But to Rev. Dr. Morris’ remarks. He is quoted as follows: “We come here today as representatives of that class of American citizens who were made citizens by the adoption of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments to the constitution of the United States. We represent also a posterity who are and will continue to be American citizens to the manor born. As such we deem it an exalted privilege to call upon and pay our respects to the man who has been made the standard bearer of the great Republican party in the approaching contest. “We beg to assure you that the choice and the choice of a very large majority of our people in this country. “We beg to assure you also that we are in hearty accord with the declaration of principles enunciated by the party in national convention, and were highly pleases when we learned from your speech of acceptance that you stood squarely on that platform...

“The Negro Baptists and Mr. Taft,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed October 9, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/722.