Judge Taft in Richmond

Secretary William H. Taft speaks at the Horse Show in Richmond and makes a “most favorable impression” on The Planet with his focus on black rights and equality.

Hon. William H. Taft, Republican candidate for the presidency of the United States spoke at the Horse Show Building in this city last Saturday night to a large and enthusiastic audience. He made a most favorable impression upon all who were anxious to hear his address upon the political situation. The local management made radical discrimination on account of color and our people were given separate seats, where they listened to the applause of the business contingent of this city most of whom seem to be deeply interested in the success of the distinguished visitor. We are frank to state that we are of the opinion that the local management was alone responsible for these arrangements and we are not disposed to charge any of it up to the Republican candidate for the Presidency. It seems to be a difficult matter to have the average colored man understand that his day as a political factor in the equation is passed and that these meeting are now being held for the double purpose of getting Democratic white men to vote the Republican ticket and to use the names of these white Democrat who forsake the Democratic Party as an asset at Washington, should the Republican candidate be elected, so that the present Democratic-Republican political, office-holding regime may use it to show that they are building up a strong Republican Party in this District. Defeat in Virginia will not affect them. Hon. William H. Taft has been so impressed by this spectacular display that he will surely extend the glad hand to this political combine should he reach the White House. We congratulate the “lily white” management upon the success of the showing at the Horse show building and we also commend those colored men, who failed to see the purpose or appreciate the motive of the display made there. “Where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis foily to be wise.” Our colored friends and neighbors do not act in concert and give notable indications of their own lack of harmony and that discriminating judgement which is so essential in all movements for the advancement of any cause of the elevation of any people. Mr. Taft is saying many nice things concerning our people and if he desired to present himself to us, it would have been far better for arrangements to have been made at some one of our many halls and under auspices that were at least friendly to us by virtue of the management being in our own hands.

“Judge Taft in Richmond,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 23, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/730.