Activities Among Negroes
Within a few days the citizens of these United States will cast their votes for a president and members of congress. In this state they have an endless number of Amendments to the state constitution to vote upon, together with a very special election for an important measure to secure sufficient pure water for the Eastbay district. This will mean the voting of bonds, and also a board of directors to judiciously manage the securing and distributing this water. Their ability must be unbiased in the interest of all the people. The question is being asked on all sides, "How will the negro vote in the national issues?" Some are saying they will support the third party, or rather La Follette. Those who thus speak no doubt are unmindful of the fact that the American negro citizen and voter has not voted the solid Republican ticket since election of the late President Grover Cleveland. In every election some men and women prominent in the race have announced their intention to vote with the Democratic party. They have never, however, received any recognition from that party, in any city or state except New York City. They only voted the Democratic ticket, thinking that perhaps by dividing their vote, they would abolish lynching and other injustice inflicted upon the race. But alas, even though individual, members did vote the ticket and received the promises of the party leaders for some measure of justice elected, they found out that their party would not permit them to fulfill these promises to negro voters. Bishop Walters, a distinguished negro divine of New York City, died a broken hearted man because he had told colored voters that the late President, Wilson, if elected, would do great things for the race. But Wilson did not keep his promises because they were contrary to his party's policy.
Hence the colored voters throughout the nation worked earnestly for the election of President Harding, and a Republican congress and senate. They had the assurance that with both branches of the legislature of the same party they would be able to successfully, pass legislation to abolish lynching through the Dyer anti-lynching bill. This bill made lynching a federal offense. The chairman of the judiciary committee was Senator Shortridge of California. Through his leadership the bill was twice favorably reported out of the committee and passed the lower house. But at no time did it pass the senate. This lack of sincerity of the United States Republican senate has so discouraged the colored voters that some feel justified, in supporting La Follette's candidacy.
After careful survey of the negro papers and magazines on the subject, the writer feels safe in saying that while the negro voters no doubt feel that they have a legal right to vote for some other party, nevertheless because they feel that their interests are so intertwined with the rest of the human family of the United States and the world, and because the money markets of the world are not stabilized and American interests secure. The chaotic conditions of Europe threaten the peace of the world, and the Japanese question is still unsettled. If all these negro issues could he brushed away lightly, then perhaps the negro voters in large numbers might experiment with their votes, and vote for a change of party and government. But they cannot forget the suffering of Russia, and the money America raised to feed the children of that country. The majority of the negro voters feel that while they have a legal right to vote for another party, under the circumstances it would be morally wrong.
Why not? The answer is this the American negro citizens and voters, through the leadership of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. and the National Association of Colored Women's clubs, have aroused the consciousness of the American white people as to the injustice of lynching. The heart and mind of thinking white people throughout the nation have been touched through the sincerity of Congressman Dyer, who has toured the country in behalf of the Dyer anti-lynching bill.
The writer refuses to believe that the master mind of the American white man, who has conquered earth, sea and air, will not conquer himself and stop the heinous crime of lynching. To not stop this, is injustice to a race that serves the country loyally in all its wars. They die willingly to protect the American white man and his interests. To not stop this injustice of the negro will stamp America in the future ministries of the nations of the earth as unjust and cruel, when America is always an angel of mercy to other peoples in distress.
The Republican party, while it has not perhaps done all it should have done for the loyalty of the Negro voters, nevertheless the consciousness of the party has been aroused, and this year men and women of the Negro race are running for congress on the Republican ticket in New York and other states. President Coolidge, when sent a letter by some one asking him to protest against a negro making the race for this high office, answered in no uncertain tones as to what he thought was due the Negro voters. It might be of interest to relate that the Republican machine of New York city is loyally supporting this Negro candidate, Dr. Roberts. The candidate whom he defeated for the nomination was a Mr. Ansorge, a white congressman, who acted as floor manager for the Dyer anti-lynching bill when, it was, before congress. He is now making political speeches to assist Dr. Roberts win the election to congress. Just a few days ago Roscure Simmons, Negro orator, spoke in Nashville, Tenn., on "The Merits of the Republican Party." News dispatches say he had as many white auditors as colored, and a monster crowd. (Note this was in a southern city and a northern negro speaker). The interracial commission working throughout the south has in an indirect way been the result of arousing the consciousness of the white Republicans toward the injustice practiced against the Negro. The Negro, voter has won a great moral victory and not far hence he will reap his full measure of justice. Edward H. Morris, one of the noted Negro attorneys in America, has said in a leading Negro magazine, The Crisis: "From his record and what I have heard of President Coolidge, and from what I know myself of General Charles M. Dawes, both are brave and manly enough to try to be fair. They are not afraid, Colored voters can well afford to give them hearty support. It does seem to me it would be a mistake not to do so. Most men are cowards; they don't always know it, but the fact remains, whether they know it or not, Colored people suffer more from cowardice on the part of men in power than most anything else."
Miss Hallie Q. Brown, former Professor of English at Wilberforce university in Ohio, past president of the National Association of Colored Women's clubs, and at present director of colored women's division, Republican national committee, has issued a call to action of all colored women. The following is an extract of her call: "In the name of humanity and justice, with the inspiring record of the Republican party I appeal to you to let no false reasoning, no pretty sounding phrases, no promises which cannot be fulfilled, deflect you from entering heartily into this campaign and continue until victory is achieved. We would make this a sweeping campaign for every colored woman voter for Coolidge and Dawes."
She then recalls the million and more colored women of the race who will not be permitted to vote in the south, and adds: "These figures show the necessity of an intensive organized effort to arouse every colored woman voter in the northern states to her responsibility to her disfranchised southern sisters to vote for the highest welfare of the race."
The writer will add let everybody of all races go to the polls and vote for Coolidge, Colonel Barrows and the East Bay Municipal Utility District bonds.
Dr. Arthur E. Richmond and wife are visiting relatives in Oakland. They are from Philadelphia, and are enthusiastic over the parks and the scenic drives around the city. All are hoping they will like "Our City, Oakland," and remain here.
Members of the Linden street branch of the Y. M. C. A. are sending out invitations to their "Second Setting Up Conference,” for November 11. They have scheduled the following colored women speakers: Mrs. Helen Adams-Moore, formerly of Morgan Community House, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Miss Alice Moore, formerly executive of the Girls' Reserve department in Hawaii; Mrs. Helen Curtis, formerly of the Harlem branch, Y. W. C. A., New York city, and Mrs. Lydia Smith-Ward, formerly executive secretary, Kansas City, Kan.
The Art and Industrial Club is planning a dinner to raise funds toward building a colored women's clubhouse in Oakland.
Bishop W. Sampson Brooks of the sixteenth episcopal district of the A. M. E. church, comprising Liberia and Sierra Leon, West Africa, stopped in the city en route to the Atlantic coast, where he will sail back to Africa. He and Mrs. Brooks have been visiting her sister, the wife of Rev. I. A. Graham, in Tacoma, Wash. They are guests of Rev. Pryor, and spoke Saturday evening at North Oakland Baptist church, and today will speak, in the morning at Bethel church of San Francisco and at 8 o'clock at Parks chapel in Oakland, and in the evening for Rev. Pryor's congregation at First A. M. E. church. Bishop Brooks has served some of the largest churches in the jurisdiction, and has built a large school costing $60,000 in Monrovia, Africa.
