Negro Vote to Go to Herbert Hoover Survey Reveal* Deflection to Demo crat* Negligible; Race "in the Middle" in Viciou* Southern Politic*. By Albert Anderson Staff Correspondent for the Associated Negro Press Washington, D. C., Oct. 31—(By the Associated Negro Press)—With the casting of ballots in the presiden tial election only a week away, this unusual campaign of 1928 keeps up its interest and uncertainty clear un til its end. The mixed issues of re ligion and liquor, race and color, the effort to crack the solid south, as well as the cry of “Tammany” or “Ku Klux Klan” have well nigh drowned out the old reliable political argu ments and eloquent slogans of the years past and created a puzzling sit uation for many a voter. It is this attitude which for once make3 even the Negro vote interest ing. While white republican leaders pretend to scoff at the idea that any appreciable number of black ballots will be cast for Smith, the actual po sition of colored people this year, un doubtedly has the political dopesters guessing. Democratic activity on a scale heretofore unknown, unrest, and admitted dissatisfaction with the present day republican party keeps a question mark behind the Negro un til the final votes are counted. Republicans Confident Quiet confidence seems to reign, however, in the republican head- 1 quarters at the Barr building here. Reports received by Chairman John R. Hawkins from his workers scat tered throughout the “voting states,” are to the effect that whatever tend ency there was to stray from the fold has been checked and that a j substantial majority of Negroes will vote for Hoover and Curtis. In the meantime, a spirit of watch ful waiting is to be felt at the Col ored Smith - for - President league headquarters ir. New York City, where the youthful chairman of or ganization, Julian D. Rainey, and chief of publicity, Lester A. Walton, sit back with the feeling that they ; have put forth a slashing effort and therefore are half hopeful that re sults will at least be encouraging enough to make a dent in the one party fealty of the colored hosts and encourage the democratic moguls to continue their efforts to proselyte the black vote in elections to come. i Stop Activities Early A recent survey through the east, middle west, and border states, re veals, according to the intelligence brought to Dr. John R. Hawkins, that the situation is safe. The early dis continuance of work in the western branch at Chicago, as well as the tapering off of the work in the east would seem to bear out this attitude of confidence. But it is no secret j that four or five weeks ago, the dem ocrats, who had their publicity going earlier than their rivals, and who in most instances had organizations ac tively in the field before the repub licans got started, made a noisy dis play of strength and following which ! startled old campaigners. The demo- j crats have been aggressive and the general Negro discontent furnished J fertile soil for them to plant. As the G. O. P. swung into action, how ever, the real truths about the issues began to seep down to the voting masses. The old distrust of the dem ocratic emblem and its southern asso ciations began to assert itself. The result seems plain, therefore, that while a good start was made, the Negro is not yet ready to vote the democratic ticket nationally, espe cially with a Robinson tied to its tail. How the States Stand Harlem will vote for the party of its father-. The chief reason appears to be that there they know A1 Smith and his entirely negligible attitude toward Negroes too well. Tammany has carried Harlem in the past be cause of organization and indiffer ence on the part of the republicans who do not even attempt to register the vote there. In Philadelphia, quite a little rip ple has been created by Negro demo cratic workers. It has been a long time since Pennsylvanians have been flattered by having anybody assume they could vote for anything but a republican ticket, so they have treat ed it as a novelty, being naturally as E. T. Atwell says, “jiners.” When the Vare steam roller, fired by the petty jobs they ladle out in Quaker town, gets through rolling and the Pittsburgh ward bosses pass the word down the line, the usual majorities will be counted, according to those who are in the know. Maryland is putting up an interest ing fight. Tom Smith has gangs of Negro democratic workers rounding up the vote, in the manner which is his wont. Thus is the first time he has felt free to support a presiden tial candidate, because though the democratic boss of Baltimore, he is an ardent “race man.” His influence is wide. It had been rumored that Negro Roman Catholics would not support Smith, but a white priest brought fourteen colored nuns to a Baltimore polling place and regis tered them last registration day. Smith Win*, Then Lo*e» East Republican activity has been usual and normal. Democratic activity be cause it is unusual, is news. A1 Smith and Chairman Raskob have not shown the same ability that the re publican chieftains have. At one time it was conceded that coupled with the popularity of Senator Walsh he had Massachusetts sewed up and New Jersey the same way. That | made the colored vote a big factor, j but the brand of political sense which j can win in New York City does not , suffice for the “big game” and in j both states the republicans are now I confident, even though in Bosten 10 days ago under the direction of Dr. “Shag” Taylor, democratic leader, the largest colored political meeting in the history of the city was held. The confidence of the republicans is perhaps reflected in the pitifully small appropriation which was made i for State Chairman Larkland Hewitt j and Walter Foster, the recently ar- I rived Moses, to carry the 32,000 Ne gro votes which, while all the state boasts, still in a close race, have a 1 decisive voice. We»t Safe From Start There has never been any doubt in the west, unless it is in the state of Missouri. There the resentment against the present republican state ticket which has been most shoddy in its treatment of colored people, is great. Governor Sam Baker, out going governor, has the hatred of nearly all Negroes v.ho follow state j affairs. Congressman Dyer is try ing to have him appointed federal commissioner of education, where he will have a finger on our land grant colleges. St. Louis, republican stronghold, is wet. The Negroes are expected to follow their German bosses in voting damply, except in Dyer’s district, where McLemore, the colored demo cratic candidate, is oposing him. If the Negroes voted by race and the white democrats supported McLem ore, his election would be a certain ty, but present indications are that neither course will be followed and Dyer will win. Indiana is another state where Ne groes are opposed to the state gov ernment, which is said to be totally Klan. But headquarters takes the ! position that if the entire Negro vote j w'ent against it, the intolerant Hoo siers would still beat the Roman : Catholic Smith by a wide margin. In Chicago, Oscar DePriest is cer- ! tain of election, in spite of the indict- j ment hanging over him. In fact, it is proving an aid, for by posing as a martyr, people readily proclaim that his indictment was for the purpose of keeping him c^t of congress. The opposition to DePriest is weak and poorly financed. “Judge’’ Harrison has little strength aside from that of i L. K. Williams’ church following. Some funny things are happening in Chicago, though. Powerful in fluences are trying to defeat the state and county republican tickets. The Chicago Tribune articles, declaring that the republican party was holding out the bait of a white party in the ; south, has stirred Negr •<*« as nothing ever printed in their own organs has. The leading newspaper there after a long period of waiting is carrying Smith propaganda, though not with the vim and dash it would put behind 1 it, if its convictions followed its oth er interests. Leaders, however, de- i dare that the migrant vote which hates the word democrat, will make | the famous second and third wards safe for Hoover. Al! Negro Districts for Hoover In fact, if reports made to Wash ington headquarters can be relied on, ; not a single Negro center, including the border states of Kentucky and Tennessee, will go for Smith. The Negro is republican at heart and this campaign has not materially changed him. It has just stirred him up and left him dizzy. More than that, the country is republican and Protestant and while many Negro communities may have been apprehensive because of the new democratic trends, the white leaders are said to have felt that while they did not wish to drive them from the party in the last an alysis, save in certain doubtful sec tions, it does not matter which way the Negro votes. Republicans Work at Disadvantage “Colored republicans have been at a painful disadvantage this year,” said a spokesman at the Barr build ing, who refused to have his name used, but who was a leader in activi ties there. “As much as we love our party and her traditions, and with I the reverence and fine confidence i which we have in the man Herbert Hoover, it has been next to impos sible for us to put the usual pep and confidence into our work. “In times past, the democratic par ty has been an ogre and there seemed absolutely no reason to support it. But this year, with the republicans bidding for the solid south, with our bewilderment at their program of white leadership in Dixie and with a growing sense of helplessness in a situation where both parties were bididng for our support above the Mason and Dixon line, and both of them using every type of scurrilous propaganda calculated to incite ra cial hatred below it, we seemed “to i be between the devil and the deep I blue sea.’ , “Those of us who live in Washing | ton know that the present lily white I program started two years ago un I der the leadership of former Senator Irvine Lenroot of Wisconsin, and bore fruit at the Kansas City conven tion. Hoover personally, probably does not believe in it, but many of the advisors about him are steeped in it deeply. Under the circum stances, Chairman John R. Hawkins j and Secretary A. L. Holsey, together 1 with their associates from top to bot ] tom, have done an exceptional piece , of work. Not only have they dis I couragement with the republican p<»r j ty on the part of the colored people to fight, but also apathy on the part of white officials who were willing to let the Negro run his own little circus over in the corner, so long as he did not spend too much money or get in anybody’s way. Campaign Activities Guarded “On both sides campaign activities among Negroes were carefully guard ed. Four years ago, Clarence Mat thews worked directly under Chair man William M. Butler of the na tional committee and conferred with him frequently. This year Chairman Hubert Work, whose detractors say he has little liking for close contact with Negroes, has had practically no conferences or direct associations with colored workers. Walter F. Brown of Toledo, Ohio, master strat egist of that state and a high-caliber ed gentleman, assumed the post of contact man between the colored di vision and Dr. Work. Under his di rection it was organized and func tioned capably. Later, when his oth er duties made the difficulties at tendant thereon too numerous, the load was shifted to Ray Benjamin of California, friend of “Bob” Church and former state chairman of Cal ifornia and an assistant of Dr. Work. “The demo rats operated in the same way. On account of the solid south, they scarcely dared own that they had a colored division. It had separate quarters from the national committee and assumed the name, ‘Smith for President Colored league.’ It was financed by William Gaston of Boston, a young blueblood who actually had charge but who brought as chairman of the organi zation committee, his friend and schoolmate, Julian D. Rainey. Lester A. Walton of the New York World, was drafted as publicity man. The result was two Negro divisions made up of competent men, who, putting forth their best efforts for their re spective causes, were at the same time conscious of entirely different activity insofar as their racial groups were concerned, in the south where frank appeals to hillbillies and red necks were being made in the only language those gentry understand, that of Negro hatred. Party’* Future in South Puzzling “Southern democracy of course had nothing to offer the Negro. Per haps they were a little more vicious than usual, if that is possible, be cause their territory was being in vaded. Republicans, however, set up ; a separate campaign organization and wherever there was Negro control or influence the regular republican ' groups were ignored or turned aside. How much of this has been abetted j by the selfishness of our Negro lead ers there by their attitude in the past ; we can only conjecture. Perhaps the white republicans cannot be blamed ! for desiring to see a vigorous repub lican party in the south by whatever means they might obtain it. If suc cessful and it leads to a two-party system, eventually the Negro may come into his own. In the meantime, the colored voter will be in a mighty bad way politically unless some un ! forseen development proves that his vote is more important than it at present appears. That is why many of us are praying that Hoover will win, but not by a landslide. “The only way I see out, is for them to solidify and start getting in members of the group elected to con gress, where they can form a block that will command respect. The elec tion of Oscar DePriest in Chicago most of us have looked upon as a ray of hope. His indictment putting the whole group, as it will, in an em barrassing position when the dirty linen of the second and third wards is W'ashed out before the congression al committee, which will challenge his right to be seated, is just another ex ample of the vagaries which best us politically. Speculate on Future “The way it looks to me is that Hoover and Curtis will be elected. Hawkins, after overcoming internal dissension and attempts to dominate j him, will deserve credit for his ac- j complishment. The colored divisions will go back home. The Washington | contingent will start trying for na tional offices and the rest of us will sit by while our citizenship status continues to serve as a football. Per haps eventually we may start financ ing some of our own organization ac tivities, developing units which we can offer to the rival parties. If the republicans can take $100,000 and the democrats a like amount and raise so much enthusiasm amnog Ne groes, what could we do with a hun dred thousand of our own? Then perhaps we can trade on the basis of some of the bigger issues affect ing us, enforcement of the amend ments to the constitution, abolish ment of segregation, a fair chance in civil service and fair play as citi zens. “For the present, I think the Ne groes have decided that Hoover and Curtis will win anyhow, and that with Hoover’s fair record to gamble on, it will be better to go along with the republicans with whom we have a fighting chance than to rush blindly into the camp of the Carraways, Jo sephus Daniels, Pat Harrisons, and Joe Robinsons.” _ “THE SAME OLD LINE OF B-—”_ fl———^ --- - - $ $ LEE VON HOTEL {• I 2212 Seward Street / X Strictly modern and up-to-date, y X First-class service. Rooms by X day or week. Remodelled and <£. 't* under new management. Phone y X Webster 3016 . i £ Newer and Better Equipment—Expert Service ? ■J Efficient Operators ? i — i £ The Public Is Invited to Inspect These New Quarters £ Monday, Novfember 5th, from 10 a. m. to 10 p. m. £ Souvenirs Free To All £ ? Mr*. Eva Waldron, Manager J> ,V.V.V.V.V,V.V,V/A%VAV.V^.V.V.VAV,,A,.V/.V.V/WA' AVWWWW.VAV.V.VAV.VAV.VWWAV.VWWAV I ARTHUR J. WEAVER i i REPUBLICAN ■: £ FOR GOVERNOR J Native Nebraskan '• Successful Grain Farmer and Ij Fruit Grower for Twen- ;I ty-five Years I; President Constitutional !j Convention 1919-20 City Attorney and Mayor of ■! Falls City, County Attor- I; ney, Member Legis- ij lature ;! A Notable Record of *1 Public Service || !An able, forceful, public-spirited citizen, whose election 5 means a progressive, business-like economical £ state government. £ NEBRASKA’S LOOM OF STATE NEEDS A WEAVER \\