Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-10-10
LABORING WHITE MEMS TROU.
BLES.


THE LABOR LEAGUE of Richmond held
a meeting Monday night, October 9Th
aud after marching up the hill, march
ed down again" by declaring that it
won Id place no ticket in the field. 1t de-
clared in favor of purging the city gov
ernment, but gave no inkling as to how
this was to be done when the guilty par
ties were expected to do the purgingI
After reading its declaration of princi-
pies, thoughts came thick and fast to us
and we realized fully the truth of the
Scriptures, "And with what measure
We mete, it shall be measured to YOU
again.
Read the statements and see if they
do not sound like the walls of the color
ed citizens ten years ago:
Whereas, these who labor are in ma
jority in the city of Richmond and State
of Virginia; and whereas, we deem it to
the interest of all classes affected by
legislation that said classes should be
represented in the law-making bodies of
State and city, that their interest may
be preserved, without prejudice to others;
and whereas it has been demonstrated
by past legislation that there is an alb
solute apathy on the part of many of our
lawmakers as TO the interest of the toll
ing classes, and, we regret to say, de-
sire manifested TO serve wealth corpora
tions and trusts in the framing of laws.
regardless of the burdens thus imposed
upon the wealth producers; and whereas
we have for years past used the powers
of persuasion and argument with our
lawmakers for just recognition of our
rights, and in almost every instance
have been ignored and our claims set at
naught."
Was this not and is this not applicab lie
to the co1ored citizens case?
And again:
Resolved 2, That we regard the piss
ent primary system as but subterfuge
to deprive men of ordinary means from
offering themselves for office in State
and municipal elections, under the pri-
mary plan, through excessive fees, placed
purposely at a figure which preclu des
the man of ordinary means from enter
ing any contest un1er the primary
PLAN
The aboveis rich reading and depicts
the condition Of the Negro-haters who
have been rolling under their tongues
all abuse of US as sweet morsel.
But these mem did not stop there.
They had the audacity TO refer specifi-
cally to the Negro in the same declara-
ton If principles. Here it is:
Resolved 2. That the new Constitu-
ton having successfully eliminated the
Negro vote and left none but white men
to contest for political preferment, that
we regard the primary as a thing no
longer of necessity for the supremacy of
the white race, and therefore recon-
mend that until such time as the SUI
premacy of the white race is threatened
by a lack of n primary election, that our
people refuse to sanction a system of
fees which preclude the possibility of
men Of ordinary means TO offer them
selves for office"
There you have it. The Democratic
leaders deceived the poverty-stricken
white men into supporting the unoon-
stitutional constitution, and then pro-
ceeded &c raise the marlborough so high
that they have not been able TO get even
their noses on the line with its contents.
They must Craze on the ground.
Il follows with most remarkable de-
claration, which would indicate death
bed repentance, and yet, so far as we
are concerned, it means nothing. 1t is
as follows:
Resolved 8. That we appeal TO all
good citizens &c Join hands with as in
seeking TO give TO the whole people AN
admin istration which viii recognize the
great principle If equal and exact JUS
tice to all.
We shall observe with interest the re-
salt of this bloodless campaign The
walls are distressing, but the punish
ment is deserved. The poor white man
and the poor cOlored mans interests are
identical and blind indeed We're the
white labor leaders, who, until this
time, have tailed to ses it.