The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-07
THE CoIoRED PoIITICIAN.

Labor unions may pass StereOtyped
resolutions, women may band them
selves together and discuss politics.
wards may be canvassed and recan-
vassed, but the fact remains that unless
present indications fail the vote Of the
colored people of Topeka is being used
as the pivot upon which to swing the
Republican primaries next Wednesday,.
The colored politician is the man of
the hour. He always has a fresh cigar
to smoke He jingles money in his
pockets He is called into the back
room, where schemes are made, and Is
delegated to do things political. He has
an air of power OF mystery, of deep
political significance. because he knows
and everybody knows that he is a part
of the big machine.
As the present campaign has devel>
oped the negro vote has been of increas-
ing Importance Lewis was not slow to
realize that he could not hope for much
benefit from the endorsement of tile
Trades Council It was repudiated by
too many unions. He could not hope to
make much inroads on the solid pha
lanx of the women who compose the
Municipal league, and who are in touch
with its effective work He was sure or
his strength in those parts Of town
which usually favor vet propositions.
The business men he knew would be
able to judge for themselves between
himself and Bergundthal He hunted
for a vulnerable place in the law and
order defense, and decided that it lay
among the negro voters who have here
tofore lined up with the temperance can
didates
Lewis and his friends started in to win
over the colored voters. Their progress
had not been very satisfactory, it is said.
until the Bergundthal-Hug negotia-
tons were forced to an issue. ana
Hughes was Withdrawn. In the con-
fusion which ensued by the change. the
Lewis people realized their great oppor-
tunity They doubled and quadrupled
their working force among the negroes.
Each additional worker made it easier
to get another. The negro settlements
were hammered with terrific violence by
each new recruit. and the stampede
was on
Some Of the methods employed to ac-
comDlish this result have been told of
in the State Journal. BergundthaTs po-
sitiOn was misrepresented. Colored peo-
Die were led to believe that he is hos
tile to them. They were told that
Hughes. their friend. had been knocked
out of the race by the enemies of the
negroes, and that If Bergundthal should
win he would try to drive the negroes 10
the wall. There is every reason to be-
lieve that other inducements. Of still
more questionable sort. We're held out
There is no doubt that the politica1
game was played to the limit
1t was the colored- politician who start,
ed the stampede. Many others have
Joined But the colored man who works
hard for his daily bread. who does not
delight in political CRAFTS. is stiH to be
reckoned with. If there was time for
the present excitement to die out, the
colored people could be counted on 10
line uD where they always have stood
in questions involving law and order.
But a political craze is as hard to stop
as a bunch OF milling Texas steers. II
takes time.
The colored people have now an op-
portunity to show their political inSa-
pendence. If they stand by Bergund-
thai, their friend, and the friend of law
and order, they viii teach the politicians
lesson which Will not soon be for
gotten If they GLOW themselves to- be
tempted or scared by the politicians
they will disappoint all who believe that
there are no truer friends Of law and
order than the American negroes.