The Goodland republic., 1907-03-29
NEGROES TO ORGANIZE PoLTEI-
CAIIIY.


The Topeka State Journal believes
that the Kansas negro vote is not apt
to have q reliable republican complex
ion hereafter, because they haven't
been able to get at the pie counter to
suit them The article says:
Plans are being made by the ne
grOes Of Kansas TO organize a strong
political league, for the purpose OF Sc
curing more political recognition for
negroes, and a meeting Of the leading
negroes Of the state is TO be called to
meet in Topeka about April 10 for the
purpose OF making the organization
Negro leaders in Topeka, Kansas
city, Wichita, Pittsburg, and other
towns have been in correspondence on
this subpect ever since the adjourn
ment Of the legislature, and the feel
ing that the negroes Of Kansas have
been ignored by the republican party
is stimulated by the failure Of J. ".
Fisher, J. H Ransom, Ned O'Banion,
and a number Of other negroes who
worked hard in the campaign to re-
ceive any substantial recognition for
their services. It IS claimed that the
republicans promised to give some
good state appointments to these men
in recognition Of their services. Fish
er was found place as commission
er for the collection Of negro exhibits
for the Jamestown exposition, but
there has been nothing doing for any
Of the others. RansOm's son has been
employed as a messenger in the Office
OF Governor HOch for the past few
months, but indications are that he
will soon lose this job because Of the
fight being made for the appointment
OF an old soldier to the place.
ae
negro organization to vote for which
ever political party shows a disposi-
ton to give the negroes more politi-
cal recognition. Naturally the negro
voters line up with the republicans,
but if the proposed organization ac-
compIishes its objects, it will swing
the negro votes to the democrats IN
the next election, unless the republi-
cans are willing to make terms.
I'VE have been voting the republi-
can ticket right along and getting no
political advancement" said one Of
the leaders Of the insurrection. ''This
organization viii have for its object
the political advancement Of the ne
gro. Whenever negro applicant for
Office has come up, he has been de-
feated by the republicans, and this at
titude Of the party seems to be getting
stronger all the time. We can get
nothing but such jobs as janitOr at the
state house, and we feel that we are
2 entitled to something better, and pro-
pose to get it. If We can't get what
we want from the republicans, we Will
vote for the democrats. We certainly
will lose nothing by so doing"
It is possible that the new move
ment may get behind the republican
square deal organization, and work
for the square deal candidates. The
negroes are generally favorable, it IS
said, to the primary election law. They
say that they can get nowhere under
the convention system, and that by
having a primary they at least VIII
have the right to cast their votes for
whoever they please. For this rea-
son they may be inclined to back up
the square deal republicans and help
bring about the OvertUrn Of the poll
tical machine
The republican state central com
mittee in the last campaign found out
that the negro vote Of the state was
not to be depended upon as in days o.
yore. Thousands Of negro republicans
refused to vote the republican ticket
because OF the alleged prejudice
against them on the part Of the re-
publican party Much money and en-
ergy was spent by the republican
committee in trying to get the negroes
back into line, but these efforts were
not entirely satisfactory. In some pOr-
tiOns Of the state, negro speakers
sent out by the republican party were
driven out Of town by the negroes
when they tried to speak Threats
were made that ". 7. Vernon would
be similarly treated if he attempted to
address meetings at various places
Vernon was not looked upon with IA
vOr by all Of the negro voters.
Invitations are to be sent out at
once, it is said, to a large number OF
the prominent negroes OF the state to
come to Topeka for the meeting in
April, and help start the movement
for a state organization. The name
for the club has not been selected