The Lexington standard. [volume] (Lexington, Ky.) 1892-1912, 1911-10-21
Why Should The
NEGRO VOTE AT
ALL NOW

man who endeavors to procure your
vote by promise of offices to colored
men," "Realize that the hope OF the
colored race lies in the gospel OF IN
dustry, honestly preached by Booker
Washington, and not along political
lines" (Applause.)
The above declaration was made by
Mr.. John H. Flood, one OF the Fusion
Republican speakers in his speech
Thursday night in the grand fusion
rally at the opera house, which form
ally opened the Republican campaign
here fer municipal offices to be voted
for November 7th. This is Gear
outline and an unmistakable exposi-
ton of the true attitude OF the Fusion
movement respecting Negro support IN
the coming election. 1t shows thai the
ticket represented by FIR. t'lGod is 50
bigh0 confident of success that 1t Is
utterly Indifferent as to whether it
shall receive the support OF the negro
or not. This is a true specimen, eYlnc-
ing a covert adoption here, too, OF the
Lily White" plan, which has proved
SO disastrous to the race politically
elsewhere AT the time Mr. tlooo
spoke, the balcony and gallery were
we'll filed with coIored voters, usually
referred to as the better element OF
Negroes, which means, Of course, loyal
subjects TO the party, who do not kno"
how to scratch ticket, and, furtlef-
more. do not care to learn-those VINO
can stomach the most nauseating mess
and smack their lips and say, Gimme
some mo-, boss, it's good" However,
MT Floods utteranees We're received
with silence profound. his radlcal
frankness threw a chill and dampness
ON the leading shouters that fingered
long and far into the further proceed
ings of the evening.
aslow to learn carries with 1t
slow to forget This is the
one basis of hope concerning
our people. Hence it behooyes the
mgsmerists to hold the spell on them
and never allow them to wake up.
Mr.. Flood being a new convert to the
Republican fold, coming, IS he dig
from the Democrats, has evidently
failed to imbibe the spirit OF his new
environment and adopt the methods
of his new cohorts. The position OF
the old line Republicans, touching TINS
very identical point, official recogni
tiorM is patent to all. 1t is elusive
evasiye. yet sufficient, for. for forty
Years. the Negro vote has been lurec
along by a shrewd manipulation o.
this strategy, trustingly, Hopefully
awaiting The development Ct tire
when their patience should be reward
ed and their fond hopes realized IN OF
fetal recognition at the hands OF the
Grand. Old Party.
II is significant fact thai
the Republicans received with opei
airs and gladly welcomed
few hundred Democratic supplanter
and readily divided honors with then
upon a ratio better than six to four
while the Negro, who is admitted U
be the backbone of the party locali
has been dealt with with utter indn
ference. (This article will be read o.
intelligent Negroes all over the couI
try) Now, can the intelligence amoni
the Negroes here afford to go O
record as countenancing the idea tha
the Negro here make any candidate Q
IL
ticket a present of his two thousar
votes without some assurance that IN
Gift will be at least thankfully re
ceived and due recognition given 1
return, properly based upon the pro
nortion of intelligence, wealth an
common service for which the rae
stands? 1t remains to be seen
The writer is free and not undlly han
pered Or biased to any political sid
We assume to argue purely from tn
standpoint of the Negro We are rel
istered as an independent, and eSpes
to vote. if at all, accordingly; yet Y
are frank to confess hat we are u
able to see any inducement SO far hei
out from either side to justify vast
of time necessary from needed emp'c
ment for any coiored voter to CON
out in open support of an18andida'
running for Office in the es1nS IS Gle
ton.
.This is white mans country
eh? Yes, and this is a. whit
mans fight for Office, Let's stand :
and look on, and see it well done 1u
once. for luck. If either ticket Ea'
need Of or desire the Negro vote, I
that ticket ask for it. Then, and N
NTH tbep, vii the Negro vote be ?