The Lexington standard. [volume] (Lexington, Ky.) 1892-1912, 1911-10-28
WHY SHOULD
THE NEGRO VOTE
AT ALL NOW
Editorial Of Issue Oct. 2I,
RePrOduced BY Request

'sThis is a white mans coun
try; it has always been ruled by
white men, and will always be
so ruled" Regard as an enemy
to your race any white man who
endeavors to procure your vote
by promise of Offices to coloreo
men," Realize that the hops
of the colored race lies in the
sc pei of industry, honestly
y eached by Booker Washing
eon, and not along politica.
INES" (Applause.)
The above declaration was
( made by Mr.. John H. Flood, one
e the Fusion Republican speak
crs in his speech Thursday night
III the grand Fusion rally at the
opera house, which formally
opened the Republican cam
paign here for municipal offices
to be voted for November 7th
This is a clear outline and an
unmistakable exposition of the
true attitude of the Fusion
movement respecting Negro
support in the coming election,
It shows that the ticket repre-
scented by Mr.. Flood is so high
" confident of success that it is
utterly Indifferent as to whether
it shall receive the support of
the Negro or not. This is true
specimen, evincing covert
adoption here, too, of the Lily
White" plan, which has proved
so disastrous to the race polit-
ically elsewhere. At the time
Mr.. Flood spoke, the balcony
and gallery were well filed with
colored voters, usually referred
to as the better element" of
Negroes, which means, of
course, loyal subjects to the par
ty, who do not know how to
scratch a ticket, and, further
more, do not care to learn
those who can stomach the most
neauseating mess and smack
their lips and say, Gimme
some mo-, boss, it's good" How
-er, Mr.. Floods utterances
were received with silence
his radical frankness
threw a chill and dampness on
the leading shouters that lin
gered long and far into the fur
Their proceedings of the evening.
"Slow to learn carries with it
slow to forget" This is the one
basis of hope concerning our
people. Hence it behooves the
to hold the spell on
them and never allow them to
wake UP. Mr.. Flood being a new
convert to the Republican fold,
as he did, from the Dem
1crats, has evidently failed to |
mbibe the spirit of his new en-
and adopt the meth
IDS of his new cohorts. The po-
;ition of the old line Republic
,ans, touching this very identi- !
al point, official recognition, is
patent to all. It is elusive, eva
i've, yet sufficient, as, for forty |
ears, the Negro vote has been
ured along by a shrewd manip-
llation of this strategy, trust !
ngly, hopefully, awaiting the de- !
of time, when their
,atience should be rewarded and ,
heir fond hopes realized in Of ,,
cial recognition at the hands of /
he Grand Old Party. |
1t is a significant fact that
he Republicans received With
pen arms and gladly welcomed
few hundred Democratic sup
lanters and readily divided
onors with them upon a ratio
etter than six to four, while the
Tegro, who is admitted to be the
ackbone of the party locally, :
as been dealt with with utter t
difference. (This article will :
e read by intelligent Negroes {
Il over the country.) Now,
an the intelligence among the $
Iegroes here afford to go on
ecord as countenancing the idea s
lat the Negro here make any !,
andidate or ticket a present OF S
is two thousand votes without
me assurance that the gift will I
, at least thankfully received '