The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1913-05-16
VOTING POPULATION
OF MCDOWELL COUNTY
Negroes Held Balanc. Of Power

that Negroes are very important political
factors in this county. This statement is
largely true for several reasons; first,
3i.l per cent OF the male population Of
voting age in McDo well county in 1910
were Negroes and in the second place the
Negro voters of Mcdowell county are
more thoroughly organized than In any
county south of New York.
The leaders do better team work and
there is less rivalry for Leadership. The
Individual eliminates personal ambition
for the good of all the Negroes Of the
county. The differences OF the leaders
are settled between themselves without
each leader and his faction attempting to
divide the voters on important issues and
thereby causing the failure of rlans which
are for the benefit Of ALL
OF the COCO Negro voters OF Mcdowell
county, 90 per cent will support men and
measures Indorsed by their leaders and
supported ~ the Mcdowell Times. This
Is because Of the confidence of the voters
IN t.le Negro leadership and in the organ
of their organization. The real strength
of the Negro voter in this county is little
known EXCEPT by few men, white snd
colored, who have given serious consider
alton to the subject.
The total male population of Mcdowell
county Of voting age in 1910 were IL, ,2fO;
native white, 7,172; foreign born white,
4,l96; Negro, 5,ss3. OF the foreign
white population not more than 25O are
natu:aized and less than that number
exercise the right OF franchise Jews OF
foreign birth are almost the only foreign
ers in Mcdowell county who are natural
ized and exercise the duties of American
citizenship. There is a larger per cent Of
native white men in Mcdowell comfy
who DO not exercise the right Of suiFrae.
and take no interest in political issue
than there are Negroes. There are four
out OF the six districts in which the bulk
oi the Negro population OF Mellow ell
county reside, viz: Browns Creek, North
| fork. Elkhorn and Adkin. In each Of
these districts and in most towns there
are branch clubs Of the McDowelI Coun-
tv Colored Republican Organization.
These clubs have as offers, Colored men
who work with and among the men and
have their confidence and each local club
works in harmony with the parent body
ia Keystone, Of which Deputy sheriff j.
+. Parson j. President
During the isrt Primary campaign,
when Governor Hatfield wa, a co,lid stc
Tor the Republican nomination. the C.J.
orcd campaign managers were able t.
rcsr'i by lrite- 8,7C7 Colored votes in
NcNvcli from tho roll n Colored oryan-
'z4;i'n and letters were not sent to Key
stone, kiuiall and Northfork.
This s.'o~- how effective the Colored
Organization d'-r- il work, how 1initsI
tho Co'cred voters are and how by c,,od
team work On the part ~ the lcaslers and
united support on the part Of the Colorcd
voters Mcdowell coanty ha. been saved
from, den0rracy
With about 7tsD white voters, divided
between The Republican, Democratic and
Progressive parties, the 600 Negro vo-
tn loom large as political factdr.
u has iccn clearly demonstrated in re-
cent months that the Negro leader. can
not b. made n fght each other in order
that few politicians may rct control of
a iarg' shars Of the Colorcd vot. 4 the
count; thereby placing thee politicians
IN power, and nothing bettsr illustrates
the unity II tie Colorcd Organization
than the fact that every CoIored man in
Mcdowell county has consended that the
stat Librarian should come from this
c)unty ard there = not the lat bitter
nee lstween the leaders as a result Of IN.
race between four men to obtain that
honor, and should either receive the hon.
or it would net cause bitterness on the
part OF the others. A Colored leader of
Mcdowell cognty stated to the writer a
lew days ago thai I'VE would rather not
secure the great honor To which We know
NC are entitled -, in order to do ., a