Phoenix tribune., 1918-10-19
SOLUTION OF NEGRO
PROBLEM LIES IN
PROPER USE Of BALLOT
By E. S. Newell

TUCSON, Ariz., Oct IA. = The
church-going people are at loss as
to what to do with themselves since
the epidemic has caused all places of
public meeting to be closed. The
members of the Sunday School and
B. Y. P. U. and all members in gen.
eral are asking their pastor how long
it will be before they are privileged
to go about their church work again.
We will say for their benefit that just
as soon as the government lifts the
ban on public meetings, Mt Calvary
Baptist church will fling wide her
doors and bid everyone welcome.
Mrs. Maggie Turner has been quite
ill the past week, but is much i'm
proved at this writing. She was Wis
tied by the pastor of the Baptist
church who, with the husband and sis
ter, Mrs. B. Watson, knelt in prayer
and invoked the blessing of Almighty
God upon the sick woman.
We are indeed pleased to report the
condition of Mrs Lii zzie White as
greatly improved over that of last
week
Due to the active and efficient work
of Senior Warden ]. A. c. Jones,
Secretary E. A. Barron, Treasurer
Carl A. Hardy, and through the loyal
cooperation of West Temple lodge,
No 425, F. C A. NJ, this lodge was
enabled to report in full the first in
stallment of relief and endowment
funds. This action places West Tenn
pie in class AL.
My version of Exodus, fourth chap
ter, second verse, which reads thus,
What is that in thy hand?' is given
below;
Jehovah was determined to have
Moses convinced that it was the voice
of God speaking through the burning
bush. The same God that spoke to
Moses is now speaking to the Ameri-
can Negro. What is that in thy
hand" is the question that is being
asked. | contend that we hold in our
hand the solution of our own problem,
and now is the time for us to solve it.
We stand with the ballot in one hand
and are privileged 10 vote. The Ne
gro is truly American, and on going to
the polls should cast his ballot for
the principles which stand for Democ-
racy and Americanism. Should senti-
ment or partisan politics determine
the Negro vote in the coming cam
paign? l take the authority to an
swer, No., thousand times NO!
While the Negro has nothing to boast
of from the standpoint of a party,
yet he is confronted with the problem
of choosing between two great politi-
cal parties-Democra and Republic
an. There still remain three other
spokes in the political wheel. We
should be men, manly men, and never
permit ourselves to be bought and
pulled around by crafty politicians,
for the sake of job, or a few paltry
dollars. If the Fourteenth amendment
to the Constitution of the United
States means anything, it means that
we are full-fledged Americans, and as
such shall call upon every member
OF the race not to pollute or barter
that privilege which is the dearest
possession of an American, in fact, the
one thing that makes you an American
and that is the right of franchise
the ballot. In politics and in all great
questions that arise, the Negro should
demand nothing more than the same
rights and privileges that are granted
to other Americans, and he should be
satisfied with nothing less. Again, you
are asked: What is that in thy
hand? l say you have the pay en-
Ivelope in your hand, and a mighty
factor it is when properly used. If the
Negro, with the wages he is now earn
ing, would save his money judiciously,
make wise and safe investments in
improved property and buy and read
more Negro papers and other race lit