Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1920-11-27


this time, namely: Mr.. c. L. Miller,
Sergt. Vrooman, DR.. Hamilton and others
From this effort we learned at first hand
that our voting strength had been greatly in
fated and that we were not as strong
numerically as We had rated ourselves In
attempting to carry out this system we met
with much difficulty and learned valu-
able lesson, to-wit: that to do effective and
efficient political work, finance is absolutely
essential. While all Of our districts were
not thoroughly worked, many Of them were
and especially those in which the Negro
population was densely settled
In the work of harmonizing the Women's
Political Club we failed utterly
AS to the cooperation Of the ministers
they responded in a manner most favorable
They announced and preached from their
pulplts the necessity OF registering and vot-
ing, they opened their church doors to us
for special rally meetings and made public
talks urging the Negro to register and vote
They also allowed us to send four minute
men to their Sunday services to preach the
doctrine Of registering and voting. They
contributed wonderful share to the sue
cess of our work in this line | believe
that it is reasonable to say that at least
$50 Of the Negroes of Seattle cast their
ballot at the late election. In 1916 Dr.
Cardwell reported that in the Woodson
Apartments three persons besides Mr. and
Mrs. Woodson were registered and in the
Douglas Apartments 7 out of IS were regis
tered. Prior to city election [ made a
special investigation of the Douglas and
found that about 500 Of the occupants had
registered. After an interview with those
who had not registered I secured pledge
that they would register. Since the cleo
ton OF Nov. md [ have canvassed the
Douglas, Woodson and Miller Apartments
and find that about $3.50 of the occupants
claim to have voted / believe that this
club is directly responsible for this increase
i'll registering and voting. If we had done
nothing more than to cause the colored
people to register and vote l believe we
would have laid a wonderful foundation for
greater work in the future
The Negroes Of the state have been we'll
organized into State Colored Republican
Club. DR.. Cardwell has been the chief ex-
pOnent IN this movement and deserves special
praise for the excellent work he has done
along this line. To our County Republican
Convention this club was represented by four
regular delegates and one alternate The
alternate, however, did not attend TO the
State Republican Convention we were hon.
ored to have elected three regular delegates
and one alternate. This was anothr distinc-
club
The club has contributed either directly
or indirectly to the appointment of two
police officers in Seattle and one person in
the assessors office temporarily, in the per-
son OF DIR: b. A. johnson. One in the county
treasurers office temporarily, in the person
Of Sergt. w. b. Vrooman The reservations
Of one laborer in the City-County Building
and the appointment Of one registration
clerk temporarily in the person of Dr.
Hunter. The club has a definite promise
Of an appointment in the sheriff. office and
possible appointment in the county treas
urer's office. This new club has definite
standing with the county and state organiza-
TONS which organizations control the poll
ties Of our county and state. They have
declared that they will recognize no other
Negro political club and the candidates for
political office are beginning to take SINH
lar stand. The club has succeeded in har-
monizing some of the factions among our
OXyn hon, 4