The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-09-09
Men Fifty years Old
To Vote First Time
THOSE WHO HAVE MOVED NORTH
FROM THE SOUTH WILL HAVE
THEIR VOTES COUNTED FOR
THE FIRST TIME. MAY W.T.
ALLY AFFECT SOME
DOUBTFUL STATES IN
REPUBLICAN FAVOR,

Chicago, ILL.,, Sept. 2.-Carefully di-
gested figures indicate that there will
! be 100000 first voters among the col
! ored people who have migrated from
the south to northern centers, attracted
ty better wages, enlarged school facili-
ties and the freedom of thought and ac-
tion denied them by the solidly Demo
cratic south. It has. been the rule in
political campaigns to conduct de-
partment for first voters, but this APP
piled always to citizens who had ar
rived at voting age of 21. This year
the remarkable precedent is presented
wherein tens Of thousands Of voters,
granted the right by the constitution
Of the United States, but robbed of the
greatest privilege of citizenship by the
supporters of Candidate Cox in the
southland, many Of whom are 35 years
of age and even SO, are casting vote
for the first time in their lives.
It is needless to say that these men
and women, who have felt the ban that
the Democrats have placed upon them,
will vote the Republican ticket. There
have been eases where colored people in
the north, far removed from the miser-
able race hatred of the south, and lis
tcning to the siren song of the northern
Democrat, that there is difference be-
tween their party in the north and that
in the south, have SO forgotten them
selves to vote the Democratic ticket,
but it is safe to say that these people
recently coming from the south VIII
never be caught in that mesh.
The system of voting, which has
grown upon the northern Negro by GUS
tom is not SO familiar to the people
who have recently come to communities
on this side of. the Mason and Dixon
line, and the work of instructing the
old citizens, who have journeyed far to
enjoy their rights, should be the labor
Of love among those of the race in the
north, who have always enjoyed the
great privilege.
"a Special precinct schools will be as
tablished by thee state committee, hav-
ing jurisdiction over labor centers
where this new vote is located. 1t is
held by the managers of the Republ1-
can party that the responsibility OF
restoring the ballot to these colored
Lcoeple is largely theirs, inasmuch as
the principle upon which the constltu-
tional right to vote was granted to
them fifty years ago is one Of the foun-
dation stones of Republicanism. Every
tolored man who has resided in the
north or born in the north, shares this
responsibility with the Republican par
ty, and it should be his duty to instruct
every colored man who has come from
the south during the last four years
how to register and how to vote.
First, it should be essential to learn
whether he has the qualifications;
whether he has lived for sufficient time
in the state and country. Take him to
the Republican authorities in any city
and they will help.
First of all the Republican party
wants these men and women who have
been denied the right to exercise it,
and second, naturally where the full
qualification exist, it wants them to
cast their vote for Harding and Cool
idge.
Struggling for years under ban of
Democratic oppression, the industrial
necessities that opened Canaan Of
equal opportunity for the exodus OF
southern freedom is a great boon to
them, and it behooves their more for
tunate brothers in the north to assist
them in every way to the realization of
the sacred promises of the constitution.