Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-08-07

the solemn covenant that no party,
class. caucus or combination shall
nominate, designate, or III any
manner, select any candidate other
than by circulated petition"
1t must be amusing to intelligent
men when my friend speaks OF his
namc going on tho official ballot, as
his nomination had nothing whatever
to do with that. and he could not
have gotten on tho ballot by NOM
nation, but only BY circulating
petition, as I explained to tho mass
meeting when they undertook to nom.
mate him.
Now, as to any selfish motive, I
dismiss that charge with this simple
statement: The more than five hun
dred men who led this movement in
Virginia spent their own money and
lost their time to attend the various
meetings and conventions, f.
nanced the entire campaign, without
the aid of a single white man, and
not man among them would have
any Office IN the gift OF the Republi-
can party.
This talk about Democratic ncws-
papers is pure nonsense, for Mr.. Prce
very we'll knows that Mr.. Geodfry
Smith, Mr.. holland, Mr.. C. c.. Smith
and every other white man that was
voted for by the Negroes were DEM
ocrats, and the only two Republicans
on the ticket were scratched by tho
Negroes. This does not prove at all
that they We're Democrats, but it
rather shows that they were indie.
pendent voters, who will not bend
To ,,,l,
pens to call himself Republican.
Now, just word as to my loyalty
to the Negro race. have gone up
and down this State and in many
other states OF the United States and
defended my people in hostile court
rooms. and this frequently without
compensation; I have contributed OF
my means to every worthy civic de-
mand upon me in this city; l con-
tributed more money to the Republic
can club OF this city than any other
individual voter Of Newport News; /
went to Chicago at a cost Of more
than five hundred dollars, and am
now ready to join hands with Mr.. .
Pree, or any one else, who is con-
cerned about the Negro race to
greater eXtont than he Is his own
political fortunes.
Personally and socially, Mr.. Preo
and are the very best friends. Pro
fcssionally our libraries and briefs
are open to each other, and there
was no opposition to his candidacy,
because it was he who offered for
the suffrage Of the people of the city
Of Newport News, but I opposed our
entering the race at this time for the |
reason that ] thought it wiser to
register and wait for year or so,
when our numbers would have been
sufficient to give us an opportunity
to win in partisan politics. I am of
the opinion still, but majority of
the voters thought otherwise. and so
/ signed Mr.. Pree's petition and
would have voted for him had not
been called by a more solemn duty
that l owed to the entire Negro race.
l conclude this controversy with
this statement: T have never been
willing to drift with the current Of
|. thoughtless public opinion, and II
have always had the courage to defy
the crowd. and I have not depended
for success in my profession upon the
love Of my clients. but have sought
to- make myself indispensable to them
by being able to defend them at the
bar of tho court. I do not seek
popularity, for nothing makes me
happier Than to fight in the open for
any principle I believe to be right
Very truly,
J. THOMAS NEWSOMF.