Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-07-24

Secretary Of The Lincoln League, Mr..
Harrison NJ. Chilean. He declares
that the nominees offer hope to the
colored people OF tho country, but
that the platform is sadly disappoint-
ing. He says:
The choice Of Harding and Cool
idge as tho party standard bearers
was almost providential. They can
be consistently supported, though it
is conservutively estimated that a
hundred thousand Of Race voters will
scratch tho Republican ticket and
give support to the Socialists and
nominees OF the Third Party, unless
Senator Borah OF Idaho--arch Negro
hater-casts his lot with that party"
Is he correct in his conclusions?
If he is, would not this mean the
abandoning of the fight inside of the
Republican Party and the leaving of
the white men Of tho country to fight
it out among themselves? But even
with this logic, Mr.. Chilean shows
that the leaders among our people are
hopclcssly divided as to just what
course to pursue in the premises. 1t
also shows that they studiously avoid
getting together and that.this dislike
GO act along prearranged lines
in order to make their opposition ef-
fcctive, is proving to be the most
demoralizing handicap in the whole
embarrassing situation. TO empha-
size this view of the situation, 1t says:
For this particular reason It Was
a pitiful sight during the convention
to sec the former majcstic-loolling
hudson Lyon supporting Roscoe
Pickett (white) of Georgia against
Link Johnson; the ante-bellum Uncle
Isaiah II. Montgomery and his son-in-
law, DR.. f.. p. Booze, with DR.. d.
w. Shcrrod, fighting Perry Howard
and Charles Banks in the interest of
NJ. J. Mulvihill (whitc); and the
amazing spectacle OF Attorney James
Cobb, of Washington, ID. c., who was
aided by tho friends Of Horny Lincoln
Johnson in winning his own contest
consDiring and voting with, white mon
to prevent a Race man from CON
trolling the Georgia state delegation
and being elected to Il place on the
governing body of the Republican
party
"Many have criticised the colOred
voters OF the South for bringing up
contests, but even their losing fights
were not in vain. After hearing the
Arkansas and Oklahoma contests,
Senator Warren, Of Michigan, sue
ceedcd i'll getting passed a resolution
directing the national committee to
serve notice on all state organizations
that no Republican conventions will
be recognized, il held where Negroes
are not allowed TO attend. The Nir-
ginia contest brought out evidence
which ipduccd Senator Jackson, of
Maryland, to put through Il motion
directing Il searching inquiry into the
causes of the decline OF the Republic
can vote in tho lily-white states"
This Lincoln League is tho one that
is alleged to have advised and pro-
NOTED the Colorcd Republican Party
in this State. Roscoe Conkling Sim
mons is President and the brilliant
contributor to the brotherhood Mag
azine is one OF the most influential
members Of the organization.
But upon what facts does this writer
base his one hundred thousand votes
disaffcctfon? Is it mere guess-worl1
or are there organizations in this
country, with that approximate mem
bcrship that are pledged to oppose
the Republican candidates Mt the
polls? Until such organizations do
exist, the leaders Of the Republican
Party will regard the statement as an
empty threat, which will not be made
good at the polls.