The broad ax., 1920-04-10
TO THE VOTERS OF THE FIRST
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
OF ILLINOIS.


/ have made my canvass through
the press. pulpits. theatres. halls and
other agencies as best / could for the
Office for which / wish to be elected
This Office does not carry any salary
with it whatever, but its inAence is
of the greatest value 20 my people.
as realize and all well thinking
people should realize, that a grave
condition confronts the eolored peo-
pie Of America
No one State in the Union can
ameliorate that condition. No one
congressman ,ean do likewise from
any state in the Union. But the great
National Republican Convention
which convenes in Chicago viii have
an opportunity to do something great
for humanity, and the eolored race if
properly approached and appealed to.
/ hold that the many colored dele
gates coming from the Southern part
of our country will have but little
chance to exert their independence in
the interest of the race, even though
they will outnumber the colored del
egates of the North, because these
gentlemen must return to the old
Bourbon South, where they must face
the same conditions and eircum-
stances that confronted them before
leaving tor the Convention; thus
while their hearts may be in accord
with justice, this fact puts bride on
their independence and little can be
said by them for the better interest
of the race.
Therefore it behooYes the colored
people to have in the Convention men
from the North with backbone, nerve,
independence and freedom from po-
litical intrigue or bossism, to speak
in bold terms for the rights of the
race.
Ny record in this behalf, in a small
way, as l have been able to show, has
been an open book to the world, char
acterizing my stand in behalf of my
people The race riots in Chicago,
the Hunter Bank affair, all of recent
date, stand out as beacon lights, while
on the other hand my opponents, both
of whom have held public Offices of
honor, given them by the suffrage of
our people; but neither can point to
a single accomplishment in the inter
est of the race.
There should be plank in the Re
publican Platform against the many
evils that are heaped upon our people,
especially the outrageous lynching,
burning, mobbing and disfrsnchise-
ment propaganda that seems to be on
the increase rather than the decrease
in free America, and it shall be my
endeavor and it is my intention to be
instrumental in placing such a plank
in the Republican Platform during
this memorable Convention.
Ny opponents proclaim that they
do not have to have a platform. They
expect on election day to buy their
way into the Republican Convention,
and as a result of this pre-arranged
intention or thought they owe moth
ing to their constituents.
If my people expect to rise to
higher plane in American civilization,
It is absolutely necessary and essen
tial to put a lie to such insinuations,
reflections and evil intentions by vot-
ing for the right man regardless to
the price offered or paid.
Therefore I ask your hardy Co
operation and support on next Tues
day by giving me your vote for the
Office of Delegate to the National
Convention
AUGUSTUS L WILLIAMS,
Candidate for Delegate to the Ma
tional Convention. 1S4 W. Washing
ton St, Main 2017.