Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-09-18
'HOW SHALL WE SOTE?"

The New York Crisis, whose cdi
tor, DR.. w. T.. ID. Du Bois is a Social.
list end whose policies are supposed
% he non-partisan says:
The present campaign places the
Negro votcr,--aud indeed al Amcri-
can VoterS-in difficult position
-Four parties ask our votes.
The Republican party has for %
years joined the white South in dis
franchSing us; it has permitted us
to be iJim-Crowcd," deprived OF
schools and segregated. 1t has partial
~ DISTINGUISHED us in its party coun
ellis and proposes practically to elm
mate IT'S as soon rs this campaign is
over. 1t has encouraged and recognize
cu tho "Lily-White" factions and
nearly driven us from public Office.
In addition TO this the Republicans
represent reaction and privilege, tho
abolition of freedom OF speech, the
punishment OF thinkers, the suppress
sion OF the labor movement, the eli.
courasmcnt and protection of trusts,
and a new protective tariff to tax the
poor for the benefit of the rich.
This is Il drastic indictment OF a
great political organization. 1t pays
its respects to the Democratic Party
in Il similar manner. Here is what it
says:
Tho Democratic party stands for
exactly the same things us the Iiepub
licans. Between their PROGRESSED and
their actual policies there is no diff.
crence worth noting. 10 be sure, tho
northern wing OF the party has ten.
denotes toward some recognition OF
the laborcrs' demands and the needs
OF striker war-curscd world, but
this is more than neutralized by the
Solid South.
The Solid South means lynching.
oligarchy, mob-rule, disfranchisement
systematic ignorance and rotten-bor
ough voting. Against this body of
death the highest ideals Of Woodrow
Wilson at his best availed absolute.
~ nothing, and there is not today tho
shadow of hope that Governor Cox
OF Ohio would be able to champion
any policy as president that propos.
es to disturb the rule i'll the South OF
the constituencies eXploiter Of black
and white labor.
This is the position of the two chief
parties, one Of which is bound to
win.
There arc some charges against
the Republican Party, which VIC are
Of the opinion the distinguished
imam Of letters" will be unable to
aibstantiate or prove. Certainly the
action of the New York legislature
vas revolutionary and unjust in deal
ms with the five Socialist members
that ii, in combination With their
Democratic associates barred from
the seats to which they had been
righiliully and legally elected. On
the other hand Republicans Of the
Judge Charles Evans Hughes type
openly voiced their protests. Editor
Du Bots concluded as follows:
There are two other part les, tho
Fermentation and the Socialist. Both
these parties speak out bravely in our
behalf. Neither of them can win and
because OF our dcfcnsclcss position
Tic triumph of one OF the greater
parties without our aid might be the
signal for further aggressions upon
| the rights as citizens.
Our one clear path is this: What
ever vote we cast for President,
let our vote for congressman be clear
and decisive; vote for friends Of our
race and defeat our enemies
If the question is to be brought
down to the personality of, the can
cidates for congressional honors, why
should it not be brought down to tho
personality OF the candidates for
presidential honor? Both Senator
Warren G.. Harding and Governor C.
ID. Coolidge have spoken plainly with
/ reference to questions concerning
the colored people and their welfare,
I while Governor James M. OK and
,, Secretary Franklin d. Roosevelt, can
Gidates Of the Democratic Party have
been ominously silent, With a slight
change in the language we iterate
and reiterate the languape NJ orr co,.