The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-31
Press Comm emf
Think Before You Vote.


Voters who within less than a week
will decide the political complexion of
the American government for the next
four years, should give thought TO
their action, if they are living in the
Southland Especially do they need
give serious thought to local condi-
lions and the possible effect OF their
action.
The South has peculiar problem.
We are of the South. Our problem is
the Soutf's problem. Whatever your
political faith may have been before
you came TO the South, if you have
lived here long, you know the situa-
ton which the South faces. You will
learn from your fellow ortherner,
who has lived long here, if you come
from the North, how admirably the
South has handled that peculiar prob
lem. Before you cast ballot which
will make this problem more serious
for your home county, home city and
home state consider well.
Your vote can serve but one purpose
help to furnish political record for
a few republican politicians who wish
to stand at the pie counter-so far as
political results are cnncerned. There
is little hope of any republican success
in Florida otherwise. But your vote
may help to bring to your home a
more serious aspect Of the problem
which the South through the demo-
cratic party has been able to solve to
the satisfaction of the white race. In
this connection 1t Nigh be well to read
a. letter which was written by Charles
H Brough, governor of Arkansas, and
sent to Senator Duncan U. Fletcher, of
Florida. The letter reads:
On arrival in Columbus, o., in con-
nection with the speaking tour through
Ohio and the Middle West. / was as
tonished to learn through my friend
Hon. w. w. Durbin, Of Columbus,
the democratic state executive com
mittee of Ohio, that negro journal,
The Toledo Pioneer (copy of which is
encIosed), is urging race equality and
urging negroes to unite at the polls.
This, of course, strikes at the very
heart of white supremacy, and it is
current knowledge here in the Middle
West that if Senator Harding and the
republicans triumph an effort will be
made to pass a Force bill, which will
mean federal bayonets to supervise
southern elections.
the negroes at Marion, Ohio. has great
ly encouraged them in this, SO much
so that William VI. Trotter. colored ed
itor Of the Boston Guardian, in his
recent address on "a Christian Gov
ernmeat' before the Baptist convention
at Memorial hall, said.
at is an abuse to teach the black
American he is too low down to dare
MI
court trial; too inferior to have author
ity over and with white men in gov
eminent; too inferior to have hotel
room; to have a shave, to have the
ater seat or a meal in a restaurant
where other people get these accommo-
dations.
Such abuses and separations deny
the Christian principles of equality
and brotherhood and the oneness of
the white and black races"
The presidential election means ev-
erything to the South, and I urge you
as high minded and splendid repre-
sentative of your great commonwealth
to become active in explaining to your
people just what Senator Harding's
triumph would mean in robbing the
South of her most cherished birthright,
Anglo Saxon supremacy
You will remember that Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge introduced the
Force bill in the house of representa-
tivea in 1889 and secured it's passage
in that body but it was defeated in the
senate by the filibuster of great South
ern and some fair-minded Western
sena tors.
Please urge the democracy of your
state to be thoroughly alive as to the
seriousness of the situation, and also
get Immediately, in touch with the
state chairman and urge the raising
of funds to be sent to the national
trea sursr, Hon. Wilbur Marsh, Grand
Central Palace. New York City.
/ am so thoroughly aroused myself
that feel it is my duty to inform you
just what the situation is.-St. Peters
burg Times.