Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1920-07-17

the vote to our colored citizens whether by
violence or threats Of violence by tissue
paper ballots or grandfather laws by en-
barrassng registration, or cheating in the
application OF educational tests? Whatever
device OF force or fraud is employed, the
admitted truth is that the Negro vote in the
South is suppressed
In the long run only voters have rights in
this country. The politicians. whether they
hold executive office or sit in legislatures
know, respect and fear the 'Iabor vote' the
Temperance vote.'' the "soldier vote.'' the
suffrage vote, and every other vote. but
they have no thought to spare for any class
that has no vote. The non-voters are de-
fenceess, their needs are not considered their
rights are not defended. and no body Of tax
PAYERS can long remain in that position.
Taxation without representation is tyr
amy whether the taxpayer is black or
white. and II men are counted as voters when
the number Of congressman or presidential
electors is determined, and yet are not al
lowed to cast their votes, those who profit by
the system exercise an undue influence in the
councils of the nation to which their fellow
citizens will not long submit The Solid
South rests upon the suppressed Negro vote,
and it creates a political situation which
cannot endure. Both the coored taxpayer,
whose vote is wholly suppressed, and the
white voter in the North and West, whose
vote is partly neutralized and so partly sup
pressed, are bound to oppose it. Does it help
the communities which refuse to recognize
the political rights of the Negro? Does it
insure them good government to let their po-
litical life hinge on a single question? Is it
wise to let a whole government rest on in
justice to it's citizens as a corner stone? What
must be the political and moral tone Of men
who see the laws habitually spurned or evad-
ed by the men who are chosen to govern
them? Is it an example which is likely to
promote good citizenship and love of justice
among the citizens who are the soil from
which government springs? If they are just,
their rulers will be just and not otherwise
Again | turn to Atlanta for wisdom.
A year ago at Hampton in Virginia I
heard your eloquent preacher, the Rev. DR..
Pones say to the students Of that great col
lege:
''You protest that you have not full po-
litical freedom in the South today. No, and
neither have |. You answer that [ have the
ballot. Yes, but what is the worth of a bal
lot which can be counted before it is cast?
What is the value Of vote which cannot be
backed by freedom of political choice? * s.
We said that we would shut the Negro out
Of our political life and yet, ever since, the
shadow of your race has rested upon every
political discussion, and you have in real
sense dominated every political election The
simple truth is that when we all became
Democrats we did so at the cost of our de-
mocracy. IS y For wherever Democrat
or Republican stands for sectional, racial.
or class consciousness, it is an evidence not
of political freedom, but of party despotism -
[ have said my say, but the ideas which I
have expressed are not new or original with
me. I have been only the mouthpiece of At
lanta. 1t is Atlanta that has spoken to you,
and surely the words which I have quoted