Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-06-18


among Republicans in the matter
Tho surviving old stagers are attach
ed TO the system of doing business on
practical basis with Southern 60
publican delegates. Other elder Re-
pub leans are faithful to the weaken
ing Republican tradition of protect
ing and "rccognizing' the Negroes.
Some Republican opportunists believe
that thc Southern situation should
be faced frankly. The Republican
Party in the South consists largely
of Negroes DISTINGUISHED by State
laws. Those laws have been declared
constitutional. Negroes of character
and intclliGcncc are admitted to tho
franchise in increasing numbers Why
shou IN" the Republican Party
acknowledge those laws as the Dem.
ocratic Party does? Why shouldn't IL,
insist that only Il qualified voter sh,ll
DC allowed to take part in the prf1nar
les or conventions? So the opportur-
lists.
This, then is the question. The most
significant part Of the whole business
Is that at last, 1t is stated with al.
thority that President Harding has
been brough; to the point of APPROX
ing this "Will-o-Wisp" hunt for white
Republican votes in the Southland
This will result in building M the
Ske cton of Republican Party COM
posed OF renegade Democrats, who
can control only their immediatc
friends and Il few hcncriciarics oc
Government patronage. while The ranil
ana file OF white men, who have sue
cecdcd in registering their disapprov
al OF the actions of the old Democratic
machine will return the Democrat
lc organization, where they will be
welcomed with open arms.
IL SENS to us if the Republican or
Sani~ation is to be controlled by an;
small cabal OF politicians, those, who
have seen service in the Party an..
who have braved the opprobrium ana
condemnation of the white Democrats
of the Southland should be recognized;
until Il genuine revolution takes place
which will bring into the Republican,
ranks. men, who will not scorn tE,!
companionship OF Republicans, whit.
or colorcd, who have served all Of
these years for the benefit Of th,S
great political organization. The New
York Times says:
The now plan is Il compromise but
undoubtedly ii looks toward Il "whitc
mans party Tho Rcpubliclp dang.
or Is that in trying To- conciliatc the
Southern whites it may stir resnnt-
mcnt among the Northern Negroes.
Che selection of Mr.. John n. Adams
OF Iowa us Chairman Of tho Ma :ionaI
Committee is supposed 10 have been
favored all along by Mr.. Harding. y.
reason why it was formerly opposed
has not dropped from some ra:rnfu.
memories, but forgiveness is an admit
able virtue, and so let bygoncs be- bv
cones. very many persons who voted
for Mr.. Harding were much more de-
voted to Germany than Mr.. Adams has
ever been represented as being. N.Y.
VIII Hays didn't leave the Chairman
ship without inserting Il sharp coad
into the Republican brethren. "a T.
100000 "majority is large, but it is not
an "alibi for the mistakes, negligence
and extravaganza OF disagreement"
All, there is the rub! The colorel
voters of the northern States hold TIL :,
key to the situation " Will they us,
it to relieve their relatives and friends
Of most embarrassing situation? II
President Harding approves the forma
ton Of white Republican Party in
the South or in any other part of the
country rather than a Republican
Party composed Of all Republicans, re
CARELESS of race, color or previous COZ
ditions Of servitude, his public utter
ances have given no intimation O:
such policy. But the New York
Times virtually states that he has
surrendered" to this element With,
the Party.
Let us hope that this great New
York Jorunal is mistaken, even though
the cards now upon the table" wou.l
seem to indicate that this ncwspap y
is correct in it's conclusions Some
where in the Scriptures, the divine
Head made the remark. "And what
will it profit a man to gain the whole
word and lose his soul?" We ask,
what will it profit the Republican nd-
mlnistration to get a minority white
Republican Party in the Southland
with no electoral votes and lose the
great mass of colored voters OF the
North and lose the electoral votes Of
those Northern States? Colored people
are educated and they have learned
to think and act independently in rc.
litical matters and at times with tran
scendcnt judgment.
But then we decline to believe that
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