Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-03-26
PARTY PATRONAGE.

There seems to be no doubt what
ever, but what the lilly white Gle
ment of the Republican Party is in
undispuacd control OF affairs in Vir-
ginia Much to our surprise, Hon. @,
Bascom Slemp the remarkable poll
tical character from the Ninth Con
gressional District of Virginia is re-
puted to be the champion of that
el,mcnt Of tho Republican Party
that is demanding the elimination OF !
the citizens of color as a POLITICAL
factor in tho Republican Party Of
thla State and country. 1t is report.
cd that he has become the radical
g: the radicals" and to this end, he
proposes to champion q plan for the
elimination of the Negroes of tho
Southland as a factor in Republican
control and management.
! To just what extent this report is
true, we are unable to state. It is
true though that he has decided to
call meeting OF Republicans at
Roanoke, with the colorcd element
IN tho party left out to pass upon Wit
al questions affecting the Republican
organization In gemeral and the party
patronage in the State in particulars
With Virginia having as progressive
IA class of colored people as may BIO
found anywhere in the world, there
is no chance whatever Of any one Of
them being accorded party recoSni.
ton In a State where they have done
:, their best for the advancement Of
the interests Of the Republican
Party.
1t seems to US chat a delegation of
colored men, those who cannot be
said to have made themselves obnox-
ious to this white element but yho
HAY bit said to be Numbered with the
conservative element should call up
on this distinguished Virgin,an with
a view to having him explain his
, views and his attitude upon this all
!. important subject. President Warren
, G.. harding has in unequivocal lang
lage expressed himself upon this
, subject and Hon. c., Bascom Slemp
, should be questioned as to his atti.
!, tide III tho premises. Democrats
who supported Congressman Slemp
and the Republican ticket did so for
tie purpose of rebuking their own
Republican leaders and most of them
5 will go back home," whom the right
democratic leaders assume control Of
their own party.
, Can white Democrats, believing in
, fundamental principles Of the Demo.
cratic Party and antagonistic to the
; fundamental principles Of the Repun.
lean Party be safe and sound Repub-
licans and can they he trusted to take
. charge of large bodies of Republican
l regulars with safety to the party or.
ganization? These are the questions
; paramount now to all others. We
, are of the opinion that disagreements
will set crop out and that the white
Republican organization is on the
verge of one OF the most bitter con-
tests in its history over party spoils
/ of office. Be that as it may, some
. raeans should be found to ascertain
officially the attitude OF this distingu
tshed Virginian and should they be
found contrary to tho fundamental
: principles Of the Republican Party an
issue should lie made at once.
OF course, the "li1y black" element
Of the Republican Party will hardly
, favor this policy, claiming that the
: information sought to be obtained fs
already in evidence and that this
movement is time lost. Tt may be
, that this element is correct in it's con
, illusions, but for another body Of col
ored citizens, not direct parties to the
, recent disagreements to proceed upon
line Of Independent investigation
may do much good, and cannot do
} any harm, even though the informal.
ION secured Is already in line with
that secured by the latter organiza-
tion to which a reference has been
made.
Let body Of representative citi.
Hens appear before the Republican
State organization at Roanoke and en-
deavor to secure q plain definition
md statement as to it's attitude to.
wards this large body of Republican
v'ters, who have stood loyal to the
National Republican Party fox d half
. century or moro. p