Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-10-01
ton VIE shall expect nothing and we
shall got exactly what we expect.
THE ISSUE IN VIRGINIA.

The Republican Convention Of Vir-
gin!a, in Sc ssion at Norfolk. Va, anu
controlled by the dsgruntled white
citizens who for some reason or tire
other had quit the Democratic Party
conceived tho idea that they could
capture tho State machinery and elect
State officers, If they had q chance
with the backing Of TING Republican Adj
ministration at Washington and with
the elimination Of ,tlye Negroes as a
pciiticaN factor In the campaign. 10
accomplish this, heroic action was alb
solutely necessary. Not only must the
fundamental principles Of the Republi-
can Party be nullified, but the distinS-
uished occupant of tho White House
would necessarily DO required to stultl
fy himself, so far as his preelect.on
'utterances were concerned.
The preacher President" the states
IMAM, who openly, In the sight Of AL
mighty God and the American people
took tho Bible as his guido and Its pre-
cepts as his platform practically rcpu-
dated the fundamental doctrine that
all citizens Of this Republic are equal
TO equal rights and privileges. even as
they apply to voting for candidates for
Office, aspiring to Office and to occupy
Ing offices given by I the appointing
power. Just how this was brought
about will always, we expect remain
mystery. Certainly. powerful inrm-
ences must have been brought to bear
to cause statesman Of President War
rem G. Harding's type to forsalee the
teachings Of lifetime.
In the Republican Convention ut
Norfolk, there were only three coldreG
delegates. These held credentials, un.
questioned and they no doubt felt that
their title to seats was secure. If the
question Of race and color he'd not been
raised, few white men would have
known that they were members of the
body. But Democratic police officers
wero stationed at the entrance to
the hall to bar their admission. Color
and not party regularity was tho has.
10 OIL admission to tho Convention.
Chairman q. Bascom Slemp is report
ed do have furnished badges to ono
colored leader and he thought that
with this admission to thu hail might
u" obtained. II had no effect and as a
result an all white body dominates a
ticket with anti-Negro candidates de-
el"ring that by this policy the Negro
WAS no longer an issue in Virginia.
This action was followed by other
action. 1t is fundamental rulo OF
physios-"Action Is equal to reaction
IN a contrary 1irection!' This reaction
came and a ticket composed Of all col
ored men, just as tho other Rcpubli-
can and the Democratic tickets arc
composed OF all white men. The col.
orcd leaders, who had boon ignomini-
ously betrayed and insultcd dccid.1
that this was tho only manly stand
thoy coult Fl Rake in tho face Of existing
conditions. They reasoned that when
tho white folks closed their hotels III
this State to tho Negroes, these same
Negroes opened their own hotels.
When they denied Negroes admission
to their ice cream parlors, tlroy openel
their own ice cream parlors.
When they showed that they did
not want colorcd people in their
churches, tho colorcd people opeaed
their own churches and employed their
own preachers. When they found that
they did not want them In the white
ndighborhoods, the colorcd foJ}cs omen
ell up segregated districts Of their
own. When they found out that the
]ltney service an this section was rot
available to them, they bought the
white folks rundown cars and used
them until they were able to purchas.
new ones and now they arc riding
around all sections with smiles upon
their countenances, regardless OF tho
depleted poclSst'books this kind of en-
joyment entails.
AS to whether the colored people
VIII support ticket, which tho color-
Ell leaders, nominated is q reflection
upon their intelligence. Whether this
ticket secures one hundred or one
thousand votes, 1t is there to show the
political aspirations Of ono of the
Rindfiest races Of people ON the facs
OF the globe. The necessity for this
action on the part OF our people is as
disappointing as it ia dislseartening,
Dut to the thoughtful upright. Cod
tearing electorate, there seems to be
ndhing else TO do.
Observation-Disclosures