Phoenix tribune., 1921-02-19
CALVIN COOLIDGE
IN BAD With HIS
BLACK BRETHREN
(sy The Associated Negro Press)

Chicago, Feb. 17-Vice-P President
elect Calvin Coolidge, according to
authentic reports, felt a chill go up
his spine when the statement he made
about white southerners being the
best friends of the Negroes, was met
with rigid and frigid indifference.
The psychology of this notable event
is very peculiar, and is worthy of ex-
PLANTATION. There is no American who
has been more admired for his hon
esty of purpose and fearlessness in
the cause of justice than Governor
Coolidge, so far as Colored Americans
are concerned.
The silence of that great Atlanta
audience was not scorn. hatred, nor
Indifference. The silence was due to
disappointment, pity and thoughtful
ness.
All the records go to prove that
ninety-nine out of every hundred
northern white people who go south
and come under the hypnotical in
fluences of the crafty southerners,
who cleverly and designedly seek to
impress their point of view on the
visitor, come away sold"
The Associated Negro Press could
enumerate hundreds of instances, and
there is in mind the case of a nation
ally prominent white editor who hut
recently was there, and who was
brought under the same influence, but
refused to be sold"
How delighted the white south is
over compromising statements like
Governor Coolidge made is expressed
typically in an editorial from the
Charlotte, N. c., Observer, daily. 1t
says:
'The day before he departed from
Atlanta for Asheville, Vice-President-
elect Coolidge was invited to make an
address in a Negro church The in
vitation was accepted and the visitor
delivered himself of a pointed piece
of advice. He told the Negroes that
'the white people of the North have
done much in money and educators
sent them, but the people of the south
have done even more than that. He
advised the Negroes to bear this fact
in mind and to appreciate Sthe work
of their white neighbors in. their be-
half" Doing that and making CON
scientious effort on their own part to
letter their condition" was Mr. Cool
idge's idea of the best thing for the
Negroes of the South The Vice
President-elect appears to have a fine
sense of the opportunity at hand to
say something of real benefit to the
Negroes, and now that they have had
this advice from a man they know
must be their friend, they should be
inclined to give it serious thought
Mr. Coolidge's words were few, but
they encompassed mighty truth"
"Presient-elect Harding has come
under that same influence, but he has
made, thus far no break that would
indicate that he has been 'sold,"
albeit 15,OOO,OOO American Colored
people have teen nervously watching
every turn up the bends of the Indian
river, SO to speak.
Those who know President-elect
Harding best, and their name is
legion, give the most earnest assur-
ance that he will countenance no un-
fair advantages. AS an editor and
United States senator, Mr. Harding is
a well informed man on American
problems. Senator Harding is no
stranger to the south, for years be-
fore he was senator he spent his
winters in Florida.
The Coolidge incident shows that
American Colored people are not
being carried away with honied words,
regardless of the source, and that
they have their own ideas about best
friends" and why such should be en-
titled to that appelation.