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

There seems to be no doubt what
ever, but whaE the lilly white Gle
ment OF the Republican Party is in
undispucd control of affairs in Vir-
ginia. Much to our surprise, Hon. G.
Bascom Slemp the remarkable Doi-
teal character from the Ninth Con
gressional District Of Virginia is re-
puted to be the champion of that
cl,mcnt of tho Republican Party
that is demanding tho elimination Of
the citizens Of color as a political
factor in the Republican Purity Of
this State and country. II is report.
cd that he has become the radical
q: the radicals" and to th,s end, he
proposes to champion n plan for tho
elimination of the Negroes Of the
Southland as factor in Republican
control and management.
TO just what extent this report is
true, we are unable to state. 1t Is
true though that he has decided to
call a 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 gtmeral and the party
patronage in the State in particular.
With Virginia having as progressive
IN class Of colored people as may BIO
found anywhere in the world, there
is no chance whatever OF any ono OF
them being accorded party recogni.
ton in a State where they have done
their best for tho advancement Of
the interests Of the Republican
Party.
1t seems to us that II delegation of
colored men, those who cannot DO
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
view to having him explain his
, views and his attitude upon this all
;. important subject. President Warren
, G.. harding has in uncquivocal lang
age expressed himself upon this
, subject and Hon.. G.. BaScom Slcmp
, should be questioned as to his atti-
=, tdde i'll tho premises. Democrats
who supported Congressman Slcmp
and the Republican ticket did so for
= tie purpose OF rcbuking their own
Republican leaders and most OF them
5 Will go back homc," when the right
democratic leaders assume control Of
their own party.
/, Can white Democrats, believing in
, fundamental principles OF tho Demo
crate Party and antagonistic 10 the
fundamental principles of the Repub.
lean Party be safe and sound Repub-
leans and can they he trusted to take
: charge of large bodies Of Republican
regulars with safety to the party Or
ganization? These are the questions
; paramount now to all others. We
. are Of the opinion that disagreements
MI ST. crop out and that the white
Republican organization is on the
tests in its history over party spoils
, OF Office. BE that as it may, some
r'eans should be found to ascertain
officially the attitude Of this distingu
ished Virginian and should they be
found contrary to the fundamental
principles OF the Republican Party an
tSsua chnu1d lin ,,,oIo onao
OF course, the "ll1y black" clemcn.
Of the Republican Party will hardly
, f&vor this policy, claiming that the
information sought to be obtained IA
already in evidence and that this
movement is time lost. 1t may he
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 reference has been
made.
Lot body Of representative citi.
2ana appear before the Republican
Sate organization at Roanoke and en-
dcaVor to secure q plain definition
ma statement as to it's attitude to-
wards this large body Of Republican
"rters, who have stood loyal to the
National Republican Party fox a half
century or moro.