Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-29
SHOULDINCLUDE
NEGROPRORIENI
IN PLATFORM
Thinks Democrats Must Make
PROVISION for Separation
Of Races.

To the Editor-A condition exists in
Indianapolis which is known all over
Indiana and in other States and affects
the political complexion Of the state 1t
deserves attention in the Democratic
State platform this year Failure to
aeed 1t In the last Democratic city plat
form after promises from party leaders
that II would he dealt with created an
apathy and disgust which kept more
than enough Democrats from the polls
10 counterbalanec the Republican de-
lection from the shank ticket
For several years ii was charged that
i;Ege numbers Of negroes Were lured
fsom the South by promises OF high
wages and social equality, in order to
Increase the Republican vote in Indiana
Many II these colored people who come
10 Indianapolis are decent, law abiding
citizens. But unfortunately some OF
them deceived and disappointed. have
taken themselves TO lives Of crime The
general desire Of Southern negroes TO
come here, which can be learned by
any one travelling through the South.
has made IT nationally known as negro
heaven The movement now on from
certain white women's organizations 10
secure segregation OF races IN separate
compartments Of street cars. etc. is the
natural outgrowth Of conditions almost
intolerable on some Of the car lines.
Many negroes left the cotton sections II
the South during the World War and
went into the mills Of the factery dis
tricts Many OF them came TO the prom
ised land to compete with white laborers.
This Is practically 4 solid Republican
vote Regardless Of what officials may
do with the peoples money or how taxes
may be Increased. this element. with cx-
epedingIy rare exceptions, would vote any
ticket iabelcd Republican. 1t does not
mince matters in reminding judges and
ether Republican officials Of this fact
During campaigns il makes enough prom
Uses to Democratic managers Of support
and these promises are not Kept. But
they dc prevent Democratic managers
from taking any platform positions on
this subject. The police department of
Mr. Bell while he was mayor usually
knew when burglar from Nashville, 4
horse thief from Memphis or a murderer
from Little Rock reached Indianapolis
They were told this city was not a health
full play OF residence for this element
During the Jewett administration this
class seems to have been courted until
the long string or crimes read III Indian
apolts newspapers made people in other
cities wonder why the decent white popu-
lation and decent colored people have not
demanded a clean up" of conditions
II was reliably reported during tho last
city campaign one of the candidates In
public speech promised cleanup" Of
criminal conditions If the Democratic
city ticket was successful and that about
two dozen white Republican women said
that if this were promised they would
vote the Democratic city ticket. but that
this candidate received orders not to men
ton this subject again. Do the Demo-
Gratis value the promises Of this element
which they never get more than they do
the votes OF respectable Republicans who
want conditions yet improved?
The State platform committee can do
so this thing TO make amends for - .
failure Of the city platform commi,rca 10
deal with this important subiec, n r.