Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-22
NEGRO DELEGATIONS
ACTIVE At CAPITAL;
SOUNDING COOLIDGE
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Ueased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(Copyright 1921

| Copyright. 1891
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.-On the
White House list today appeared ar
engagement for President Coolidge
to receive "a delegation Of colorej
women"
This is the first of its kind since
the new president took office. The
women represent various organiza
tons interested in improving the
condition Of the colored race. Ordi
! narily an engagement like this would
not attract attention, but lately there
has been a noticeable stream of col
| ored leaders visiting the executive
offices, more than even during the
sons are matters of wide specula,
ton, though the general impress
sion is that the colored people are
anxious to know exactly what the
Coolidge administration is willing
to do for them.
While the status of the colored
people always is a sociological prob
lem, and efforts are constantly be-
ing made to improve their position,
the political phases only lately have
become acute. The colOred voters
are almost all additionally Republic
an, and they expect the national adj
ministra ton when it is Republican
to reward their brethren with offices
whenever possible.
Harding Their Friend
The late President Harding sent to
the senate the nominations OF Varl-
Gus colored leaders, but the senate
in most cases failed to confirm them,
due particularly to the long fillbus-
tiers threatened or executed by Demo
cratic senators. This, however, has
not always appeased the political
leaders of the colOred race, who have
insisted that colored appointees be
increased especially in those places
which do not require the contlrma-
ton of the senate.
The dissatisfaction of the colored
voters on this point has been grow
ing in the last decade, but with the
southern states predOminantly Dem
ocratic the disaffection of the col
cred race has not been politically
dangerous for the Republicans,
though there have been efforts to
make the colored vote felt in north
ern states. In the years since the
war the exodus of colored Workmen
from the south has increased per
ceptibly the registration OF colored
voters in northern states. Since the
advent of woman suffrage, colored
women have been able to double
the political power Of their race in
the north. While it is true that
disconnected colored voters do not
as a rule turn to the Democratic
ticket they do stay away from the
polls upon occasion and this only
tends to improve the chances Of the
Democrats who do get their normal
vote to the polls.
Courier in Lilly Whites"
Running counter to the aspira-
lions Of the colored leaders to po'
litical power is the movement i'll
the south amouE what is known as
the Lilly White Republicans" the
same being those white voters who
believe In the Republican party s
principles with the exception of its
favoritisul for the colored man. The
thought has been expressed again
and again by this faction that were
it not for the latter fact there
would be an opportunity to build up
strong Republican organizations in
southern states. c. Bascomb Slemp,
private secretary to President Coo
lidge, has been most active in the
Lilly White Republican" movement
and voted with the Democrats in
the last session of congress against
the Dyer proposal to make lynch
ing a federal crime.
When news of the appointment OF
Mr.. Slemp first was announced
there were murmurs of discomfort
among the colored Republicans and
it is believed an attempt is being
made to wipe out some of the feel
ing engendered by the appointment
The fact that Mr.. Coolidge himself
is receiving constantly the more
prominent men and women of the
colored race is expected to offset
any rumors of a Lilly White
movement being sanctioned at the
White House.