The northwestern bulletin., 1923-08-11
Timely Topics
BY George w. Holberf

needed than q review OF the events
of the past week. During that time
the entire country has paid homage
to it's Dead Chief. Probably no
other president was so universally
loved by all the people as was Presi-
dent Harding. From the highest to
the lowest in all sections of our land
men and women, regardless of their
politics or party have paid their tri-
butte of love and affection to their
fallen leader and while there has
been no lack of respect shown, one
can but wonder at the ease and
quietude which has marked the
whole proceedings. We Negroes, in
common with all other good citizens
were shocked and grieved at the news
of the Presidents death and we join
with the rest of the Nation in our
sorrow for his untimeiy passing and
| in our sympathy to Mrs. Harding and
the members of his family. There
is an unusual feeling of public con-
fidence in the man who has been so
suddenly called to take up the duties
of Chief Executive and it is well that
it is so as there are grave and ser
ious problems facing the people of
the United States and it is most for
tunate indeed that a man of the sterl-
ing qualities of Calvin Coolidge was
in the line of succession. That the
death of President Harding will make
vast change in the political com
plexion of the country there can be
no doubt. There is no need of deny
ing, that to the Negroes of America,
President Harding and his entire ad-
ministration has been a bitter dis
appointment. There had been no
time that conditions had hooked more
auspicious for us than at the cleo
tion of Mr.. Harding to the Presidency
surrounded as he was with a working
majority of both houses of Con-
gress. All of Mr.. Harding's public
utterances previous to his election
in which he had touched upon those
| things which concerned us as a race,
had led us to hope, that at last some
effective steps would be taken to ad-
just many of the injustices to which
we have been subjected and yet I
cannot recall a period in the history
of this country since the close of the
Civil war when so little has been
done for us. This is the more re-
markable when we consider that
there has never been time when the
Republican party was so able to con-
troll National Legislation as during
the Harding administration. To those
of us who are in touch with the real
| feelings Of our people it is no secret
that the Negro is sadly out of time
with the Republican party as it is
today. If there is no change in it's
policy concerning our constitutional
a doubt but that there will be a
tremendous detection of the Negro
vote from the Republican Party at
the next election. Just where that
vote will go or with what Party they
may align themselves no one can
say with any degree of certainty at
this time but it's a cinch they won't
| be found within the ranks of the
party to which they have so long been
faithful. The Negro has been bunco-
ed and jollied along by the Republi-
can Party until he is sick and tired.
He has reached the point now where
he wants his rights as a citizen of
the country of which he feels he is
component part. 1t isn't sympathy
nor charity nor any special privileges
that the Negro wants but just his
plain simple right and a mans chance
to measure arms with other men in
all walks of life where he may be
capable and proficient and he is quite
willing to stand or fall as the case
may be upon his own ability. Whether
the Republican Party under the new
regime that will naturally arise with
the new President will be able to win
back the allegiance of the Negro re-
mains to be seen. 1t can't be done
by promises nor by pursuing any of
the old time methods. some concrete,
tangible Legislation eradicating many
of the injustices that are practised
against us at present will have to be
enacted. II the present temper of the
Negro is to be changed. 1t may be
that those who are designated as our
political leaders are awake to the
feelings of our people and have al
ready sounded a warning to the lead.
ers Of the Republican Party. But IL
either through ignorance of the real
conditions or from selfish motives oi
their own they are leading those
leaders to believe that all Is well and
that the Negro can be depended upon
| for h hic ~, n nld rn1tl snn-4rk - l.