The northwestern bulletin., 1923-12-29
Timely Topics
ANNUAL SURVEY OF THE ASSo
CIATED NEGRO PRESS.

1B&S.
The year 1923 began with colored
America travelling along the road of
progress but uncertain as to the
right course. In this state Of uncer-
tainty, there was confusion, but there
was determination to keep on going,
with a mind single to the idea that
there must be progress made. In the
bewildering outlook, there were many
people with many minds, and those
of the great mass population, always,
for the most part, seeking advice and
willing to be directed, found them
selves turning in many directions
during the course of the year. Upon
the whole. however, 1923 will be re-
membered as a year Of genuine prog
ress and real achievement in the
world of the darker peoples. This Is
particularly true as applies to those
Of the United States OF America.
PoLITICS-In politics, as not in
recent years, Colored America has
been both an interesting and disturb
ing factor. In the South conditions
Of disfranchisement have not changed
but in the North, with the increased
numbers because of migration, there
has been a steady growth of political
power. There has been exhibited a
surprising amount of independence in
political matters, and leaders have
learned that colored voters must be
appealed to in the same fashion as
any other group of Americans, and
that those responsible for directing
the vote, in any party, will readily
find the reflection of sentiment in the
results of the ballot box.
Disappointment in national po-
litical recognition developed a con-
dition among voters that caused great
alarm among those responsible for
success in the Republican party.
Frank admission on the part of white
leaders that there had been a failure
to keep the faith" found open ex-
preston in the action of the Repub-
lican national committee recinding an
action Of two years previous, at the
December meeting this year, and re-
storing the former representation to
states of the South deprived of the
colored vote by disfranchisement.
Colored America is politically
alert, and is taking advantage Of ev-
cry angle of the game. City, county,
state and national divisions are given
there proper standard and setting,
and the directing minds have been
able to accomplish some surprising
results in the discriminating manner
in which the issues of the day are
handled. The open bid Of Northern
Democrats for colored votes has
finally awakened Republicans to the
necessity of doing some practical
things, and endeavor to win back to
favor the element of the voting popu-
lation that has always been regarded
as an unquestioned asset. The meas
ure Of the task is not under estimated
on either side.
INDUSTRY-They year has been
marked by a great movement Of Col
ored America from the South to the
North. During midsummer the con-
dition became so alarming for the
whites of the South that remarkable
efforts were put forth to discourage
the onrush. Chambers of Commerce
resorted to billboards, cartoons and
big display notices in leading daily
newspapers of the South, to both urge
and warn colored people to stay in
the South. In many Of the southern
states, inter-racial conferences were
held, and frank expressions were Civ
en- on both sides in a plan to over
come what the South regarded as i'm
J pending disaster
Probably the most notable of these
utterances came out of the state of
Mississippi, state that has been re-
garded as being almost in the mid
night of racial injustice, the state
ment was respectfully bold, and had
, wide influence for good.
Nevertheless, the people have con-
tinued to come, and the end is not
yet, although there has been lessen
ing during the latter part OF the year.
The workers, 1t seems, have found a
permanent place in Northern indus
try. The fact is generally accepted
by both groups and programs are be-
, ing worked out along a definite line
calculated to cover a period of years
' in education, welfare work, housing
and otherwise. Strict measurement
: by the government Of foreign immi-
: grafton has placed larger premium
on colored workers. There is serious
desire on the part Of the majority ol
those who have come North to be ef.
ficient, law-abiding and very much In
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