Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-03-29

was 'of presidential size" (for appoint
ment to office If Ralph were alive, we
would explain in detail his appoint
ment by President Roosevelt who was
Shaping at" our great and good friend
Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, when
he made it. Roosevelt was angry With
the Senator because he persisted in
his fight for The Black Battalion"
which he (Roosevelt) had ordered Sec
rotary of War Taft to discharge with
out honor" from the U. S. Army This
Taft had done after trying in vain to
get Roosevelt to rescind his order.
Some of The Black Battalion" had
helped to save the lives of Col. Roose-
welt and his Rough Riders" in Cuba
during the SpanishtAmerican War, too.
No Ohio Afro-American has ever held a
Presidential appointment "of national
Importance" because of this states Ne
gro" political boot-lickers. They have
always been willing to help white Re-
publican leaders hold our people back,
in the matter Of proper representation,
ETC., so they could get job. Contlnu-
ing, Editor Mitchell says:
Either pledges should be made to
give to some of these Afro-American
leaders an appointment of national in.
portance or the fight should be contin-
ued to the bitter end. Supine submis-
sion cannot win in political contest.
Manly men alone can secure manhood
rights for either themselves or for
some one else. We hope that united act
ion will take the place of divided coun
Gil, which now seems to be dominating
affairs in Ohio at this time. If the col
cred people of that state will get togeth
err, all that they demand can be secur'
ed without being put to the hazardous
trouble Of fighting in the open for it.
The report of the experiences of that
Afro-American committee as published
in The Cleveland Gazette of March 9Th
1924, is decidedly humiliating. These
men were not on personal mission
and were advocating no particular
candidate for the position. They took
high ground and left to the white Re
publicans themselves, so far as the reso
luton goes, the naming Of one of their
number to go to the Republican Nat
ional Convention at Cleveland. The
matter can be compromised, but this
compromise can only come by pledging
to appoint toa position Of national i'm
pcrtance some one of the able Republi
can Afro-American leaders Of Ohio"
That is where our esteemed con-
frere of the Planet is wrong. Ohio Afro
Americans insist upon candidate for
delegate-at-large and the offer Of Job
or position of any kind, will not be &C
cepted. There can be no compromise!
Either we get what we demand or we
will carry the fight into the campaign
for election, this fall. There is no law
that compels our people to vote, this
fall or any other, if they do not feel to
do so, and they know it.
This reply is in the nature Of one OF
those attacks from that noted long
range gun that was used during the
last days of the World War to shell
Paris. In view of our own attitude, in
this State and our uncompromising at
titude in dealing with the fundamental
wrong done colored voters of this State
at the time, we cannot consistently af-
ford to take issue with him upon this
all-important subject. The fight will 60
on, so far as we principle-loving Vir-
ginians are concerned. huff Sed'."