Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-02-02
(By ]. s. Redmond,)

At one time. not far distant the co.
red voters of Virginia were rarely
we'll recognized in the political az
fairs of the State But by reasons o.
the activities of few cheap-rate poll
ticians, of both races we are now com
nletely excluded from the poll
tical affairs of the State with only a
verv few of us allowed to vote.
Recall. if you please. the convention
that made the first outward attempt 10
exclude the colored delegates there
rom; and you will recall the works Oh
a few cheap-rate white politicians.
Your delegates and leaders refuse'
to follow Common Reaso on; and Win
ewes fixed on something other than the
future welfare of all of the colorao
voters of the State, they did ticklisniy
eat the salty-5oueh already prepared
for them. And since then we nave
been. politically, out in the cold anu
freezing with all doors barred against
us to feel at home and warm our emil
ly bones.
The colored voters of Virginia must
set together, and big conference
would be mighty big help toward tnaN
end. Come together to teach and to be
taught; and all leaving with an UNDER
standing common 10 all.
Take the State as whole on!
about four out of every ten unreglsteN
ed colored and white citizens can make
out a correct application to register
(according to the form the colored ap-
plicants are required to use) without
the assistance of the registrar or 'sol"e
one else. That Icing true, we Shout
not be surprised to know that some o.
our best school achers have failed 10
nroduce the correct or required form c.
forms when attempting 70 register.
If once in secets ion the conference
would have plenty Of work at hant
For instance; giving out the colrecr
form to use when applying TO register;
encouraging those who have never vo(
ed TO pay their taxes and vote; teacd
those VITO are now permitted TO votc'
tho value of the Individual vote; en-
courage each town and village to or
ganize the voters thereof; etc.
If we would bui,d up n strong ana
heavy vote amOnS the cOlored voters
Of the State we must go down into our
pockets and get together.
This writer is from the ninth dis
tr:ct, and he spent out OF his own
nocket (without asking for or rec9''
inc any Of it back) mol1e than $50 ~
ing to defeat the much tickled receiT1"
of C. Bascom Slemp's Oily White Ma.
tie" Consequently. George c. Pec,y
was the chosen man. This Wrl''f
holds in his immediate po session, a
ictter from Congressman Perry extend
ing many thsnks..
Then too our conference could pa
over our clever idea, of not trying II
get the contents of the political .por,
our start dropping in a nickel here ana
{, dime there and await the returns
thru good Legislation and Care lstri
button of patronage.
To speak of patronage recalls to
your mind the hot shots fired at Mr..
Slemp shortly before he turned his
office over to Ir Perry. Anyhow let
us step to the tune of the call made by
the Honorable Mr.. Toliver and file in
70 Roanoke on the morning of the Str
of February with ourselves ready roll
ed up. already FOR a big political bat
tie. Col. Anderson, who fought us so
desperately will look down from Heav
en- upon us, and frown as we fail
against the convention door with our
sleevs rolled up; but Malone and
Lankston Will Peep him from interfer
ing with us in cur rights, made so by
our forefathers. Elliott the greatest
orator that has ever sat in Congress,
excusing Sumner will place adequate
words in the mouth of our leader;
while the great B. X. Bruce
and the immortal Lincoln will brush
back their silvery locks and smilingly
watch our earnest attempt to regain.
our rights in party which we have
made famous by our vote.
When we call up those good old DAYS
Of the Republican party. when repubh
cans we're republicans, we are compeG
ed to think of Sumned Lincoln, Bruce
Hanna Revels Lankston. Malone
Lynch and men who represented some