Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-09-06

The following announcement I'D
the New York Times of August SOth
has puzzled US considerably:
William H. Lewis, Negro, for
merly an Assistant Attorney General
visited the headquarters in the Hotter
Belmont and offered to take the
stump for Mr.. Davis. He lives In
Boston and has always been Re-
publ can, but feels, he says. that THIS
year Mr.. Davis best represents the
interest of the Negro people and the
public generally 1t was learned IN
connection with his visit that rather
elaborate plans are being made Tor
an intensive drive after the Negro
vote. especially in Ohio and Indiana.
Ferdinand Q. Morton, Municipal
Civil Service Commissioner, who mas
been appointed director of the Col
ored Voters Bureau, entered on his
duties Yesterday and asserted that
Davis would get so per cent. OIL the
Negro vote IN New York.
This report, is significant for two
reasons: First, Hon. William ii.
Lewis halls from Massachusetts ana
it is to be presumed that the attitude
of the Republican managers there
has not been along lines consistent
with the Party's record of some fifty
odd years. Secondly. Mr.. Lewis is
one of the most influential colored
leaders in this country, has been sig
naIE honored in the matter of public
office and is a keen observer OF pres
ent day conditions. He halls orig
inally from Portsmouth, Va.
This dsaffection must be offset at
once. Some leader of transcendent
ability like Hon. Charles w. Ander-
son must be thrown into the breach.
He halls too from New York. With
Henry Lincoln Johnson of Georgia.,
Perry w. Howard of Mississippi and
Robert R. Church of Tennessee, op-
Grating and cooperating with half a
dozen other influential cOlored lead
ers of the North, whom we might
name. this surprising inroad upon
the colored voters in the northern
States may be checked.
Something should be done with
Harry C. Smith of Ohio. He is not
exactly off the reservation, but he is
dangerously near the dividing Inc
and may be found grazing on some
outside reservation, even though it
may not be a part of that assigned
to the Democratic political herd Of
rooters.
When we refer to him, we Incl
dentally refer to many others like
him. Hon. John w. Davis is admit
tedly popular and he has the colored
people believing that he is conscien-
tious. Even those who are opposed
to him politically are, outspoken in
this opinion. 1t may be that Attor-
ney William H. Lewis served with
Hon John w. Davis, when he was
Solicitor General and formed a
friendship, the like of which cannot
be ruptured politically even with
President Calvin Coolidge as the
leader
Still, from a colored mans view
point, this is a matter to be consid-
cred before a final decision is an
nounced. Why did Chairman Butler
of New England let William H.
Lewis of Massachusetts, desert the
Party at this critical period? Is il
possible that in the matter of dealing
with colored people practically, the
distinguished resident of Massachu
sets hasn't got his bonnet on
straight" that words are uttered with
the mouth to be- broken to the hope?
The race question will be one OF
transcendent Importance.
AS for the Ku Klux Khan issue
just the mention of that name to {
black man or woman from a south
ern State will have the same effec
as the announcement that shanty
in the Southland is haunted and thai
spirits Of the other world have &
habitataon there. They will scamDel
away. The colored folks in tina
neighborhood, especially che womer
and children will give it "a wide
berth"