Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-04-05


ment that Col. r. O. Simmons was the
enc, who deserved credit for his con
firmation as Comptroller of Customs
at New Orleans, Louisiana, intimatine
that he meant that this redoubtable
orator deserved all of the credit fol
this satisfactory consummation. Even
our great and good friend, Ben Davis
of the Atlanta Independent makes the
statement. Here it is:
According to the following telegram
sent to the Chicago Defender by Wal
ter L. Cohen on the day of his con-
firmation, Roscoe Simmons is due all
the credit for his confirmation. All the
efforts and prayers Of the thirteen mil
lion Negroes who prayed and pulled
for the confirmation Of Mr.. Cohen, the
hundreds Of Negroes who wrote their
senators and other influential friends
to bring pressure to bear; the united
effort Of every member of the National
Negro Press Association and of those
Negro Press leaders who stayed around
Washington to keep up the morale un'
TIL the job was put over, according to
Mr. Cohen's telegram, the Chicago De.
fender through the indefatigable work
of its editor, Colonel Roscoe Simmons
is entitled to THE credit for the victory
and all the other influences might have
stayed at home and made no effort, for
he would have won without them; pro
vided, he had the Influence of the
indefatigable Simmons. Roscoe Sim
mons did it all. Neither the influence
of LaFollette nor Mccormick did any
thing-it was the Defender through
Roscoe Simmons which did it all. No,
the senate did not even confirm M.
Cohen according to the alleged tele-
gram. Roscoe did it all, and we can
prove it by the front page telegram
signed "W. l. Cohen"
There is but one Ben Davis in the
whole United States of America and We
are of the opinion that there never
will be anther. He is a most valuable
proposition as an asset and most dan
gerous handicap as liability. He is a
striking illustration Of the average
white southerner. If he is for you,
then God bless you. If he is against you
May the Lord have mercy on your soul.
Editor Davis backed Cohen and Walter
l.. Cohen had some backing.
But Cohen sent no letter or telegram
to the Atlanta Independents chieftain
and the three hundred other newspaper
men and thousands Oh leaders, who adj
vocated his confirmation by the United
States Senate. He sent it to the Chica,
go Defender and incidentally named
Col R. C. Simmons, President Of the
Lincoln League. If Col. Simmons had
as much judgment as he has oratorical
ability, the telegram would have never
seen the light of day. But It was a poll
teal triumph for him and he published
it in his newspaper. Here it is:
Washington, D. c., March II.
ITO the Chicago Defender: My APP
pointment as comptroller of customs
for New Orleans District made by Presi
dent Coolidge, has just been confirmed
by the Senate, 80 to SO. thank the De
fender for its support and desire to
say that credit for the victory is due II
through the interchangeable efforts of it's
representative, Roscoe Simmons.
Walter l.. Cohen.
We wondered before we saw the
copy OF the telegram how an old cam
paigner and shrewd political leader
like Walter L. Cohen could have made
such a blunder. After reading the tele-
gram however, we do not see how any
one could put the construction upon
the missive to the extent that 1t says
that either the Chicago Defender or
the brilliant orator, Roscoe c. Sim.
mons deserved all Of the credit for the
confirmation.
His purpose seems to have been ia
give CREDIT, not all of the credit to the
Chicago Defender and then to limit
that credit in the Chicago Defender Il
the associate editor, Roscoe G. Sim
mons. In other words, he was endeav
oring to help Simmons with the Chica
go Defenders owner and publisher
But then, what have we to do with the
matter anyhow? This explanation
should come from New Orleans, La.
and not from Richmond, Va, so we enc
this discussion with the quaint conclu
, sion, good night and goodbye"