The Enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 192?-1930, 1928-05-17

Factional Strife
May Defeat Negro
For Congress

CHICAGO, May 1G.- (Special)-
Jealousy and selfishness within the
race threatens TO keep colored
man from seat in congress As
in all other crises where the Negro
was tragically In need of unity and
organization. his selfishness again
strikes at the root OF his accom-
plishments and rise to power.
Opposition by coiored leaders TO
the candidacy OF Oscar DePriest to
succeed the late Martin b. Madden
from the First congressional district,
gave prospects today of being split
among two or three independent
candidates.
DePriest, picked by Thompson or
ganization leaders for the distinc-
tion Of being the first Negro sent
TO congress from Illinois, Is being
opposed by Assistant Attorney Cen
eral William II. Harrison. He was
put forward by a large faction as
an independent candidate. and his
hackers claim excellent chances of
defeating DePriest II in a two man
race.
Reports today were that two other
candidates are being groomed as in
dependents by Negro groups in the
district. They are James c. Cotter.
an assistant United States district
attorney, and Benjamin c. Clayton.
also a lawyer. William l.. Dawson,
leading Negro candidate against the
late Congressman Madden at the
primary. has not given up his eff
forts to get the Republican nomina-
tion on the argument that the death
of Mr.. Madden before the official
proclamation of the vote left Daw-
son the winner.
There are many VINO would have
preferred seeing nominated Attor-
neys Louis Anderson. Edward II.
Wright or Major r. Il. jackson to
DpPriest II the present contro-
versy Is continued and the field is
filled with candidates, white can
didate-perhaps a Democrat-will
win.
~ am not worried by the situa-
tIon,' said Depriest. "The law Is
plain and, If II becomes necessary,
the committee will sustain the va
lidity of its action in the courts,
going as far as the Supreme Court,
il necessary"
II have no political enemies TO
punish. II elected" he said. "In-
stead, ! hope that the two factions
will unite and show an undivided
front I'M the November ; elections
for, after all, we are all Republi-
cans"
For many years DePriest has
been a power in Cook County poll
tics. His rise has been steady. and
If defeated his ability and political
cunning have brought him back with
even greater power. He is called
'the India rubber man" in Chicago
politics.
Fear OF losing their Federal jobs
is said to be the reason for the
young Negroes opposition here to
DePriest,
Congressman Madden dominated
the district for 25 years, having
been sent to Congress twelve
times, because he was the best pro-
wider of Negro jobs in the United
States. il is reported. Half the let
ter carriers are Negroes, the Fed
eral Building is almost manned by
them, and all Government ware
houses employ them by the hum
dreds. 1t is greatly feared that De
Priest may not be able to repeat
Madden's record Of handouts.
The modern. educated, ''intellec-
tuals" are said to oppose him be-
cause they consider him as one of
the old Southern school so well
known at National Republican Con-
ventions; that, lacking college edu-
caticn and his practice of ward
politics and experiences, he is fnn-
fit to reflect honor upon his race.
They all point to the graft scam
dial which involved DePriest during
his term as Alderman, when he was
indicted on charge OF receiving
about $4,000 from vice dens. He
was acquitted on the defense that
he received the money for campaign
expenses.