The monitor., 1928-08-31
AN OPEN LETTER TO
J. FINLEY WILSON
(Continued from Page 2)


ever, give Mr.. Hoover as much credit
as he is willing to claim for giving
orders to have such distinction re-
moved from his department in the
mary campaign. Very soon, how
ever, there viii be left in the depart
ments no Negro clerks to segregate.
If Mr. Hoover is elected and re-
elected and allows the civil service
commission to function as it has done
under Harding and Coolidge, after
eight years of his rule, there will
hardly be left a Negro clerk in Wash
ington.
| need not go further compromising
a bill of particulars. Every Negro
knows them like a book. They are
as painfully familiar to DR.. John R.
Hawkins and his cooperative commit
tee as they are to you, Mr.. Wilson.
They feel them as deeply and as keen
". There is not a single understand
ing Negro in the United States who
will not acknowledge the justice of
the bill of indictment as here drawn.
If so, let him stand up and say so.
Fundamental Question
The fundamental question arises:
What shall the Negro do in the
midst of the emergency which is now
upon u.s." Some will support Al
Smith for vindictive reasons, while
others with slave-like fidelity, viii
say to the G. o. P, Though you STAY
me, yet will I serve you" 1t was true
when Frederick Douglass said: "The
republican party is the ship; all else
the sea-" But this was a generation
ago. Since then the old ark of safety
has become unseaworthy. The Negro
may as well seek passage on other
crafts upon the sea of political uncer-
tainty.
Ny dear Mr.. Wilson, am not
sending you this open letter to give
information upon topics already ia
miliar to you, nor to indicate personal
animosity against the republican par
ty. I have stated the truth with So
berness, with naught set down in NAL
ice. Immediately upon reading your
letter in this mornings Post, l sat
me down and took my pen in hand to
write you these few lines for a very
definite reason.
You will doubtless be influential
in formulating the expression of re-
volt which is now running rampant
| am writing to urge that this new
dynamic be turned into constructive
instead of destructive channels. The
Negro race should no longer continue
to vote for the republicans because
they do not like democrats, nor yet
for democrats because they do not
like republicans. Vindictive politics
will get the race nowhere. The Ne
gro should align himself with firm
principles and sound politics indie
pendently of whichever party es-
pouses them.
Principal Issue
There is but one fundamental prin-
ciple involved in the present cam
paign, and that is the principle of
prohibition. Tonight l expect to lis
ten to Governor Smith deliver his ac-
ceptance address over the radio. It
is perfectly safe to predict that ON all
features of the two platforms, save
one, his address will be as much like
Mr.. Hoover's as Senator Curtis was.
Prohibition, and prohibition alone is
the issue. This is neither a republic
can nor a democratic doctrine. Pres
ident Nicholas Murray Butler is as
wet as Senator Edwards and Senator
Robinson is as dry as Senator Curtis.
1t is sound, patriotic American doc
trine, which political exigencies have
forced the republican party to spon-
sor.
Intemperance Injuries Race
The Negro race is the chief victim
of intemperance and drunkenness.
Free flowing liquor works it's great
est havoc on the weaker man and the
weaker race. The demon rum loves
the black victim. The Negro reverse
ly is the chief beneficiary of prohibi-
ton. 1t saves our sons and daughters
from the lurings of temptation which
they may lack the inhibition to resist.
1t makes for the building up of fam
lily, church and home The rapid ma
terial progress of the race since pro-
hibition, though imperfectly enforced
indicates its great value and advan-
tage. Return to rum would be a re-
turn to ruin.
Negro Beneficiary of Law
The Negro is the victim of law
lessness and the beneficiary of law
He must uphold the constitution
Though all men should forsake it, yet
should not he Because the renuh