Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-05-12
DIVIDED THEY FALL ="

The New York Times of the 7th
inst, under the caption. DIVIDED
They Fall" takes a gloomy view
concerning the recent selection OF
Oscar DePriest as the congressional
successor of the late Representative
Madden from the First District OF
Chicago. 1t reminds US of story
that the late DR.. Booker 7. Wash
ington told with amusing gusto and
astounding satisfaction. He said
that there was a circus and in one
of the tents was an attraction,
which was described to be the most
remarkable sight in the world.
Colored folks crowded in and
found themselves "sold" for the
only attraction there was group
OF colored men Juggling away united
ly at a rope, rare sight at that
time and almost unbelievable he said
for Negroes never pull unitedly to-
gether. This is emphasized and
elaborated upon in this readable edi-
tortal. 1t says:
Chaka, the Zulu King who almost
kept the white man out of the in
terror of Africa, could point moral
for the Americans of African race
in the First Congressional District
of Illinois. That moral, his own,
was to concentrate the black man
on, Che Job in hand. News from Chi
cage makes it appear possible, how,
eYQS. that the negroes there will fail
again to have a Representative of
their own color because they have
once. more split among themselves:
The First District is composed of
the FIRST two wards of Chicago, plus
several precincts in the Third,
Eleventh and Thirteenth Wards. Ne
groSJ make UP the overwhelming
preponderance of population by
raSe. These invaded and finally
contfnlled the district during the
lifetime of Representative Madden;
they found him there, he was very
friendly to them, and they never
could agree on any one of their race
to. run against him, which would
hayN meant his defeat. This very
Spaag q split among the negroes Of
che. district reuominated Mr. Madden.
Upon his death the negro leaders
were. ins;stent that now = Congress
mszr. of color must go to Washington
FROM Chicago TO speak for the mil
tionS Of blacks all over the country.
Then was enthusiasm, there was
hiYsiutin oratory. Then . political
committee named 9 former negro
Alderman, Oscar de Priest, for the
nonination, which heretofore has
been equivalent to election. Per-
hanHL as has often happened before,
the white politicians on the commit
tee yielded to the pressure in favor
of. de Priest because they knew his
pubic record as an Alderman would
be, sure to bring out fierce negro
riv3s, particularly among the
resAtable and cultivated elements.
and. by division assure the election of
another white CongreS sman.
AT any rate, other candidates
cauta Immediately vpJn de Priests
designation, contesting its Legality
and Swearing he Shout not have the
&cSaL DOIOT u ISplS~S Icing bnS AoSS
in Washington. If history repeats
itself in the First Di trict, there will
ba no negro probI> Ii in this Con-
grsss, and Chaka's example-by
white craftiness or colored inability
to- agree-will have been lost once
mG6.
We shall observe with interest
the developments in this section Of
the West. The Negroes Of Chicago
ara on trial. The inherent blunder-
ing characteristics of this class Of
people may have faded out. The
tess will come when the independent
ebtxnent name another man to an
tayonize and defeat the chosen cit
izen of color first named to repre-
sent the colored people not only OF
Chicago, but of the entire country.