The Enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 192?-1930, 1928-10-11
Hoover Or Smith

Which of the two major political
parties offers the Negro the better
opportunity for growth, expansion,
development? That is the big ques-
ton. The answer grows more diff
cult with the cutting across of party
lines. Formerly the answer was
easy. The Republican Party was the
black mans ship and all else was the
sea, The ship has sprung leak and
large numbers of colored folk have
jumped over board taking a chance
with the angry waves of Democracy.
Others are trying to save the ship.
Which is the better policy? Still
there are others who have gone into
the lean pastures of the minority
parties. Their votes are protests
against the present order of things.
Perhaps it is well for Negroes to
split their votes. We do not advise
against it. Our eyes are wide open.
We have seen with horror the atti-
tude of Republican leaders towards
Negroes. The age old argument
used to catch the Negro vote is
thread-bare-useless. 1t must be
strengthened in several particulars.
However, that does not answer the
question, which party should Negroes
support? Admitting that the Republic
cans have drifted away from the high
ground upon which the party was
founded should Negroes flock to the
Democratic Party with Hefflin and
Blease? Or should they vote for
the Socialist candidate who can not
win? Or, perhaps, as some people
suggest support neither since none
Of the candidates have asked for our
support. DIR. Dubois writes in the
"Crisis," "Vote for Hoover If you
are fool and If you vote for Smith
commit suicide Immediately there
after" That puts the Negro in hell
Of a fix. 1t sounds well but, will it
get black folk anywhere? Win II |
help? We doubt Il.
Either Hoover or Smith will win. |
That is almost as certain as the sun |
will shine. Either will be controlled |
by the party which made him. Meth
or was willing to make any clear cut |
statements concerning the question |
which affects twelve million Ameri- |
can citizens. They both were scared I
stiff Of the prejudice question and
lodged the biggest problem in Ameri- |
ca. We therefore must make our
decision based upon the facts we /
have. Common sense dictates that |
the Negro can not quit cold. He |
must endeavor as best he can to get |
something out of the game regardless |
Of .unfavorable rules. There is no
advantage in refusing to vote at all |
and voting minority ticket amounts |
to the same thing. Our choice, there
fore, must be made between the |
Democratic and Republican Parties. |
The power, the strength of the
Democratic Party lie in the solid |
South. 1t breathes and feeds upon |
the subjugation of the Negro. Its |
principal plank is white supremacy.
Out in Houston, they stuck Negro |
visitors attending the convention be- |
hind wire cage up in the roof. That |
is the clearest example of the. studied |
policy of the Democrats. Smiths |
running mate is a typical Arkansas
bourbon. To vote for Robinson |
would be crazy and stupid. And |
suppose Smith should die. That is |
not too remote contingency-Presi- |
uNHNo OO uiC- nG DtllOCIdbS HdNt |
annulled the Fourteenth and Fiji |
teenth Amendments. Democratic |
senators openly announce their in
tention Of keeping the Negro in his
place. We do not choose to support |
sub a party.
Fifty Negroes were delegates to
the National Republican Convention. |
They did take part, small though it |
was, in the deliberations of the G.
o. p. Negro visitors were not
screened off from the other people.
While the Republicans refuse to ag- I
gressiyely fight for the enforcement
Of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth |
Amendments they are not openly
hostile toward the Negro. As be.
tween the two parties the Republic
can Party has offered and still does
offer the Negro the better chance.