The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-11-06
BY OTTO E. HUISWOUD

Since the days Of slavery the Ne
gro has consistently supported the
republican party. This whole
hearted and undivided support arose
because of the belief that the re-
publican party was the party of
Freedom" the party which, under
the leadership of Abraham Lincoln
had rescued him from that most
brutal and vicious system of ex-
ploitation, chattel slavery. Taught
by his leaders that he owes a debt
Of gratitude to the republicans be-
cause they "freed" him, he supports
the party of big business, thereby
unwittingly assisting in his own
subsection. Thus assured of the
Negroes support, the republican
leaders have never worried about
the Negro vote. They have counted
it before it was cast.
Reward to Lackeys.
Loyal services rendered by the
Negro lackeys of the G. o. P. were
rewarded with political appoint
aents of one kind or another. A
few were "honored" with such po-
litical plums as Recorder of Deeds,
Collector of Customs, etc. Some,
because they had played the game
well and delivered the "sheep to the
slaughterhouse," were made Ma
tional Committeeman in the south.
These lackeys, of course, practically
controlled republican politics in the
south because the white south was
largely democratic.
They never raised their voice in
protest against the brazen manner
in which the Negro masses, in a
state of peonage, were driven with
the lash to pick cotton for the en-
richment of the southern Bourbons.
Ostrich-like, they hid from the sys-
tematic exploitation and debase-
ment of the masses. That lynching,
disfranchisement, m-crowism and
segregation were deliberately fos-
tered to gain a certain end-the
division of white and black work
ers, never concerned them. They
sought to explain away these evils
by saying that the "poor whites"
are responsible for them and that
the "better" class of whites, unable
to control the mob, is against these
practices.
Changing Conditions.
Changing industrial conditions in
the south, however, have brought
corresponding changes in the polit-
ical situation. The manufacturing
and industrial interests of the north
are Invading the south. Likewise
the political party of the north-the
republican party. And as step in
the direction of gaining a foothold
and breaking up the "solid SOUTH"
the republicans are sacrificing their
erstwhile loyal Negro supporters,
whom they had crowned as leaders
Perry Howard, Ben Davis, Bob
Church, etc, in order to supplant
Negro political leadership with that
If the lilly whites"
Not only is the republican party
silent on the burning issues affect
ing the Negro masses, but it openly
caters to the prejudices of the
south. Senator George Fl. Moses,
eastern campaign manager of the
party, reported at a meeting of the
Womans National Republican Club
that Ferdinand @. Morton Negro
democrat), Civil Service Commits
sioner of New York, dictates to a
white stenographer. an Washing
ton, there is no colored Civil Ser
vice Commissioner who dictates to
a white stenographer Of the female
SEX, such as / understand is done
right here in New York." he said
Catering to the base passions of the
south, where Negro women may be
ravaged with impunity, while the
"sanctity" Of white "womanhood'
is upheld against Negroes), the re-
publicans are thus making bid for
southern support.