The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-04-28
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY

IONE-TENTH OF the population
~ of the United States may get
direct racial representation in Con-
gress for the first time in more
than thirty years, as a result of
the death of Martin B. Madden,
Republican representative of Chi
cago Negro district.
w. j. Dawson, Negro, recently
defeated by Madden in the pri-
mary, or another man of that race,
is expected to get the post. While
there is some initial disagreement
between Washington and Chicago
as to whether the choice will be
made at a special nominating con-
vention in June or by district party
leaders, the result probably will be
the same.
Negro politicians believe election
of a man of their race from Chi
cago will be followed by other pre-
dominantly Negro districts, in such
cities as New York, sending repre-
sentatives of their own color to
Congress.
Negro resentment against the al
legged political color line has been
growing rapidly within the Repub-
lican party for the last ten years.
Especially in such States as In
diana, where the Ku-KluX Khan
in fluenced party policy and APP
pointments, Negro groups have
threatened to bolt the party Of
Lincoln.
AS part of this same influence,
the so-called lily white southern
delegates, whose votes count so eff
fectively in Republican national
conventions. are reported FESTIVE
and dissatisfied.
Many white southern Democratic
leaders are watching this develop
ment within the Republican party,
ready to raise the race issue. Sena-
tor Blease DEM, South Carolina,
and others are attacking Secretary
Of Commerce Hoover for an order
permitting about fifty Negro CEN
suS employees to work in the same
rooms with white employees, charg-
ing this is a bid for Negro votes in
the Indian presidential primary.
The reply that Hoover'S order
follows a Federal Government pol
icy laid down before the campaign
has not silenced these attacks.
r
NEGRO leaders, watching their
IN race increase in numbers and
economic power. blame white poll
ticians for blocking a commensurate
increase in their political power.
y The point out that two other
groups within the population, the
woman suffragists and the prohibit
tionists, in the same period have
achieved political aims by organiza-
ton and pressure.
Another younger and so-called
radical Negro group believed its race
can expect little recognition from
any existing political party. They
are attempting to unionize Negro
workers, to cross the racial barriers
which has kept them out of many
American Federation of Labor
unions and made them strike break
ers. as in the present soft coal
strike.
They argue it is better to achieve
industrial organization now, waiting
for the formation Of some later
progressive or farmer-labor party to
make the political strength felt.
If Madden is succeeded by a
Negro, I've will be the first to sit
in the House of Representatives
since George w. Murray of South
Carolina, who served from 1893 TO
1896.
The last Negro Senator was
Blanche K. Bruce of Mississippi.
from 1875 to 1881 Including the
carpet bag days following the
Civil War, there have been twenty
Negro Representatives and two
Senators.
n TNMOVED by the rapid gains of
- Al Smiths presidential candi-
dacy, the fighting jim Reed of Mis-
souri,, has left his Senate seat
temporarily for another stumping
tour. This time he picks West Vir-
ginia His theme is the same,
Down With Republican Corrup-
ton"
He predicts great political up
heavap' at the polls next November,
and believes he who led the Penn
sylvania and Illinois slush fund in
vestigations is the logical Demo-
cratic candidate.