The monitor., 1928-04-20
LETTERS FROM READERS
mot Finished But Begun"


Editor of The Monitor: Now that
the smoke and smell of the political
battle have cleared away, let us re-
fleet soberly upon some of the out
standing results as they affect us.
At this writing it is not known
what the final result will be in close
contests like that in the Ninth district
where DIR. Mcmillan seems to have
won over DR.. Singleton by slim ma
jority. The official canvass is not
complete. This will change the count.
Assuming, however, that all results
will remain relatively the same, while
we did not get all that we should
have gotten, we proved beyond a
shadow of a doubt, that our people
are aroused as never before to the
realization that if they are ever to
be anything, or get anything worth
while in this community, they must
get out and dig for it for themselves.
In this respect they showed marked
improvement.
The result in number of elective
offices sought by us was substantial
! ly what it was two years ago, but the
spirit of independence which was
manifested in our people raised our
prestige 100 per cent in the estima-
ton of those who had heretofore
looked upon us as mere things to be
used during campaigns and forgotten
Immediately afterwards.
The vote given A. P. Scruggs for
public defender was remarkable be-
cause it was spread at large over
communities where the white vote
was predominant. A vote such as
that given Scruggs was more praise
worthy, though unsuccessful, than
that given the other successful can
didates whose vote was restricted to
single district.
The result in the Tenth district,
where F. L. Barnett was nominated
over three white opponents, was re-
markable because of the personal ele-
ments there which would ordinarily
initiate against one of our own.
Here was Hoffman, who advertised
extensively and appealed to a racial
group whose numbers were consid-
erabe, emerging with only 124 votes;
Mehrens, who had the same advan-
/ tages Jared little better; Sam Klaver,
his most formidable opponent, who
came off with $50 votes, furnished
the fear and surprise in this district.
This Hebrew is we'll known, clever
and hard hitting young fellow and
made US rather uneasy because in the
Tenth district live many Jews. But
Barnett beat him by 81 votes. Let
lus not forget that Barnett was NOM
mated by a plurality and not a ma
jority. Therefore, if Barnett retains
his seat in the legislature he must be
elected in November. Don't forget
that the November election is his
greatest hurdle and we must double
our effort to win.
In the Ninth district we were con-
fronted with what was by far the
most interesting situation of all.
Here we were confronted by the
manipulation of well-oiled political
machine which was at its best and
hitting on all cylinders. AS ! point
ed out before, the machine picked our
candidate for US in this district and
told us through its "spokesmen" that
we had to accept him or nothing at
all 1t had set out to punish DIR.
Singleton for "disobedience" and
employed all its high pressure tactics
to accomplish that end. Plenty of
money was spent, all those, who for
obvious reasons, were obligated to
the machine, were put in the field
to defeat Singleton. 1t played the
game shrewdly and well. Keep in
mind that the machine virtually con-
trolls every candidate in that district
except Singleton-democrat and re-
publican. Here is how it played its
cards: First, it withdrew Parker,
the only white republican, and enlist
ed his services for Mcmillan. He was
to throw all his white friends votes
to Mcmillan. Second, it selected a
professional man that he might COM
pare with Singleton in intellectual
qualifications. Third, either by ac-
cident or design, they chose a name
that sounds Irish, and discreetly
avoided explanations or introduction
to his white friends. This explains
in part why Mcmillan carried all the
white precincts and none of the col
ored. With all these trump cards,
the machine, after much sweating,
finally came off with majority of
only 20 votes which the official count
may radically reduce. May / repeat
that with an abundance of well paid
workers, plenty of money and not
/ : xUtt n