The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-12-17

iddlC UCLWttH lWO IHdlOI DGILitHs
The welfare of any class or group is
precarious indeed, that pins its hope
exclusively on one political organiza-
ton.
Attitude towards the Negro no
longer grows out of party creed or
party principle, but takes its tone
and tinge from geographical latitude.
There is absolutely no difference in
attitude towards the Negroes by Re-
publicans and Democrats in Massa-
ehusetts, any more than there is be-
tween Democrats and lily white Re-
publicans in Mississippi. The white
Democratic primaries in the South
are as distasteful to the Negro as the
lily white Republican caucuses and
conventions in that section.
Parties As a Tool
We regard political parties as an
instrument to be used and not as a
fetish to be worshipped. Tools may
wear out and grow blunt. They are
resharpened or cast aside for differ
ent or better ones. The ballot was
given the Negro as weapon of de-
Tense. The effectiveness of the bal
lot is appreciated and recognized
mainly when the voter has the po-
tentiality and evinces the disposition
to change the result The Northern
migration has given the Negro vote
strategic significance in practically
every State North of the Potomac
and The Ohio rivers; and East of the
Mississippi the Negro easily holds the
balance of power. At this time a
waverirg balance between the two
parties, the Negro vote can easily
be utilized for what it is most worth
political and civil equality and eco
nomic opportunity. One can always
make u better bargain, when there
are two bidders instead of one.
The Negro race has no deep-seated
6ivisive political conviction. All Ne
groes have the same political creed,
the procurement of rights and priv
ilnges under the Constitution and the
law. Party label is but badge of
convenience and expediency. The
man with the toothache concentrates
attention on the aching organ to the
neglect of other equally important
members of the body. With the Ne
gro questions of tariff and revenue,
internal policies and foreign rela-
tons must await the settlement of
human rights.
The Negro in the North
We urge Negroes in the North to
vote for men, measures and move
ments, which they deem best calcu-
lated to advance the welfare of the
race, regardless of party label. Es-
pecially do we advise that they ques-
ton all candidates, of whatever par
ty, bidding for their suffrage to de-
clare how they stand and will vote on
matters affecting racial advantage
and advancement.
Political Units
Negroes in the North are concen-
trated in large cities and are segre-
gated in more or less separate areas.
This gives the Negro the majority
of the voters in several political
units. This political advantage,
growing out of segregation, should
be utilized to the fullest extent to
elect members of their own race to
the Congress of the United States,
to the upper and lower branches of
State legislatures, to the board of
aldermen in the various cities and all
other elective offices functioning
within their area. This is the en-
trance wedge which will bring the
race back into the political equation.
1t is a matter of indifference to
the race as a whole whether the Ne
groes exploit this political opportu-
nifty as Republicans, as they do in
Southside Chicago or as they do in
Harlem, New York.
Colored Women
Women have been given equal
political power with men. In the
Northern States, where the franchise
is unrestricted Negro females are
more numerous than the males, and
conse quently have greater political
potentially.
We call upon our women voters
everywhere to arouse from their po-
litical lethargy and qualify and vote
according to their convictions to pro-
mote the best interest of their sex,
section, race and nation. We espe-
cially urge that the women delegates
to this conference go back to their
several communities and make them
selves evangels of this doctrine.
Disfranchisement In Southern
States
The Negro in the South is the only
element of our population that labors
under the disability of disfranchise-
ment. This does not apply in all
Southern States. In Delaware, Mary
land, West Virginia, Kentucky and
Missouri, there is no race distinction
or discl limitation in the franchise. In
Florida, Arkansas, Texas and Ten
nessee, the only restriction placed
upon the suffrage is the imposition
of the poll tax which applies to white
and black alike. In eight Southern
States there are constitutional limi-
tations upon the ballot calculated
to shut out the Negro and which eff
fectively accomplish that purpose. In
all the Southern States, with the ex-
ceptions just mentioned, the whites
rely upon the traditional shyness and
timidity of the Negro to brighten
them from the polls. The two mill
lion unhindered Negro voters in the
North are deeply concerned about
the four million disfranchised ones
in the South.
Eligible Negro Voters In The South
There are thousands of eligible
Negro voters in every Southern State
under existing limitations. They
should be encouraged to qualify and
vote under these restrictions until