The Omaha guide., 1933-09-09

bulldog up a democratic organization
among the colored people of Mich
igan.
At n time Mr.. Diggs was an ard
ent Republican and as such he once
ran for Councilman in the City Of
Detroit. In 1928 however, he with
two other young Detroiters, Attorney
Harold E Bledsoe, and Joseph a.
Craigen, saw the light of day, to use
their own phrase and decides that the
colored man had more to gain by
building up a strong democratic or
~ganization, so Mr.. Diggs set out to
organize local groups until in 1882
they had formed the Michigan Demo
cratic League, Inc f, with headquart-
ers in Detroit, thirty one branches,
and eight thousand members, accord
ing to some firgures recently sub
mitted to me And perhaps a better
idea can be formed of their achieve
ments by quoting from a manuscript
sent me by Mr. Diggs.
with three Negro candidates for
the State Legislature in 1882, al
though neither was nominated, each
of the candidates received in the
neighborhood Of $4,000 votes and had
a plurality over any other colored
candidate running on the Republican
ticket. With wo candidates running
for County Coroner, DR.. David C.
Smith, came within 800 votes of re-
.ceiving the Democratic nomination
for Wayne County Coroner. Follow
ing the election, due to the acumen
and foresight Of these Negroes who
went forward to battle for Demo-
crazy, Negroes began to enjoy in the
fruits of victory more patronage than
had ever been given Negroes in the
state of Michigan.
"The first major appointment came
to this disgruntled Republican who
went out to build a solid party organ-
ization-Charles G. Diggs, who was
made Deputy Parole Commissioner,
the first Negro parole commissioner
in the state Of Michigan. The next
position, and a precedent, was the
appointment of Miss Loretta Manning
in the County Drain Commissioners
office. The next precedent established
was the placing of Miss Byrd, of Cass
County, as s~tenographer in the Supt.
of Public Instructions office at Lam
sing. Miss Helen Bryant secured a
stenographer's job in the Governors
office at the capitol. Joseph A
Craigen was made clerk in the court
of Judge Guy A. Miller Eddie Tolan
in the Register of Deeds office DR.
Mckinley A. Cary in the County
T~reasurer's office. Miss Jessie Wal
Ter in the County Clerks office. Sew
en- men in the Building and Mainten-
department in the State Capitol
at Lansing Ed Swan as messenger to
the Governor And two Of the eleven
Negroes serving as Deputy Sheriff's
of Wayne County.
"And many assurances Of addition
al employment have been made by
both the State and Federal depart
ments. When Mr.. Farley visited
Detroit some time ago, as also when
President elect Roosevelt visited
there, Negroes were taken into the
official caucases and received the
pledges and assurance of a "New
Deal" from both persons.
staff of social workers and the acc
"The League maintains an active
o~mplishments in this field are suf-
ficient for a special article in them
selves. All efforts are housed in a
Central Headquarters at 632 Living
stone Street in the lower east side of
Detroit in the midst Of the heaviest
populated Negro district, and their
building stands as a monument to the
principles Of Jeffersonian Demo-
cracy."