Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1934-09-28
Political Spotlight
G. E. Rucker

Louisiana treated the nation to
political spectacle, the like of
which has not been seen since car
oet-bag days. AS usual, it conferred
bout curly-haired, pug-nOsed Sen
tor Huey (Kingfish) Long, who,
waving his long arms, shouting,
weating, swearing, gave orders
which few LOuisianans dared to
,efy. The outcome of this rough
md tough battle for revenge and
power, the struggle of the Long pD-
litical machine against Mayor of
New Orleans Walmsley's hencl-
men, brought forth the natiO1-
al guard, the police, machine guns,
radio, and bad names. Hucy Long
was out to break Mayor WalmS-
ley's hold in New Orleans. He had
his cOwed Legislature pass laws
making him absolute dictator of
Louisiana. His henchmen were in
complete control of the electoral
machinery. Huey Longs entire
ticket went through without a
hitch and with comparatively little
blOOd-shed, thus adding another
star and much prestige to Ameri-
cas- most cOlOrful politician. Ten
men of Huey Longs ability and in
fiuence, dedicated to the interest of
securing for Negroes their right
full heritage, would get an Anti
Lynching bill through Congress
and a Presidential signature.
Orchids for South Carolina vot-
ers. Coleman Livingston Blease,
that eminent, most ardent, defend
er of the divine right of the eau
casian race to dispose of the of
Tending blackamoor without benz
fit of jury, was defeated for gov
ernorship by young lawyer DIN
Johnson last week. Coley Blease,
an avowed Negro-hater, upon his
arrival in Washington, introduced
a bill prohibiting the intermarriage
of whites and blacks, and another
requiring separate accommodations
On all street cars in the District of
Columbia. Both efforts in behalf
of the imperilled whites were
thwarted by antagonistic Senate
committees. Again, the appalling
fact that white persons were teach
ing in Negro schools and colleges
in his own native state caused
Coley many sleepless nights, and
he soon advocated the passage of
a legislative act outlawing this
pernicious practice. During his
gubernatorial reign, the last of the
few black officeholders in the state
were sent to Davy Jones' locker.
Negro notaries were also on the
prescribed list. To rid the state of
these Affections, Coley revoked the
commission of every notary public
within his jurisdiction, and a nj
veous skin was the one requisite
of reappointment.
The defeat of men of this type
is most encouraging and gratifying
to the Negro. Because society is
very much like a finely constructed
watch, in which there is complete
and balanced cooperation, it cen
never arrive at the ideal stage ur-
til all people realize that they
were made for one another and
must live in an atmosphere of ap-
probation Of one another.
The first big and essential task
in this political adjustment is for
the white man to try to understand
the Negro, appraise him, appreci-
ate him, help him, and allow him
to take his place as a free, effec-
tive and helpful citizen of the Re-
public. A statesman who is inca
pable of profoundly considering
the human equations of a nation
is unworthy of the name. Again,
thanks, South Carolina.