The Omaha guide., 1935-09-28
KELLY MILLER
SAYS:
NEGRO POLITICIANS

teal Science in the University Of
Chicago, contains the first STUDY we
have had Of Negro politicians bv a
competent authority in political sci
erce. There IS an introduction by DR..
Robert =. Park, Head Of the Depart
nent Of Sociology Of the University
of Chicago, who gained intimate
knowledge Of the Negro while serv-
ing as literary advisor to the late
Booker n. Washington. There are 4
number Of illustrations Of noted Ne
gro politicians, mainly local Chicago
celebrities.
After q brief survey Of the Negroes
political activities in general. the
book confines itself to a closeup
study Of Chicago Negro politicians.
The battle ground was shifted from
South to North as the result Of
Northward migration caused by the
boil weevil and the World War. These
migrants flocked to the large cities
where they found themselves segre-
gated, in congested areas, BY race
prejudice which was as effective in
the North as in the South although
it manifested itself in a different
form The rapid growth Of the Negro
population in the various Northern
cities may be judged by Chicago
whose Negro contingent rose from
10000 in 1900 to 234,OOO in 1890. The
majority Of these migrants were of
voting age. These black Chicago new
corners came mainly from the South
Central and South Western States
and were at once made conscious Of
their political strength in their new
environment. It is curious to note
that the Chicago political leaders
were indigenous to the city and not
imported from the South. John r..
Lynch, the veteran Mississippi poll
tician, is the sole exception and he
took up residence in Chicago too late
for effective leadership.
Mayor Thompson may be regarded
as philosopher, guide and friend Of
the Chicago Negro politician. He built
up a Republican organization in the
Windy City, after a model Of Tam
many hall which was as successful
and as corrupt as its New York pro
totype. Both the Chicago and the New
York organizations gave the Negro
a square deal and accorded him office
IN proportion to his voting strength.
Under the tutelage of Big Bill
Thompson and Martin B. Madden,
the Negroes began at the foot of the
ladder and were encouraged to rise
TO the highest places in their several
Wards and Districts. They were Civ
en- abundant patronage in City Hall
as basis for holding their black con-
stituents in line. They were none too
s~crupulous in use of this patronage.
Bishop A. J. Carey. of the "A. M. E.
Church and Big Bill Thompson were
political buddies. The Mayor appoint
cd this emminent ecclesiast as Civil
Service Commissioner who died IN
der Indictment for ~maIfeasance Of
office. Negro aspirants desisted from
Congressional aspirations, long after
they had numerically dominated the
first District, out Of Difference to
Martin B. Madden, whose local and
national prominence qualified him to
serve his black constituents better
than any member of the race could
do Negroes in Chicago filled places
Of rank and Importance, both APP
pointivc and elective, in city and
state.
Immediately upon the death Of
Congressman Madden, Oscar De-
Priest was chosen as his successor.
The story of his political rise, from
Whitewater to Congressman, IS ty-
pical Of the political history Of Chi
cago Negro politicians. Perhaps the
most significant event in the history
Of American politics was the sudden
shift, in 1892, from the Republican
party to the Democratic party. This
tidal wave swept the city Of Chicago
and its Negro c~ontiongent into the
Democratic ranks. Throughout the
North the Negro was transferred
from the Republican to the Demo-
cratic camp. Oscar DePriest. the
rock-ribbed Republican, was supplant-
ed by Arthur w. Mitchell, a convert
ed Republican, who had become a
staunch Democrat. But those who
think DePriest is a political corpse
had better follow the admonition of
Josh Billings who said that If he
were to preach a mules funeral SER
mon he would stand at the head.
A new thing under the political
sun occurred in the DePriest-M Mitchell
campaign in 1884. Two Negroes were
pitted against each other as the duly
chosen candidates of their respective
parties. Mitchell triumphed over De-
Priest because party discipline re
quires that all Democrats, white and
black, shall vote for the party nomi-
nee Mitchell was elected mainly bv