The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-08-28
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
TROUBLING THE SOUTH

And lust as the New Dealers are making des-
perate bid for the negroes so the Republicans are
fighting desperately to hold them in line. 1t is es-
timated that more than million dollars will have
been spent on the negro by the two parties before
the election To this should be added perhaps half
a million more-to be spent on election day. The
bulk sof the negro vote is purchasabe and both
parties are in the market. 1t is situation with
possibilities not pleasant to contemplates land
,thoughtfu men are beginning to be distEhsa about
is as the facts develop. Particularly is this true in
the South where the full significance of a recent
speech by Mr.. Harold Ickes, member of the Roose-
welt cabinet made before the National Association
for Advancement of Coored People, is being
grasped.
This speech did not get great deal of publicity
at the time but extracts from it are now being
printed here and there in the effort to solidify
gro support for Mr.. Roosevelt in such states as IL
lnois, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland Indiana
and Ohio Among other things Mr.. Ickes blamed
Separate schools for the tagging of the negro
behind accepted educational standards, and he con-
demned lynching and segregation in the same SEN
tence. But the potent part of his speech came
in these words "The doctrine of lassez faire in IN
terracial relations has characterized national ad-
ministrations since the reaction. from reconstruc-
ton days Under Franklin D. Roosevelt this atti-
tude has been changed He has realized as no other
president since Lincoln seemed to realize that the
mere existence in the federal constitution of the
9th, 18th and 18th amendments is no guarantee
of their enforcement. You are probably aware of
the fact that no previous administration has pro-
vided employment in the various departments ana
agencies for so many negroes as has this one This
employment ranges from ordinary jobs to- execu-
tive positions"
These words of Mr.. Ickes were designed to
strongly commend Mr.. Roosevelt to the negro
voter, but they certainly trouble good many OF
his supporters in the South, where the racial sta
ton is at the base of all politics. To hem language
such as Mr. Ickes used makes him not only an ad-
vocate of mixed schools and an opponent of segre-
cation. but appears to commit, the president to a
vigorous enforcement of the; 18th, 18th and 18th
amendments which, it is said would result IN turn
ing the government of four or five southern states
over to the negroes and divide representation in
congress between whites and negroes. Of course,
Mr.. Ickes is not Democrat, but he is part of an
alleged Democratic administration and such talk is
without precedent in Democratic circles. Couple 1T
with the expansive expensive and elaborate cam
pagn of Mr.. Farley to attach the negro to the Ne"
Deal and it is not surprising that Southern Demo-
Gratis who know the game that is being played are
troubled.
The theory of the New Deal managers is per-
fectly simple one. They regard the negro vote as
absolutely ripe for picking by the Democrats ana
for two reasons. One is that so great proportion
Of them are on the relief rolls or have WPA work.
which is the same thing The argument with these
made by the loud Democratic politicians, is that IL
Mr. Roosevelt is reelected they will stay on rehe1
Int if he is not reelected, off they CO. The other
reason is that the last generation of negro voters
who knew anything about slavery or believed that
the Re publicans saved them has gone. Inc preSeh'
generations do not believe there was ever any sucn
thing as slavery and never heard of Abraham LIN
coin or their debt to the Republican party Because
of WPA they are peculiarly susceptible to the Ne"
Deal appeal and are tremendously hattered at the
unwonted courtship by the national Democratic
leaders.
Witnessing all this, leading Southern Democrats
are disturbed They regard it as the most danger
ons feature of the campaign and the most difficult
10 6aaI with off" said one of these the other day.
ssSoutbern Democrats openly and vigorously op-
pose the scheme, it will likely result IN
the negro vote in the doubtful states on tne o1ei
hand if the New Deal leaders in the North are per
mitted to proceed with this sort OF thlng IL VIII
,naan uncomfortable trouble in the South" AS i'
Ill o,,en Abraham Eincolin proclaimed that mas
,,roh nc one race must be dominant ne pre1erreo
4bo white race. Apparently, Mr.. lckes does noC' -
r.o,v Kent in Charlotte Observer