The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1936-10-02
Another Statement TO The
Colored Voters
Ru MANUEL Il. ROGUE

last week Robert L. Vann, the would-be
nolitical sage of the ages, made subtle Il some
what naive appeal to the colored voter Wnlc,
must have struck sour note IN Inc neaTl a'o
mind Of all our colored citizens. The appea
was based OH what the gentleman from Pitts
brrgh said was self appointed task of en-
lyhtment.' but at the instance OF the Demo
cratic Party.
Now. then the question is: Just what I'M
neled Robert L. Vann to come out as ne az
and insult the pride and intelligence OF the col
ored voter with his far fetched and trained ap
pea?'
The answer is simple
TO those who know the gentleman, TO fhos
who know the political company he keeps, Z.
those who know the actual reason for his feel
mo as he does and to those who have seen nj
mind in action in the midst OF those whose eoo
he is--the Democratic Party and the New LEA
his appeal at this stage Of the game certami'
is no secret and much less surprise No1 ..
any means ~
Vann has always wanted TO hunt with tn
hounds and ride with the hare" as the the say
ihy goes. His philosophy has always been al
ambiguous, inverted philosophy. In one breaUf
he appeals to the Negro, while in the other M
IS not at all remss inassumlng the mantle o.
false prophet at the instance of the se1same ele
ments that have always kept the Negro III pon
tcal bondage ana ECONOMIC siasGly aia9 os91'
tuition.
Indeed. his appeal of last week hardly makes
any sense And his conscience II its yentlges are
not too satuated with false propagandlsm
would surely tell him that in appealing to the
Negro as he did, he just got oil on the wrong
foot.
It Is all right for Robert Il. Vann to be Q
rich man as he said he is during years Wnen
most Of his people were suffering untold hard
ships and privation.
1t is all right for Vann, Negro to rub elbows
with his patron-saint, Jim Farley and with ms
Southern coharts while lynchng takes its daily
toll and discrimination runs rampant IN the ad-
ministraton of the New Deal
It is all right for Vann, a newspaperman to
dip his poisonous pen in the heart-blood OF the
Negro and by SO doing turn his soul over to
Southern bourbonism and it's outrages to Negro
men and women.
1t is all right for Van, supposed race leader
to voice silent grievances of persecution to his
people, while simultaneously he eytols the mer-
it's of system that is sapping the llfe-blood OF
his people, /.
1t is all right for Vann lawyer to forget thf
ethics of his profession and thereby sanction
the illegality of system of government that
purports to safeguard the rights of the Ameri-
can people, but which in reality does no more
than legalize condone and abet the evils Of hun
ger, destitution, mob lynchings, discrimination
and segregation of the colored citizens of the
nation.
Finally, it is all right for Robert l.. Vann to
barter his leadership, such as he has, for the
vain glorious and monetary light in which he
has been placed by jim Farleys keen political
mind and it is all right for him to accept SEN
ator Guffey's promise Of another job for leading
his people like driven sheep to the sacrifcial
altar of the New Deals South
We have no quarrel with man who chooses,
unto his selfish self, to sacrifice his peoples fu-
ture security on the altar Of his own ambition,
nor with man who chooses to sell his soul for
the bread and the fishes and the fortunes he
might personally obtain.
What a man does is his business.
But in this respect it is the Negroes business
to know the truth about the matter.
Know the TRUTH Mr.. Vann, sSand the truth
shall make you free Have you read the Scrip
lures? Cast aside the chains Of gold that are
shackling your heart and mind, and you will
yet have the opportunity Of redeeming Yourself
with your fellowmen and with your Creator.
Man does not live by bread alone, and the great
sin Of man is that of selling or even attempt
ing t. sell his brethren into economic bondage
and moral and spiritual slavery,
For your information Mr.. yann, the Republi-
can Party still lives 1t is as vigorous and reliant
as the day when the great Emancipator laid
down the trowel of his martyred labors. And
the spirit of the great Lincoln, which you say is
dead, still dominates the councils Of this wholly
American party.
The reason that you left it, as you did, was be-
cause the party of Lincoln--the party Of the
common nan--Steadily refused to please your
personal faneies; because II rightly refused to