The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1938-03-12
NAACP Urges Voters
To Register And
Cast Ballot

open threats or disclosing any i'm
mediate plans Of action. the Ma
tioual Association for the Advance
ment u Colored People today is
sued statement urging all citi-
zens who are qualified 10 vote a.
register and be ready for the COM
.ng elections.
We have important tasks ahead
~ ~ he statement said. in the
1888 1870 and later elections ard
we cannot perform those tasks ur.-
less Negroes are qualified 10 vote
The association emphasized tni.
4, j. not Interested IN what politi-
e4l parties Negro citizens join. ol'
.n 'hei: registration 20 tina, they
can vote when The time comes
IT, reply 70 question as "a
whether oF not he y 4 A. G p
viii direct any political action !.
ia aftermath OF the anii-lynchina
iii failure association executives
avoided giving any comment l.
WAS learned from other quarters.
howey1g. that the y A A. C. P. il
by no means taking the anfi-lynch-
as defeat lying down II has mere.
iy retired. 20 perfect a strategy
which Is certain to be announc ]
aid ~ be followed UP in the spring
and fall
Quotes Winchell
som. Aini Of the attitude O. the
association may be secured from
the comment Of walter winchel..
widely INDICATED olumnis, wno
declared ID his column Of Feb
rGary - The National As1ccia-
'.on toi tho Advancement OF Color
ed People 4, taking the defeat OF
the an'l-iynching bill grin.;y but
PATIENTLY The abroga'ion OF he
'wo-'hrds rule ffor nomination n
me Demcci attic National Convtr
tim breaks the hold Of tn. Soil
Sou'h The Negro vote. they be-
llcye controls the destiny OF Il
states
For the present, the association
is urging heavy registration Of
colored voters throughout the
North and West and in all those
southern states whore they have
the least chance Of voting. The
letter sent today 10 y. A. A. c. L.
branches by Walter White secre;
,ary. IN urging registration stateSr
Sies, tnat cue y. -. a. L. 4. -
not interested In what party tickle;
or candidates are voted for. but In
the registration Of every qualified
negro Get ministers. civic groups.
womens organizations. "a o r
groups and others 10 stress un-
ceasingly this important matter.
Particularly important Is this In
states where the Negro vote poten-
tally holds the balance OF power.
and In southern states. There are
several OF the latter like Virginia.
North Carolina. Kentucky and Ten
nessee where many more Negroes
could register and vote IL they
would only do so. II will mean
sacrifice for some 70 pay accumu-
lated poll taxes but that sacrifice
should be urged. We have impor-
tant tasks ahead OF us In the 1898.
1910 and later elections and we
cannot perform those tasks unless
Negroes are qualified 10 vote. OBJ
tain from the secretary OF state OF
your state election laws and
statement Of qualifications requir-
ed and the procedure TO be follow
ed in registering
The association also issued a
statement pointing out that as a
result OF the publicity on the anti
lynching bill fight lit Is certain
that efforts will be made 10 sup
press news OF lynchings. In a great
many instances the subterfuge will
be used OF declaring that persons
lynched were killed by posses {"
Secretary White asked all branch
es OF the association and other in
dividuals and organizations to keep
sharp watch for lynching in their
localities and to report same to the
national office OF the association at
60 Fifth avenue. Persons are ask
ed also, wherever possible. to Sc
cure photographs OF the lynching.
or the body OF the victim. or a por-
ton OF the crowd. and forward
same TO the ~ a. A. c. p. New
York