The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1940-11-09

Tor campaign purposes.
He gives the orders and there is
merry scramble again To get close
70 him in order to get piece Of
this money handled by him
Now the struggle for the honor Of
getting this position Of head guy
is terrific There Is cross and
double cross and every kind OF the
practice 10 knock the other. guy out
IN order 10 knock Yourself in In
this fight no holds are barred and
everything goes. Each would he
leader sets forth the power OF his
organization and the weaknesses of
opponent.
Each paper organization is given
a fine. detailed record OF accomp-
lishment that any political leade~
would he proud of when all is said
and done. tho white man. Judging
the mass OF matter spread before
them, is confused and pobrly i'm
pressed with the records Of all the
leaders that have been spread be-
fore him.
WE HAVE watched this situation
for years and have seen the
measure Of financial responsihilitv
given TO the Negro political leader
gradually reduced The time was
when as much MS six thousand dol
lars was entrusted 10 leader for
this purpose. But TODAY. this past
campaign saw very little money he
ing entrusted 10 tho Negro Division
for campaign purposes. Both Dem
ocratic and Republican bosses have
taken this same attitude toward
leaders seeking funds for setting
M tho Negro Division Their aiti-
tude Is that the results obtained
for the money appropriated doesn't
Justify and that too manv entrusted
with such positions turn ont 20 hc
nothing hut political hustlers. Bui
All criticism cannot he leveled
against tho Negro leaders
There arc many OF the white poll
teal bosses who do not want TO
deal with a Negro leader whom they
have got to respect for his charac-
Ter and ability. the same as they
would have 10 do with one such OF
their own. | have seen these white
leaders turn aside such leaders and
select the kind of Negro leader that
would accept whatever they hand
ed out and that under their own
conditions. Lack OF organization
among Negroes and lack OF strong
Race sentiment hack OF strong
and respectable leader has much
to do with this situation.
THERE ARE other factors in the
changing attitude OF appropriate
ing money for neighborhood cleo
pioneering. one very important and
persuasive one is the wide use OF the
radio for political purposes. This
national election saw wider and
more constant use OF the radio than
ever before. Millions OF dollars
have been spent In this election for
radio time. This makes the campaign
easier on the Office seeker in con-
seryation OF his time and energy.
II makes him more Independent OF
making TO various group leaders
election promises.
But | want to set it down right
here such policy is a mistake. II
lis continued use means elimina-
ton Of the neighborhood campaign.
listened on the radio TO many
of the interviews held with voters
as they were questioned as 10 their
reasons for voting for this or that
candidate. The case happened too
often 4 which the voter could give
no reason for his attitude. He had
been contacted bit could give no
reason why he had reached the con-
clusion as TO why his candidate was
the right one.
This showed the need for an edu-
cational campaign which the neigh
borhood meetings SO often supply
under the properly and intelligent
ly directed campaign.
THERE is one thing | believe the
Negro political leaders should
all combine TO do: this is to get to-
gether and burst the imaginary
bubbles that exist In regard TO big
money TO be handled In campaigns
which inspires so many would be
politicians to fight so hard for them.
They should hold a succession OF
public meetings and those who have
handled these campaigns should
come out and tell the whole truth
officially how much money they
handled ana just how little there
is to be handled in such eases.
II would remove the aura OF ex-
aggerated fiction that exists In so
many minds about the large sums
OF money handled by these fellows.
When the truth is actually known,
II will take away a lot OF the un-
dercover activity in which each
leader portrays the shortcomings of
the other before the bosses in order
10 try and ruin him that he might
be one to walk away with the prize.
should like to see some time
public meeting in which these
fellows who have handled cam
paigns, would come out and tell
their stories so that all would real
~ see how little Is to be gained
from getting one OF these coveted
positions OF handling the funds. II
these leaders would frankly own up
TO IL. they will. admit that any bene-
fits received is not worth the trou-
bic and the fight they have TO make
in order TO obtain H. out of such
a realization would come better
approach OF handling such a situa-