St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-10-13

a new world consciousness n;
since the last Presidential election.
Particular emphasis is placed on
the peaceful, political revolution in
fluencing the Negroes new ap-
praisal of political parties and
American institutions. Careful ex-
animation is made of party plat
forms, trends, promises and records
of past performance in the light of
what the Negro is seeking today.
The new consciousness in Negro
thinking, in terms of what the bal
lot should procure for him, obvious
ly sets up new standards and leaves
no doubt of the extent to which
candidates and parties may expect
support of his vote in the coming
elections.
Speaking specifically of presi-
Dental candidates in the current
scene, Mr.. White says, "The Re-
publican nominee, Mr.. Dewey, has
as yet created little enthusiasm
among Negro voters. Held against
him are his pocketing of legislation
recommended by a New York State
committee appointed to investigate
discrimination in war industries and
his appointment of a new commit
tee to traverse the same ground
and to report some time in 1915.
Led by DR.. Charming H. Tobias, dis
tinguished Negro leader who had
been a close associate of Mr..
Dewey, a large number of members
of the committee resigned in pro-
test against the governors action.
On the new committee Mr.. Dewey
was able to get only two Negroes
to serve, one of them a political
appointee. Particularly harmful to
Dewey, so far as Negroes are con-
cerned, is his party's advocacy of
Estates rights" the doctrine of the
anti-Negro South which Negroes
hate and fear.
'"To the Negro it has come to
mean the machinery and excuse for
a completely free hand by his worst
enemies in perpetuating disfran-
chisement, lynching, unequal job
and educational opportunity, and
segregation for Negroes"
Equally critical of the Demo-
Gratis, Mr.. White declares their
picture just as depressing and light
ened only by the liberalism of the
President in the 30's and of men like
Senator Wagner, a liberalism which
resulted in legislation to protect the
bargaining rights of workers, social
security, housing, and other benefits
from which the Negro has also
profited. But these are Offset by
domination of the Democratic Party
by the Southern wing, a seeming
tendency on the part Of the Presi-
dent now to cater to the anti-Negro
segment of his party, the side
tracking of Henry Wallace, who
alone had the courage to speak out
at the Chicago Democratic Con-
vention for justice to minorities,
and the pathetically inadequate Ne
gro plank in the party platform.
Because of the effect of the shifts
in population, stimulated by the
wartime needs of industry, the eff
fectiveness of the Negro vote has
been greatly increased. In fact
the tremendous migration to in
dustrial centers like Detroit, Cleve-
land, Kansas City, Bridgeport and
New Haven, Los Angeles, San
Francisco, Chicago, Baltimore, st.
Louis, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis,
Gary and other cities, could easily
form a voting bloc determining the
outcome of any reasonably close
election. Citing further instances,
Mr.. White points out:
"For example, New York's forty
seven electoral votes represent a
prize for which a bitter battle will
be fought. Political seers predict
Dewey will amass Republican sup
port in upstate New York which
will permit him to come down to
the Harlem River with a lead of
approximately 100000. There were
nearly that many Negro voters in
the state in 1910, and they have
been augmented by wartime popu-
lation shifts, largely concentrated
in the New York City area. They
may have much to say about which
candidate will get those forty-seven
electoral votes. And in Connect
cut, as another illustration, a Ne
gro vote Of 20,704 in 1910 has by
now probably been doubled by the
labor needs Of plants in Bridgeport,
New Haven, and other cities.
"Similar situations in others of
the listed states and perhaps a few
additional states give opportunity
and responsibility to the Negro
voter of which he and party lead
ers are keenly aware"
Finally, Mr.. White warns, "The
Negro vote today is the most in
dependent vote in the country, so
far as party affiliations are con-
cerned; second, that the majority
of Negroes will decide how they will
vote on the basis Of what happens