St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-09-22
By Earl Brown of Life Magazine

committeeman OF Illinois, about the
Importance of the Negro vote in
Chicago. He said: 1--WE fully realize
that the Negro vote is the balance
of power in any close election in
both Chicago and the state. That's
why we do all we can to win this
vote, and we're going after it this
year more than ever before"
Mayor Edward j. Kelly, Demo-
cratic boss of Chicago and Illinois,
said the same thing. The Negro
vote swung the gubernatorial cleo
ton to the Republicans in Kentucky
last fall; and last spring the colored
voters played a major part in help
ing to elect a Republican mayor of
Baltimore.
President Roosevelt, himself, is
reported to be deeply concerned
about the way the colored voters
will go this year. According to the
most reliable information, he per-
sonally suggested to Edward V.
Loughln, leader of Tammany Hall,
that he designate the Rev. Adam c..
Powell, well known minister and
leader, as Tammany's candidate for
Congress from Harlem. Aware of
the tremendous Importance of the
large Negro vote in New York
City and state, the President and
his advisors reasoned that with the
Rev. Powell as the Democratic can
didate for Congress in Harlem, that
he would swing large number of
votes to Mr.. Roosevelt. The young
political firebrand swept the slate,
winning in both the Republican and
Democratic elections. He was I'M
opposed in the American Labor
Party primary.
Governor ewey, Republican
Presidential candidate, has decided
to make an all-out drive for the Ne
gro vote in the North at the expense
(based solely on traditional Re-
publican Tears) of losing any
southern or border states. Though
this is recognition of the Importance
of the Negro vote by Dewey, it is
no indication that he is a champion
of the Negro. He only wants Ne
gro votes to help put him in the
White House.
AS anyone can see, all this adds
up to one thing: the Republicans
and Democrats are going lickety-
split after the Negro vote. They
are doing this because they sorely
need it. They figure they must have
it to win. During the campaign
they're willing to promise colored
citizens almost anything for their
votes, though neither party intends
to do any more than it can possibly
help for them at any time. Whether
either one does, depends entirely
upon its needs for the Negro vote
and nothing else. The larger this
vote is, the greater the need for it
by both Democrats and Republi-
cans. 1t is, indeed, the colored mans
one great weapon with which to
bargain and battle for his rights.
Because the Negro must battle
for everything he gets, political and
otherwise, it is absolutely necessary
that he prepare himself for his
battle. Currently, he can best do
this by doing two things: register
and vote. If colored citizens in ev-
cry hamlet, town, city and state in
the country register and vote in
this election in larger numbers
much larger numbers-than ever
before in history, they will be in a
position to demand and get from
either or both parties many of the
things they need to make them full
fledged citizens. For no politician,
even a Presidential candidate, is 60
ing to ignore the people whose
votes he must have to get elected.
On the other hand, if Negroes
fail to register and vote in this cleo
ton in large numbers, they will not
only fooishly toss away a golden
opportunity to get some of the
things they need and deserve as
citizens, but they will also stand
chance of losing some of the gains
they have made in the last decade.
There is nothing as simple, yet as
important, for the Negro people to-
day as to register and vote.
AS group the vote of the Ne
gro in Texas, Florida, or California,
is equally important as the vote of
the Negro in New York or Pennsyl-
vania, two uncertain key states. For
in this election the colored people
must not only vote for the candi-
dates they favor, but also to pile
up the biggest total vote they have
ever cast.
The most important thing colored
Americans can do to help their
country and themselves is to regis
ter and vote. Do not let yourself,
your family, your race and your
country down by failing to do so.
To register and vote is your privi-
1ono ond Iocponcibi1itu