The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-03-11
CLAIM NEGROES
DESERVING new
DEAL PROGRAM

Heavy Republican voting in Har.
lem districts last week in the Spec
ial Congressional election which
the Democratic candidate won by
q narrow margin was regarded by
political observers and New York
newspapermen as an indication that
Negroes are drifting away from the
Democratic Party. The results of
this special election were compared
TO the recent gubernatorial contest
In Kentucky in which Negroes were
credited with casting the decisive
votes for the Republican winner.
BALANCE OF POWER
The fact that the Negro vote in
seven Northern and border states
has the balance OF power has given
rise to a new interest and wide
spread speculation over the Negroes
role in the 1914 national elections.
Negro Democrats meeting in Wash
ington last week warned their party
bosses that the Negro vote is not in
the bag and no political party can
today claim the race vote.
Both Republican and Democratic
Negro leaders are apparently de-
termined to force the hand OF the
major party bosses in the interest
OF Negro welfare. II seems certain
that the Negro issue is destined TO
become an important political issue
In this election. The migration of
thousands of Southern Negroes to
the North and West during this war
period has swelled the Negro vote
far beyond the 1910 figure OF two
million. The winner in the Presi-
dental election this year will have
to corral the Negro vote and il Is
expected 10 be a solid bloc and this
solidarity will be based on conces-
sions to the Negro struggle for ad-
vancement.
NEW YORK TINES
A front page story in the New
York Times last Wednesday bore
the headline Negro Shift From
New Deal Is Seen In Harlem Bal
loting." The story written by Leo
Egan has been widely quoted in
the nations press and the following
reasons are given by him for the
detection OF Negro voters from the
Democratic Party:
Representative 81 all groups put
the treatment Of Negro members
OF the armed services first among
the causes for the change in atti-
tudc. Resentment has fed. il was
said. on segregation OF troops, on
the refusal OF some OF the women's
auxiliary services to accept Negro
recruits. and especially on the civil
ian attitude near the camps in
Southern States where many north
ern Negroes are quartered. The
failure OF military authorities TO
use more Negro troops in combat
units is also regarded by many as
an insult to their patriotism and
courage.
Another cause Of dissatisfaction
with fhe Administration. IL was
agreed, has been the alleged failure
Of The President's Fair Empl0yment
Pract1ceo CommioDio0 q onfuece III
tnjunctions against Discrimination.
Refusal Of group Of railroads "a
accept . directive 10 accord equal
advancement opportunities ap-
peared TO rankle considerably.
Also involved was said 10 be a
growing rebellion against second
class citizenship status. One DEM
ocratic leader said there was bitter
resentment against the fact that the
newest white arrival from Europe
can get employment. business and
social opportunities that are denied
10 Negroes solely because OF color
In part. too. il was agreed the
trend is due TO a growing feeling
among the more articulate leaders
that opportunities for racial and
individual advancement can be
achieved at this time through use
OF power politics by throwing
their weight around politically. In
this connection il was noted that
many OF the bellwethers in Negro
social life have shifted their ALE
glance back to the Republican
party"