The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-29
THE FACTS
M OUR NEWS
Bv HORACE A. WHITE

Mr. WALLACE AND THE UE-
GRO vOTER-Mr. Wallace. vice
president Of the United States has
challenged the thinking u the Ne
gre voter second emily 10 that 81
Mr.. Roosevelt, In his frst two terms
In the White House. Mr.. Wallace
represents the Negroes desire for
continued liberalism In the admin
istration Of our national govern
ment. Mr.. Roosevelt has done great
cratic Party In this regard. The pee
pie sense that Mr.. Roosevelt h
drawing 70 . close his effectiveness
~ . liberal leader. With this In
mind, the people are locking around
for someone 70 carry on what he
has % nobly started. Mr.. Roosc-
velt's career In the White House
has been studded" with progress
sive reforms for the common PEG.
pie. In appreciation for and defer
ence 70 Mr.. Roosevelt. the people
would like to have his mantle fall
on an equally progressive minded
lesder-Henry A. Wallace.
The men who control the Demo-
cratic convention have grown fat
and lazy as a result OF their success
under the leadership Of Mr.. Roose-
welt. Consequently, these controll-
ers Of the Democratic party are
thinking no longer about the people,
but about getting votes. This is the
surest way for the Democratic party
to sign its death warrant as liberal
force in the life of our nation. The
Democratic Party leaders saw very
clearly that the common people,
who are the great majority OF
American voters, wanted Mr.. Wal
lace for vice president Of the United
States. The leaders however. with
their "backstage methods" succeed
ed in keeping Mr.. Wallace from
being the nominee for vice presi-
dent.
II was done for two outstanding
reasons: The political leaders knew
that Mr.. Wallace would not play
politics with the ambitions and
hopes Of . common people. During
his stay In Washington ~ Vice
President Of the United States. he
lifted the ofYlcce Of Vice President
to . position Of dignity and respect.
The common people knew that they
had . champion IN Mr.. Wallace.
The leaders also knew that Mr.. Wal
lace would not compromise with
reaction no matter what II cost him
In political strength and power.
Right and wrong In his thinking
were things to be fought for or
fought against and politics be
hanged!
The Negro voter had sensed the
in fighting for democracy and
equality for all people. They did
not want to see Mr. Wallace shelved |
by party which in the past had |
given them so much to fight for in
the ranks OF their party. Therefore,
it is understandable and altogether |
worthy that groups Of Negroes all
over the country got together be- |
fore the convention and during the |
to express their faith and |
confidence in Mr.. Wallace for the
vics Presidency Of the United
Sta1es.
1t Is very seldom that one genera
tion will be 80 blessed ~ 70 have
two men In the national life whs
have learned to appreciate the a.
piraNons and longings u the conn
mon people, ~ something % DO
fought for regardless Of politics. To
put II another way, Mr.. Wallace fol-
lowing In the footsteps Of Mr..
Roosevelt lifted politics. in the
minds Of the common people above
mere politics" to . position Of
worthwhile political action on the
part Of the people. II Is indeed gra-
tlfying to know how eagerly the
people responded to . program Of
political action with a purpose.
The common people, however,
should not be too discouraged that
Mr.. Wallace was not nominated at
the Democratic convention in Chi
cago. His liberalism and belief in
equality are genuine with him.
These will outlast any injustices
done 10 him and his followers at
the Chicago convention. Mr.. Wal
lace will emerge from this fight
a real voice to be heard and listened
to by the powers that are to be,
whether Democratic or Republican.
In some ways, Mr.. Wallace has a
chance TO become a better leader
for the common people than he
could have possibly become IL he
were tied in with great unwieldy
political machine.