The Omaha guide., 1944-09-16


One day last spring | asked Wern-
er Schroeder, Republican national
committeeman Of Illinois, about the
importance of the Negro vote in Chi
cago He said: we fully realize
that the Negro vote is the balance Of
power IN any close election IN both
Chicago and the state That's wins
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, Democra-
tic boss of Chicago and Illinois, said
the same thing. The Negro vote
swung the gubernatorial election to
the Republicans in Kentucky last fall
and last spring the colored voters
played a major part IN helping to e
lect a Republican mayor Of Baltimore
President Roosevelt, himself, is re-
ported to be deeply concerned about
the way the colored voters will go
thsi year. According to the most re-
liable information, c personally sug-
gested to Edward v. LougIin, leader
of Tammy Hall, that he designate the
Rev. Adam c. Powell, well known
minister and leader, as Tammany's
candidate for Congress from Harlent
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 candidate
for Congress in Harlem, that he
would swing a large number of votes
to Mr.. Roosevelt. TIE young political
firebrand swept the slate, winning
in both the Republican and Democra-
tic elections. He was unopposed IN
the American Labor Party primary.
overnor Dewey, Republican Presi-
Dental candidate, has decided to make
an about drive for the Negro vote IN
the North at the expense biased sole
ly On traditional Republican Tears
OF losing any southern or border stat
es. 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 Negro votes to help put him III
the White House.
AS anyone can see, ell this adds UP
to n thing: the Republicans and
Democrats are going lickety-split at
ter the Negro vote. They are doing
this because they sorely need it They
figure they must have ii to win Dur
ing the campaign they're willing to
promise colored citizens almost any
thing 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, de
ponds entirely upon its need for the
Negro vote and nothing else. The
larger this vote is, the greater the
greater the need for it by both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans. 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 else he gets, political and
otherwise, it is absolutely necessary
that he prepare himslf for his battle.
Currently, he can best do this by do
ing two things: register and vote
If colored citizens IN every hamlet,
town, city and state in the country
register and vote in this election IN
larger numbers-much larger num-
bers-than ever before in history,
they will be IN 4 position to demand
and get from either or both parties
many Of the things they need to make
them fu~ll-fledged citizens. For no
politician, even a Presidential candi-
date, is going to ignore the people
whose votes he must have to get elect
ed.
On the other hand, if Negroes fail