The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1946-05-07
s---- --------------------
TOO
LATE
TO

BY RUSSELL KAY

ton TO become a candidate,
speaking before a civic group in
Jacksonville; Willard Caldwell
told the citizens of that enter
prising metropolis that the
apathy of the public with regard
to registering and voting was
appalling and that if it continued
our democratic form of govern
ment would be endangered.
Today, the people of Jackson
vile and the State at large have
good reason to recall his words,
which at the time made little
impression and were accepted by
most listeners as "just another
talk
At that time CIO-PAC was just
an alphabetical enigma, operat-
ing at a considerable distance
from Florida and few folks in
this eck-of-the-woods gave it a
second thought. 1t was looked on
as something that might prove a
disturbing influence, in large,
crowded industrial areas. but
Florida, was different. Political
action of that character wouldn't
get anywhere down SOUTH"
For weeks Jacksonville along
with other, Florida cities have
been watching with alarm, the
feverish activity of organizers,
who are as busy as proverbial
bees, with plans to take Florida
over politically and elect con-
gressmen, senators and legisla-
tors who will do their bidding.
Appealing directly to the
workers, negroes and whites
alike, they are urging all to reg
lister and vote DEMOCRATIC.
Literature distributed widely
among negroes in Jacksonville
says:
1--WE must look in the future
toward the building of a pro-
gressive Third Party of the
people. (Just as Abraham Lincoln
and Frederick Douglas did in
their day.. This Third Party
must be composed of the negro
people, trade union workers, vet
Grams and sharecroppers, and
can be accomplished only by the
political unity of action of trade
unionists and negro people. 1t
depends on the existence of
politically aware body of negro
voters in the present corrupt
Democratic Party. of the South
Readers are advised that for
further, information they should
write'H to sthel Communist Party
of Jacksonville. 4 fa5d
: Those back of this political eff
fort are shrewd, clever opera
tors. In the present apathy and
lack of interest in the coming
election on the part of the aver
age citizen they see a golden
opportunity to win by default,
for they are seeing to it that
every vote they can muster is
being qualified and their group
will vote in a block for or against
the candidates of their choice,
while, on the other hand, thou
ands of unorganized citiitns
will neglect to register, or being
registered, will fail to vote.
The CIO-PAC publicly has de-
clared its intention to defeat all
who have voted con-
trary to their instructions, and
to elect congressman, senators
and state, legislators who will do
heir bidding, .at,,-,, ~.,,,
Up until a week or so ago it
ooked as though this open chal-
enge. would meet with no oppo-
sition, but unwilling to take it
lying down, the Florida Farm
Bureau has courageously entered
he fight and is bringing to the
attention of its members through
out the State, the danger that
threatens free democratic gov
today.
Why, you may ask, do the
farmers and growers of Florida
concern themselves with labor
management quarrels or oppose
he entry of a labor political &C
ion committee in the States po-
Iitical picture?
The answer is, first, that
farmers are Americans who
value American traditions; sec
ond, that labor quarrels in in
lustry seriously hamper their
legitimate operations, harrassing
them through shortages of fer
.flizer and equipment caused by
strikes in the steel, automotive, |
coal, farm machinery and other
When radical labor group,
using every means in its power,
becomes dominant politically
and starts cracking its whip
over the heads of lawmakers
with threats of defeat if they vote
contrary to the groups wishes
and with promises of reward to |
hose who act in accordance with
is bidding, the security and well
ARE of the people as a whole is