Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1947-02-15
Rep. Leaders Urged
To Build Strong
Party In South

Washington, d. C.. Feb. (NNPA)
- Republican leaders were urged
last Thursday night to convert
the Rpublican party in the South
into an effective political unity.
Grant Reynolds, commissioner
of corrections of New York State
made this recommendation at the
annual Lincoln Day dinner of the
Leagu or republican Womn of
tn District of Columbia and Re-
publican members of Congress ut
the Statler Hotel, concluding his
address with a recitation of Lin
coins Gettysburg address.
Others addressing the guests in
cluded Governor Dwight III. Green
of Illinois, Speaker Joseph w.
Martin and Mrs. Mabel S. Fraser,
vice chairman of the Indiana Re
publican State Committee.
AS presently constituted in
most southern states and the Dis
trict of Columbia, the Republican
party is a closed corporation exis-
tinst chiefly to- control federal
patronage when there is Repub-
lican President. It's other func-
ton is to furnish delegates to Re-
publican national conventions to
help nominate Republican candi-
dates. In a very few southrn
States does it offer opposing tick
cts.
Thus far, every attempt to build
up the Republican party in the
South has been met with an at
tack tina tit was move aimed at
white supremacy. Colored voters
constitute majority of the Re
publican in most southern states,
Repub licani leaders who have tried
to build up the party III the South
usually Wanted TO do SO at the
expense OF the ,colofed voters,
notably President Herbert Hoover
hIn his address last Thursday
night Mr.. Reynolds said he con
sidered the growing threat to and
restrictions placed upon human
liberty and freedom in tbs coun-
try one The great challenges to
democratic institutions. He prais-
ed the Republican party for its
contributions to the basic cause
Of freedom.
mo political party is, by yir-
tue of its historical beginnings,
better equipped morally and spir-
itually to quad the ramparts OF
freedom and liberty than our
party" he asserted. mo political
party is more conscious of the
fact that there is no better method
of insuring liberty and freedom
than by extending these blessings
to those equally deserving citizens
to whom they are now denied"
Continuing, Mr.. Reynolds said:
''If we are to prove ourselves
worthy stewards Of our inheri-
lance = the extension and pro
lection of human freedom = it be
comes necessary to. originate the
procedure by which this can be
accomplished. / want therefore to
recommend strongly the building
of an effective Republican party
south of the Mason and Dixie
Line.
"ThiS would be no easy task
in the light of existing obstacles
1t would demand sacrifice and
perseverance. Few will honestly
deny, however, that it will have
a salutary effect upon obliterating
political sectionalism and obJecti
fying Lincoln's dream of uni
fled nation.
"Where there is provided the
incentive to the exercise of thl
right of franchise the people If
direct proportion insure the foun-
, dation of their liberties.
'MY next proposition is the
providing of the political aid to Tx
South necessary for it to emerge
from an economy of scarcity o.
and to attune its footsteps to thu
onward march of the industrial
North. This achievement woult
work miracles in terms of vitiat
ing the atmosphere of bitterness.
which often produces such act'
of inhuman violence as to holt
the entire nation up to scorn II