Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1951-12-15
The Negro Voter Mississippi's
Strategic Opportunity

OtIdtcSIC opportunity
Up in Washington, Tuesday, the United States
Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal invovng the
denial of their right to register and qualify to vote of
group of Negro citizens down at Hattesburg, in For
est County.
This decision of the United States Supreme Court
may be subject to two interpretations upon it's face.
It may be taken by those in authority evidence
of the fact that the United States Supreme Court is
willing to give Mississippi time to allow the Democratic
process to to full bloom in the state without
e cion, outside influence.
Again it may be taken as the signal for the begin
ming of drive for full dsfranchsement and denial
of the right of Negroes to vote right which they have
been gradually gaining during the past five years.
Searching our editorial mind for something to say
about the terribly important decision of the United
States Supreme Court, got piece on the subject
of the Negro vote in Mississippi from Prof B. S. Bowles
What Prof. Bowes has to say on the subject is of
double Importance at this time because he is former
President of Acorn College, long identified with the
teaching profession and generally regarded as belonging
to what is referred to the SAFE and conservative
Negro leadership Of the state.
Here is what Prof. Bowles says:
1t is a matter of common knowledge that Mssis
spp native State-a status which we would ex-
change for no other-has long been at the bottom of
the list of all the States in most things worthwhile and
at the top only in the things mostly which and de-
tract from her standng for example: in the matter
of per-capita wealth, per-capa income, per-capita lit
eracy percapita manifestation of interest in the moral
social economical industrial civic and political welfare
of the State and in the percapta preparation for and
participation in the duties and functions of responsible
citizenship Mississippi has long been at the bottom of
capita ignorance percapita poverty-strcken condition
of its citizens she has been at the top And although
State has yet long way to go before her status
reaches the national average in these respects
reports from authoritative show conclusively
that the States picture in these relationships rapidly
changing, and that Mississippi is definitely the pro-
greSSlve march,
And in the Providence of Cod at this crucial period
in international affairs while the world looks on and
witnesses the ttantic struggle for the mastery of two
opposing ideooges of Government Mississippi by the
logic of events has been placed in very envabe posi-
ton compared with the rest of her sister States
What she will do with the opportunity that is peculiarly
hers remains for the future to disclose
At this critical stage of the struggle between De-
mocracy and Communism, as a way of life; while un-
counted millions of people, coming up from the unde
vcloped regions OF the earth standing at the
roads, and in quandary to determine which of these
camps of opposing ideooges could they most wisely
throw their allegiance, find country which was
committed in the hour of it's birth to the Democratic
way the unquestoned champion of the group of nations
IN the Democratic column; while Russia, though sup
posedy of the United Nations has elected to accept
the championship of the opposing group.
And while these undecided millions of people are
at the crossroads trying to make the best choice pos
sible means of helping them to make their best
choice, they asking to be shown in advance what
they may expect in the event of their making choice of
side the other. Their dilemma is not whether or
not Democracy is the more excellent form than Com
munism That is self-evident But, because the past
records of SO many of the nations in the Democratic
column are so besmrched with the imperiastic ex
poitaton practices upon subject peoples, they are
caused to wonder whether not if they elect to cast
thelr ots with the democratic group, they will be per-
mted to enjoy political freedom and participate in the
fruits of Democracy according to the basic tenets in
Democracys fundamental ritual tits constitution and
laws).
Russia is doing her level best to convince the world
that the claims of Democracy but an empty hoax
by keeping up WITH and constantly pointing to the
ment of Negroes and other minority group members,
who are citizens under the law in this country but who
are sometimes mareated with impunty by the ruling
whites even officers of the law "By their fruits We
shall know them, saith the Holy Word and there would
be no question to what side these people would choose
if nation together with it's various subdivisions
could bring itself to more general acceptance Of and
more faithful compliance with the constitution and
laws which we have placed books in the various
States. The name Democracy is not enough; but what
are it's fruits?
IN Outstanding Example OF American Faith And Sincer
At the time when the American Government took
the Philippine Islands at the close of the Spanish
American War; she alayed the fears and approximations
of the natives of those islands, and senced the crit
ciss of those who charged the United States with de-
signs of Imperialism and exploitation Of the islands,