Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1951-06-02

OiiiSoSO dI1OIuS oil eACelIenJ NdHL-
age point from which to review
some election results in the South
side, USA.
Some weeks back, this column
predicted that this Spring should
see a number of Negroes elected
to city councils of the South. Not
all of the approximately thirty
colored candidates who tried for of
flee in four southern and border
states made it, but their showings
were good.
From here, our first glance goes
to West Virginia, where, in Char
lesion, three Negro candidates won
seats in the city council. All Re-
publicans, the victors, the Rev. r.
A. Banks, Attorney Willard L.
Brown and James c. Campbell,
make Charleston second only to
/ Cleveland in its number of Negro
city councilmen.
NAACP attorney, Z. Alexander
LOBBY, of Nashville, went into his
city council to become the first
Negro to so serve Nashville in
thirty years. There is a possibility
that two other Negroes will enter
the city council of Nashville as d
result of scheduled run-off elections
to be held later this Spring.
A total of seven Negro candi-
dates sought council posts in the
recent Nashville elections. This was
/ the largest number of race candi-
/ dates to seek office in any south
ern OF border state city election.
The two run-off candidates are
John T. Lewis and Robert E. Lii
lard, who are opposed by white
candidates.
North Carolina presented the
largest number of Negro candi-
dates to file in any southern state
for council seats since Reconstruc-
ton. Brown Tarheelers in thirteen
N. c. communities threw their hats
into the Spring election ring. When
the votes were counted one city had
elected a Negro city councilman
for the first time.
The distinction of being the first
of his race to go into the city coun-
ell of Greensboro belongs to Dr..
William M. Hampton, who, ac-
cording to informed sources, receiv-
ed widespread support from the
white citizens of that city. DR.. w.
P. Devane was reelected in Fayet-
teville and three Negroes will en-
ter run-off elections in Winston
Salem.
This run-off contest will assure
the election of Negro to fill the
post already held in the Winston
Salem city council by the Rev.
Kenneth R. Williams, who did not
seek reelection. The three aspir-
ants are the Rev. William R. Craw-
ford, Jason Hawkins and w. P.
Matthews.
Other North Carolina towns hav-
ing Negro candidates during the
recent Spring elections included
Burlington, Chapel Hill, Charlotte,
Durham, Gastonia, Madison, Mon
roe, Raleigh, Rocky Mount and
Southern Pines. In Asheville, a
Negro announced for office but
later withdrew from the race. The
final tally for North Carolina is
good, nevertheless.
To those who tried go the sim
Gene commendations of this corner
they are on our honor roll, for
they did try For the record, here
are the names of a few-Kelly
Alexander, of Charlotte, and James
L. Taylor, of Durham, whom |
have the pleasure of knowing.
Alexander is NAACP state branch
es president, Taylor an n. c. Col
lege professor.
In Rocky Mount, it was A. H.
Bryant; Mrs. Maude Brown and
Edward Coleman, in Burlington:
Gastonia, DR.. w. Percy Carter;
Chapel Hill, Fred Edwards; Mon
roe, {. c. Johnson; Raleigh, Attor-
ney Herman l.. Taylor, and; South
ern Pines, R. L. Funderbuck. Two
Negroes ran for the school board
IN Charlotte = the Rev. James F.
Wertz and DR.. j. S. Nathaniel
Tross.
Likewise, we should be proud of
Porcher L. Taylor, ST., and Elcee
K. Lucas of Jacksonville, Florida
who made remarkable runs in rec
ent elections in that North Florida
city. Here again, it is possible that
at least another Negro may be-
seated in Southside city council
-Jacksonville's election is in dis
pute.
Last Fall, Negroes offered for
council posts in Columbia, S. c.,
Augusta, Ga, and Richmond, Va.
Already this Spring, race candi-
dates have been successful in st.
Louis and attempts We're made in
Kansas City, Mo-, and Oklahoma
City. Rome, Ca, had Negro candi-
date for the school board. All this