The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1955-02-12
After The Mass Meeting
What Then?

We believe and feel safe in saying that the rea
purpose OF the recent mass meeting held the American
Legion Auditorium was to convince the Negro his priv
ege and duty to stand and vote with other citizen
who want, only good government but hone to achieve
better government through the fundamentally of tn
ballot a1f
The various efforts made get Negroes to aualif,
and vote IN Roanoke have never placed emphasis upon
bloc voting The idea of such voting could not be ac
complshed by Negroes were it attempted. AS is
true IN other have Negroes who boast of be-
ing Republicans and identified with any
other political group. Likewise there are Democrats
of the opinion and then there independent
voters who have ties to any particular party jus.
impossible unite these groups into bloc voting as
1t is for one to say how far FAR" is,
Once the Negro is known to be a voter no longer
will ne remain political football for the two major
political parties. His vote, plus his neighbours vote will
equal two votes Heretofore to great extent the only
vote which really mattered, his neighbours vote
1t cannot be denied that these mass meetings play
an important part in crysaiizng public sentiment
mass meetings alone enough. There must be a
personal unseifish foOw-up of these big shows. This
thing of voting must be thoroughly sold to the Negro
that he will accept it religOusly must his life
must be preached from every pulpit 1t be discus
sed in every organizations meeting, including womens
Clubs mems clubs, labor social and civic 1t
come the topic not only of every Greek letter
and sorority but be the discussion every
place around every freside and wherever two or
more meet before the parting, the Importance
adult Negro qualifying and voting should be mentioned
Numerous spasmodic efforts have failed to pro-
duce results in Negro voting. II gone CON
cusOn that the sponsors would have faded out of the
picture not for the initiation of their personal
Once an honest to goodness effort made interest the
Negro in his privilege and duty quality and
other first class citizens will respond with the same
patriotic spirit of loyalty ha he has shown in every call
to in the defense of his country and every sacri
flee which he has been privileged make for worthy
causes.
Past experiences are responsible for much of the
public suspicion of of the efforts launched To ee
out the vote people One reaction is, well
he's out for something and he wants everybody to
vote for him There others who say. this is the
first wolf, wolf call have heard. One leader called
great mass meeting and had all Negroes TO know that
they would NOT make mistake to throw all of their
voting strength to certain man, then on the eve Of
the election declared his opposition this whom he
had been enthusiastically supporting Unfortunately it is
an erroneous implication that Negro could
trolied by individual and il is difficult believe
that politicians aspiring for office are gubIe enough
to think that any person control the Negro at
will Finally there of have ilI-in
formed, dependent Negro voters though they we're
sold down the river for "mess of pottage."
That "a yoteless People is a Helpless People" is a
true saying But until leadership influenced by those
who determined to rule ruin upon the
of action. it will be difficult task to rally the Negro
vote to its potential strength.
Let pray that God may give a Moses or a young
Joshua to lead the Negro people into the promised land
Such leader must at all times remember the words of
the Christ who says, Whosoever of you will be the chief
est, shall be the servant of all"
mans greatness is measured by his service t.
the people.