The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1956-03-03
Negroes Solidarity Dream Shattered
(EDITORIAL)

(EDITORIAL)
held Hunton Branch YScA tuesday night, February
coming June counciman election only people responded
under auspices of the United Citizens Council Of which
Dr. H. t. Penn is president for the specific purpose of nom
mating a candidate for City Council
Early in the year, in a conference with DIR. Penn
in the Tribune office plans discussed for the
coming elections DR. Penn was interested in running as
conference followed the effective campaign waged
approached us with the importance of Continuing in the
Ner together for R real united front in the cause of
worked with DR. Penn and his organization In all good
faith we worked meeting here in The Tribune office
supposed to be united front We pleased with the
and Possibilities of seeing the Negro voters solid
behalf with front page headlines and editorial support in
sincere because but his vigor
perceptibly after the election of MIR. Small
noticeable that in the special referendum the city
only fifty votes Dr. Penn ran representing the op
position and whereas did not expect him to win,
approximately as compared with 1900 cast in the
Special referendum) and less than 800 white
voters! The answer is obvious.
candidate They had also insisted that make the
to get the 60 ahead sign from the with whom
working Many Of our white friends have openly expressed
with spirit of moderation would be the acceptable
many Southern whites who feel that it is only
to have in the government Members
paign 1t conspicuously obvious that DIR. Penn
collaborating with the group who had nominate
interests would transcend personaes and that
would enable us to utilize the advantages Which
were ours and work together for the common good of
friends, plus united Negro voting strength would have
given , US what we want mos-A NEGRO REPRESENTA-
TIVE ON CITY COUNCIL.
Dr. L. E. Paxton of Roanokes oldest civic and
political leaders, officer of First Baptist Church and
practicing dentist nominated Dr. Paxton is highly
respected by members of his well by those
of the white race who acquainted with him.
In lengthy telephone conversation with the nominee
several days when Dr. Paxton called he informed
! informed him that neither did know that he
ng therefore had made several contacts and commit
made commitments therefore he would show out of the
race He further Informed of his opinion that would
get votes from the people than
from Negroes That being true said Dr. Paxton you
s % G sac hns
could be uttered by man of DIR. Paxtons intelligence.
In conversation the telephone following his
nation the nominee informed that he shall do
then why are running? We believe that there are
others who would like an answer to that question, too
With the Negro representing only fifteen percent of
hope to be elected to office without large aority
Of white votes We thought then and still believe the
date who would be acceptable to the opposite group IT,
elected to the all position city councilman for
the sole purpose of serving the Negro only he will certainly
be the miracle of miracles Unless he convince the OPP
poste group that he not guilty of the prejudices
toward them that they accused of having toward the
Negro he need not expect avalanche the
very source capable of elecng him.