Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-11-16
Negro Vote Role Increa
In Importance

Any attempt at this time to fully evaluate the
November elections of course rather prema-
ture. However salient factor which should be of
interest to readers the effective of the
ballot by increasing number of Americans of
Negro descent in the South as well as the North.
Associated Negro Press national election round
ups indicate 81 Negroes men and women were elect
ed to the state legislatures in 10 of the so states
Even in Georgia Negro was elected to the state
Senate for the first time since the much maligned
and distorted Reconstruction Period Another Negro
Augustus Hawkins of Los Angeles added to the
small representation that the group has in the us.
House of Representatives.
In three states American whites, the majority
group. joined Negro fellow citizens in electing to
office qualified candidates for statewide office who
happened to be Negroes.
In Michigan this significant new political trend
resulted in the reelection Of Judge Otis Smith to the
Michigan State Supreme Court. He had been ap-
pointed to the post by Gov John Swanson to fill
unexpired term and in the November 6, election he
renamed by the states voters.
In 1858 Smith the first Negro elected to
statewide office since Reconstruction when he was
elected for a two year term as Michigan state audi
tor His election to the Michigan Supreme Court was
his second winning Of statewide office by the bal
lots Of Michigan voters
In Massachusetts,, Negroes who voted soldly
for the Democratic ticket which elected Ted Ken
nedy us. Senator, crossed over party lines and
elected Negro Republican Edward w. Brooke the
states attorney-gen Brooke was the only Re-
publican candidate to survive the sweep of Mass
achusetts state offices by the Democrats His cleo
ton was evidence far the Negro voters were
concerned that they were doing some thinking when
they cast their ballots In Massachusetts Negro
Democrats placed the Importance Of having a Ne
gro in important state office above party loyalty
They were logical and wise in doing.
In Connecticut, state voters went to the polls
and named a Negro Democrat Gerald Lamb state
treasurer. The election of Negro to that position
was assured because the Connecticut Republican
party wisely also nominated william D. Graham
a Negro attorney for the state treasurership also
In the coming increasing effort Of the Demo-
cratic party to hold to the Negro vote in the big
urban cities Of the north and the matching effort
of the Republican to regain such support, the nomin
alton of Negroes by the political parties to state
wide posts will continue at an accelerated pace.
This pattern will catch in many states.
as time goes on, and the quest Of support for the
increasingly independent Negro voters continues.
Even in our state Of Minnesota where the Negro
vote while significant, las in the Judd-Fraser race)
but relatively small in number, If the state COP
had nominated Stephen Maxwell st. Paul Negro
attorney for attorney-general as part of the RAM
sey county delegation suggested he would have made
as good a against Mondale Robert Kunzig,
a practical unknown. The votes Maxwell would have
received might have had effect the tight CUB
nertorial race OF course with Mondale's deserving
record on civil and human rights it is doubtful that
even a candidate of Negro descent would have been
able to take too many Negro votes away from him.
However 1t might have been worth the try by the
Republicans If they had sufficient imagination.
What the nation is seeing today In politics Is a
new trend and he has been since arrival the
continent as bondsmen the Negro is playing big
part in the developing political situation The diff
ference is now that while he 1.-THE Negro) still