Minneapolis spokesman., 1963-03-21
King Campaign For
Aldermen Launched
At Workers Meefinq
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that voters group restricted to
Negroes alone on a racial basis and
: was not desirable in Minneapolis
where the emphasis has long been
on integrated living action, hous-
ing, I'm pl YIN n t and politics,
where all persons regardless of
race, creed or color are welcome
to participate.
Can Win With Unity" CassIus
Says
+ Mrs. Benton then introduced A.
B. Cassius, local business man and
owner Of the Cassius Bar & Cafe,
who is serving as chairman of the
King Volunteer committee.
Mr.. Cassius praised King as an
energetic enterprising young man"
and stated that he felt candidate
King can win IF there be unity"
Feels Compelled To Furnish
Leadership
He introduced the candidate who
said he felt compelled to furnish
leadership for his people on week.
days as well as Sundays.
In making his case he pointed
out that there are 1000 Negro
votes in the 9Th ward.
He also pointed out that he be-
lieves he can do a good job as
alderman because he believes in
right, therefore he can give the
kind of representative government
the ward should have.
He stated further that he Is not
seeking the Negro vote simply
because he is a Negro.
Among some of the pIanIxs
which he favors are: Change in
City charter, change in criminal
code and keeping General Hos
pital in control of Minneapolis
so that the nearly 800 persons
now employed at the hospital
can maintain there jobs.
Rev. King rather complainingly
told the meeting that he had been
advised that he had to "go slow
on the race ISSUE" in his campaign.
Critics of Kings entrance into the
field have complained that in the
past in Minnesota Negroes have
not run as Negro candidates" nor
have whites campaigned on the
basis that they were Caucasian.
1t is pointed out that successful
candidates for public office in Min
nesota, Negro or white, have al
ways been candidates who have
solicited and obtained the support
of people regardless of race.
One city hall politician who is
definitely anti-Negro was over
heard stating, II see the Negroes
are running a Negro" candidate
for alderman. If some of us whites
announced we were the white
candidate" for office, the Negro
do-gooders and civil rights pushers
would be shouting from the house
tops we were prejudiced."
There Is considerable interest
In Rev. Kings candidacy in the
9Th Ward. Veteran political dope
sters however, predict that his
candidacy will only insure the
reelection of incumbent Elsa
johnson.
Many Negroes who would norm
ally vote for Merle Kruschlxe the
young DEL endorsed candidate are
being appealed to on the basis of
race loyalty to support King.
Observers point out that II King
receives ample support, this
may project him into a prominent
role in ward politics, but will not
unseat the incumbent who Is not
expected to have much support In
the Negro and liberal areas of the
ward.
Another dilemma facing the
King campaign Is the fact that
It Is understood that MIR. King
has had Republican leanings In
the past. Most Of the active Ne
gro voters In the ward had voted
DFL In the past.
! Mrs. Elsa Johnson present alder
man is also a Republican.
Another completing situation
which has developed Is the fact
that many active Negro voters In
the ward had pledged support to
Merle Kruschke two weeks before
King had announced his candidacy.
Richard D. Hall, 4o24 Fifth Av.,
Negro community member Is gem
eral chairman Of the Volunteers
for Kruschhe and Samuel Richard
son, 4044 Oakland also a Ne
gro Is a member Of the interracial
committee which Is planning the
Kruschke campaign.
Other officials Of the King cam
paign committee are Plouis Moore,
3717 Fifth Av. s., finance chair
man; Matthew Eubanl1s, 360S
Clinton Ay. s., Mildred Moore,
3717 Fifth Av. s., William Smith,
1901 Clinton Av., Genieveve Jack
son, 1915 Fourth Av. s., Eddie
Varnado, S6o7 Clinton Av. s., and
Frank Jackson, 1925 Lyndale Av.
m.
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