The Gary American

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1935

PERRY W. HOWARD STALWART

REPUBLICAN

By KELLY MILLER

I have acquired the quadrennial habit of querying Perry Howard on the eve of the approaching national election as to what appeal he would make to the colored voters to hold their traditional allegiance to the "Grand Old Party". He has always assured me that ample, adequate and convincing appeal would be forthcoming in due time. Now Perry Howard is the Prime Minister of Negro Republicanism. He is as true, devoted and died-in-the-wool a partizan as any Republican that lives, white or black. If the "Grand Old Party" ever succeeds in regaining ascendency it should and probably will reward his unswerving devotion by making him Dictator of the political fortunes of his group.

The prudent Mississippi National Committeeman has taken time by the forelock and has issued the warning note to the "Grand Old Party" bemoaning the estrangement of their black allies and advising how to bring the aggrieved black brother back to the fold in 1936. He advises the "Grand Old Party" to elect as a standard bearer one who will command the enthusiastic support of the Negro vote upon which the party must rely for hope of victory. He does not specify any particular candidate. Ex-President Hoover is still titular head of the Republican party but his name would make a very faint appeal to the colored voter who, naturally enough, objects to being stung by the same bee twice. Of all the names now prominently mentioned to lead the forlorn hopes of the once mighty but now overwhelmed party, only one awakes any enthusiasm in Afro-America-Hon. James W. Wadsworth who remains true to the faith of his father and to the faith of the fathers of the "Grand Old Party". But to pick a candidate too far in advance is to invite his defeat by concerted onslaught of his rivals. Mr. Howard is forced to admit, though reluctantly, that the colored voters "in a large measure left the Republican Party" during the last decade. There is probably not another Negro of his prominence in the nation who would agree with him in the assertion; "Personally I am satisfied that there was no justification for their desertion". His loyalty to his party can hardly be matched, no not in all Afro-America. It is crass partizanship of this arch-partizan which leads him to say that Mr. Roosevelt has not only failed the country but has failed the Negro in that he has done nothing that he promised to do. During the campaign Mr. Roosevelt was scrupulously careful not to make any extravagant promise to the Negro. He declared over and over again that he would be made part and parcel of the "New Deal" and would receive the consideration along with the "forgotten men'". This promise has been kept with absolute fidelity. He has not isolated the Negro race nor given his special attention to group grievances, but every step in the "New Deal" has applied to all who fell within the given category without discrimination on account of race or color. Under the NRA codes the Negro did indeed suffer certain incidental hardships but this was due to the prejudice of employers and white workfolks, and not to administrative policy or purpose. Every instance of race discrimination that has been properly brought to the attention of the Administration has been properly adjusted as far as Administrative authority could affect it. While the Negro suffered it has been because of the misfortune of his lot and not by studied purpose of the Administration. There has been more kindly feeling and substantial expression of good will towards the Negro under President Roosevelt's administration than under those of Harding, Coolidge and Hoover. Colored indigents and unemployed have been given public work and relief out of all proportions to their numerical quota. They receive most where their need is greatest. Secretary Ickes in his statement before the Association for the Advancement of Colored People said that in the administration of the Public Work and Public Relief Funds there was absolutely no race discrimination. Perry Howard is honestly mistaken, that is as honestly mistaken as a politician can be, when he states that colored leaders who supported Roosevelt are disappointed because they have been overlooked. There is less expression of disappointment among Negro politicians and less criticism and condemnation by the Negro press, pulpit and other organs of public opinion than of any Administration during the past forty years. Of course no Administration can satisfy the claims and demands of disappointed politicians, white or black. I suggest to my friend, the die-hard Republican exponent, that he should cast his mind backward and review the volume of condemnation and abuse heaped upon the heads of Harding, Coolidge and Hoover during the closing years of their administrations. I assure him that he will find that in comparison with the mild murmuring against the present administration it would compare like a raging storm to a gentle zephyr.

Even an ardent partizan must not allow his enthusiasm to sweep him too far beyond the fact. When Mr. Howard says that Mr. Roosevelt has overlooked the Negro in appointments, I can only suggest that he follow the advice of Governor Al. Smith and consult the record. Mr. Roosevelt has appointed to office more colored men than his three Republican predecessors combined. He not only selected colored men for the important positions usually assigned the race-Recorder of Deeds, Minister to Liberia and Judge of the Municipal Court of Washington, D. C. and special Assistant to the Attorney General, but has also selected specially qualified Negroes as special Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Commerce. The number of colored men filling positions under the "New Deal" requiring experience and expertness is out of all proportion to such assignments in the history of the Government. Mr. Howard's slur on the colored experts appointed by President Roosevelt as Psalm-singing Rosenwald Workers is gratuitous, to say the least. It has been the policy of President Roosevelt to fill the high places in the Government not with more political incompetents who use the offices merely as a loafing place for political henchmen and party boosters, but he has insisted that every official under the Government, white or black, shall efficiently perform the function to which he has been assigned. On calmer reflection, I am sure Mr. Howard will wish to withdraw his insinuations against Julius Rosenwald, the superlative philanthropist whose benefaction to the colored race has been so bountiful. Complaints against the present Administration in that it has not ended the depression is indeed loud and strong, but this complaint comes from the privileged and powerful entrenched behind the breastworks of vested interest and not from the Negro who is but a fellow-sufferer in the misfortunes which have befallen the nation and the world.

I agree with Mr. Howard in the hope that the Republican Party will select a candidate for 1936 that colored voters can enthusiastically help to elect. I hope that the Democratic Party will do likewise. To this end the Republicans may have to look far and wide for such a candidate, while the Democrats have only to re-nominate the present incumbent of the White House.