The Gary American

NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE NEGRO VOTERS TO ACT
Filing for the various city offices has just come to a close.
The deadline has found many a good candidate entered into the political fray and many a poor one. It is now left for the public to decide exactly who they want to represent them as councilmen, city clerk, city judge and lastly mayor of the city.
Each of these offices carry a little political power, some with much more power and patronage than the others. Nevertheless, each office is an important one for it takes the parts of the city administration to make up the whole, and each is equally as important in this respect.
In the fifth district, it is a certainty that the councilman will be a Negro. In the fourth district, there is a possibility of nominating and electing a Negro to this office. And, there is also an opportunity to nominate and elect a Negro councilman at large, which would give the Negro population in Gary three representatives in the city council out of a total of nine, which is one-third of the representation--and the approximately just representation according to the population percentage.
To accomplish such a feat, the Negro has a hard task ahead of him. For in the fourth district there are two Negroes entered in this race, which most likely will split the vote somewhat.
On the other hand, the voters themselves can decide which one to support and concentrate on just one candidate, giving him their full support and securing another office.
In the race for councilman at large there is only one Negro in the race. However, it is still a tremendous task to nominate him as long as the Negro voters take it upon themselves to split their votes among the various candidates. Think how nice it would be to have three Negro councilmen for a change.
Another aspect of the entire primary election is the candidate for each of the other offices. A good way to judge these men is to look at their past performance as far as the Negro race is concerned, then make a selection for yourselves and your future generations which will have to live in Gary.
And for those who are supporting candidates, make sure and ask for the advancements wanted for the Gary Negroes before the primary, or else it will be too late after the election is over.
The Gary Negro hasn't received nearly enough of the patronage due him mainly because he hasn't asked for it in the front and demanded it after the election is over. These are some important facts to consider in the coming primary.
Now is the time for the Negro voter in Gary to wake up if he ever expects to gain anything through elections.