Richmond Planet

Published Every Saturday by John Mitchell, Jr., 224 N. Fourth Street, Richmond, Va.

JOHN MITCHELL, JR., EDITOR

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1929

We presume that Hon. C. Bascom Slemp will be permitted to try his hand on the Solid South again, as Colonel Henry W. Anderson and his plans have failed.

One thing may be said about Hon. John Garland Pollard, he did not dodge any of the issues expounded, and he was absolutely fearless from the start to the finish.

Governor Harry Flood Byrd played a shrewd game of politics with that machine, which he controls. He has a particularly fine grade of oil and it is looked after by political experts.

We were never able to understand the Hoover Democrat explanation of what they had said about Governor Roosevelt of New York. It was not 'four square' with the original publication.

If Colonel Henry W. Anderson's ability in politics were as good as his skill in making money, he would be one of the best vote getters in the country. He is all right in a political campaign every day, but on election day.

In the campaign just closed we are able to recognize the uniform and equipment of the anti-Smith organization, but as to the Republicans, they wore no uniform, carried no party banners and had no Republican platform.

Colonel Jennings C. Wise 'broke in the race' when he disclosed personal correspondence of Hon. John Garland Pollard in a page advertisement in the columns of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, just because it was alleged that he had been denominated as Colonel Anderson's man 'Friday and his valet.'

THE RESULT

We have been unable to view, otherwise than with genuine satisfaction, the result of the contest last Tuesday between the regular Democratic gubernatorial nominee and the candidate of the Republican anti-Smith coalition. The two individuals represented the highest type of Virginia leadership. But it was the sinister influences behind them which were to be feared.

Both organizations went into the fight with the understanding that a large body of the body politic was to be studiously ignored. The part of the Constitution of the United States which gave to the citizen of color the equal protection of the laws was cast aside. Colonel Henry W. Anderson, the brilliant leader of this 'new day' Republicanism, made no secret as to his intention. His ship flew the 'black flag' so far as the Negro was concerned, and this unfortunate class was given to understand that at no time and at no place would he be permitted to come aboard the vessel.

Colonel Anderson and his colleagues were permitted to have their way, both by the President of the United States and by the Negroes directly concerned. The latter voiced no protest, made no effort to attend any of the meetings or to secure representation in any of the Republican party meetings. Colored people showed they had some self-respect left. What is the result?

Colonel Anderson and his coterie of 'lily whites' are now facing a defeat which is so astounding as to be almost unbelievable.

His party has been 'snowed under' by the unprecedented plurality of seventy thousand, while the Negroes with their hands in their breeches pockets are now standing along the roadside laughing. We are not surprised at the outcome. As for ourselves, we shall form such combinations as will be to the best interest of our own people.
Just what the cost of this campaign was will be an interesting question. If Virginia was the only gateway leading to the rear of the Democratic South, which is to be broken up prior to the next presidential campaign, it would be well to begin singing that familiar, but mournful refrain, 'There's a lock on the chicken house door.'