943

[Mar 1914]

The Informer

JAMES A. ROSS.
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR

OFFICES
BUFFALO N. Y. DETROIT MICH.
MINN. CAIRO, ILL.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
AND TORONTO ONT.
TOLEDO, OHIO

191

What Will the President Do for the Colored People?

We are very sorry for poor Brother James Ross, of the Detroit
Informer. He worked hard for Wilson's election and now they
have handed him a lemon.—Wisconsin Weekly Defender, Milwau-
kee, Wis.
-------------------------------
Poor Old Ross.

It's dollars to doughnuts that our old friend Ross, editor of The
Informer, published at Detroit, Mich, Buffalo, N. Y., Toronto, Ont.,
St. Paul, Minn., Montreal and Washington, D. C., did not shout
with joy when he heard President Wilson had nominated Terrell
to succeed himself on the municipal bench of the District of Colum-
bia. How could he?

Terrell is a Republican. Ross is, or says he is, a Democrat, one
of that class which has "fit, bled, and almost died" for his principles.
For twenty years or more, he says he has labored for the success
of his party. When it came into power he applied for the Recorder-
ship of Deeds of the District, and has been applying ever since.
But in the meantime the President, a Democratic President, mind
you, nominates a Republican Negro for an office, but has not given
a Democratic Negro so much as the time of the day. Wouldn't
that make you, dear reader, if you had "fit, bled and almost died"
for twenty long years, as Mr. Ross for the Democratic party, cuss
a blue streak?—the Advocate, Charleston, W. Va.

In our issue of the Informer of April 12, 1913, we said that
Judge Terell should be reappointed. The National Negro Demo-
cratic League made no recommendation of a Colored Democrat to
succeed Judge Terrell. The Editor of the Informer has repeatedly
pleaded that President Wilson be given the fullest opportunity to
show friendship to the race, and that in the meantime judgment be
suspended. We have been informed that the President has concrete
plans for the Negroes' benefit which will be put forward in the
near future, which might be made practically impossible by any
show of impatience or resentment on the part of the Colored People.

And this is the position of THE INFORMER, a paper that gave
full support to PRESIDENT WILSON'S candidacy and election.
While those who are familiar with the men of the race who have
been identified with THE PRESIDENT'S party will concede that
we are among those that have been untiring in our efforts near on
30 years in advocacy of democratic ascendancy. While we have
been among those who have asked for recognition, we are not un-
mindful of the powerful opposition to our or others of the race
being named for political preferment.

On the other hand, we feel confident in saying that few appli-
cants have more powerful influences favoring their being named for
a place. And while this opposition is apparent, every week since
we have advised Negro Democrats to be patient that the PRESI-
DENT would solve the situtation. We are more firmly of the belief
today than of yesterday this will be done. We congratulate Judge
Terrill and predict his confirmation. Editor Gilmor has changed
wonderfully since he said President Wilson would not appoint any
Colored men to important Federal offices. He admits the President
has appointed a Colored Republic. When Editor Gilmor wakes up
he will also see the President appoint some worthy Colored Demo-
crats. And before the year of 1914 shall have passed into eternity
Editor Gilmor shall have joined the large number of Colored news-
paper editors who shall be sounding the praises of the immortal
statesman, Woodrow Wilson. Let us keep the President's friend-
ship; patience and prayers have been the Negroes' only weapon.
We have friends and at the proper time they will come to the front
and give us victory.

83616

[right column]

The Informer all along has said
within a year the Negro press will
be shouting the praise of Woodrow
Wilson. We wonder what the Informer
will be doing. It appears to be the
policy of the president to retain col-
ored Republicans or appoint men
who have held themselves aloof from
the field of activity especially in dem-
cratic circles. Editor Ross must
feel that his work as manager
of the campaign in the west
was unappreciated by the powers that
be in his candidacy for the recorder-
ship seems to get little encourage-
ment from Washington, if what our
exchanges print is true. The office is
to be taken from the race.

83617

THE SENTINEL.

If active Negro
Democrats do not reach the goal it
will be nothing new. They would
not have been recognised under Re-
publican administration. The In-
former will continue to advocate Dem-
ocracy. The office of Recorder is still
in the hands of a member of the race.
The papers that print what the presi-
dent will do are only on the guessing
line. We guess and believe dffierent-
ly.

83628

WILSON'S FIRST YEAR.

That President Wilson's first year
is a record one, goes without saying
in everything, even to his Negro pol-
icy, never before in the history of
the race have they been so discrimi-
nated against in the world, as in the
Negro race of America by the gov-
ernment and its official heads. The
policy of segregation; the refusal to
give office; the wholesale dismissal
from positions earned by civil service,
the policy of demotion. Never before
was one Senator given such power
as is given to one Vardaman of Mis-
sissipi, who would wreck the consti-
tution upon which this government is
founded if allowed. The Negro Dem-
ocrats and other members of the race
who supported the administration is
being paid for in full.

THE RECORDER

[right margin]
152

1t is to be regretted that the Re-
corder does not see some good things
in the one year of President Wilson's
administration. The Recorder being
a Republican paper, can see no good.

83619

James A. Ross, who was chairman
of the Negro Democratie bureau in
Chicago during the Wilson campaign,
and who is the editor of the Informer,
passed through the city last week.
When asked concerning the apparent
tardiness of the President in moving
Negro Democrats to office, stated that
in time Negro Democrats would have
no cause to complain. When asked as
to his candidacy for the recordership
stated that the President has not
named a recorder as yet. If patience
and loyalty count for anything in
politics, Ross should succeed.