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[republicanism] than a duck knows about roosting in a tree. And yet, to many of our people the word "Republican" means heaven. What nonsense!
But we are slowly learning that all our friends are not robed in garments labeled "Republican." There are scores of Democrats who are our friends and we should stand by them.
There used to be a saying by the Republican bosses: "Don't mind the old soldiers and the Negroes: they are all right." But the old soldiers began to lag by the wayside and some of them have "flew the coop.". Now, the Negroes too are leaving the G.O.P.
We as a race have voted the Republican ticket almost solidly, and the white Republicans have reaped the HARVEST.
Inasmuch as the colored voters have been loyal to the Republican party and inasmuch as no Republican president can be elected without us, then is it not in order to ask the Republican bosses: What have they done for us?
Nothing but promises; the thinking Negroes are tired of that old dope.
The party has seen fit to leave us out of their deliberations, except voting time, and it is up to us to look out for ourselves.
The Republican party has repudiated nearly everything for which the party stood forty years ago, except the name; and the simple name "REPUBLICAN" is all that is being held up to the colored voter today.
Unless the Negro changes his politics and votes for men and measures and not the Republican party, he will be counted as naught by all political parties.
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Hughes and Roosevelt
Every colored man knows that the election of Hughes means Roosevelt, and we can't forget Roosevelt very soon. The Brownsville affair is still fresh in the minds of every thinking colored man. Thousands of young men who have become voters since the Brownsville affair will not vote for the Roosevelt-Hughes combine. We also remember Roosevelt at San Juan Hill. In an article in Scribners Magazine he attacked the bravey of the colored soldier. Isn't Roosevelt the man who is to be the dictator in the event of Mr. Hughes' election?
Mr. Hughes was Governor of New York a few years ago, and we are informed that a general house cleaning followed his inaguration so far as colored men were concerned. Then how can we vote for the Roosevelt-Hughes combine? The Republicans cannot say anything truthfully against Mr. Wilson except that they want the office and will do almost anything to get it. Don't be fooled by their pleadings but vote for Wilson who has made good.
[image of a man with arm raised up]
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Address of Hon J. W. Russell
Before the Afro-American Lyceum.
Subject – POLITICAL FREEDOM.
Mr. Chairman, Friends and Citizens:
This is one of the happiest moments of my life to meet so many of my people who are enough interested in their own welfare to leave their homes and come to this hall to hear what I have to say. Your very presence tells me that you all are politically free; you are a thinking people; a man who is not free politically is the worst slave living.
The Republican party enslaved every Negro politically after his emancipation by Lincoln's proclamation. They bound us sould and body and made us serve them, but thank God, we have broken the shackles and today we can boast that we are free men and women (applause), free to vote as our conscience dictates, free to vote for men and measures.
Our people in 1912 gave President Wilson and the Democratic party more that 40 per cent of their votes; that was the first real act that convinced the world that we had gained our freedom
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We must repeat that act this year so as to more clearly convince the Republican party that they no longer own us. It should be remembered that the Democratic party throughout the country gave the colored man in 1914 more nominative and elective representation than the Republican and all other parties combined. In Kansas alone the Democratic party nominated one colored man for Representative, one for Justice of the Peace, one for County Attorney and one for Clerk of a District Court. They elected two of them, Justice S. A. Moore of Weir City, and W. L. Sayers of Graham County. Just think of it – the Democratic party working zealously and electing two Negroes to office, while the Republican party refused to even nominate one anywhere in the state, but they kept up the old howl: "We fought to free you"; they waved the bloody shirt until waving became an eyesore to the thinking colored man and today the Republican spellbinders are afraid to put on the bloody shirt waving stunt because you are intelligent men; you won't stand for that kind of gush; you intend to vote for men and measures and not for Republican hypocrites who pay you on the back just before election day. (Applause)
We have a great and good man in President Woodrow Wilson. His task is no easy one. Since his inauguration his hands have been full but he has handled the many vexing problems to the satisfaction of the masses. He has kept the country out of WAR and he deserves much credit and the hearty support from every true American.
Friendly to Our People.
Whenever a colored man wants a favor, he goes to a DEMOCRAT to get it, knowing that he will be refused by our so-called Republican friends. This fact is admitted on every hand and is [conclusive]
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[conclusive] that the Democratic party will show more friendship to us as we interest ourselves more in their behalf.
In bringing my remarks to a close let me admonish you to continue in the path of political freedom, study the platforms of all political parties, learn all you can about the men on your ballot, then you will be able to vote intelligently. Above all things beware of Republican hypocrisy. Don't allow them to mislead you, but vote like men and your children will be benefited. (Applause.) We are living for our children, therefore be MEN, act like men and generations yet unborn will honor you.
THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED
Wilson's Splendid War Policy. Everybody endorses it except the Republican partisan politicians.
The Farm Loan Act by the Democratic administration makes it possible for a farmer to borrow a few dollars without mortgaging his soul and family to loan sharks.
The Soldiers’ Increase Pension Act by the Democratte administration.
The partial Post Act by the Democratic administration and many other acts of legislation in the people's interests, and yet poor Hughes says that the Wilson administration has done nothing. Mr. Hughes can't fool the people by merely saying that "I am a Republican and I want the office."
[right page] [very dark photograph] PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON. A man of the people and for the people. He has kept the country out of war. He has made good and will be re-elected.
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President Wilson
The election of Woodrow Wilson in 1912 gave this country the first Democratic president since Grover Cleveland in 1892. Mr. Wilson's administration began with many vexing problems confronting him and the American people, also with the eager and watchful eye of the Republican leaders ready to make advantage of any mistake the President might make. Some of the Republican leaders have opposed the president in every way possible, but with all of that, he has won his enemies and numbers of them admit that he has made the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln. Inasmuch as this is true, then why not re-elect him to a second term which he so meritoriously deserves? There are a few colored Republican newspapers who are running plate matter at so much per column or so much per issue attacking the President, claiming that he failed to make certain appointments that our people formerly held; in answer to that we wish to say that the President appointed a colored man, Judge Terrell, as one of the judges of the City Court of Washington, D.C. He appointed a colored man Minister to Liberia, a colorad [colored] man collector of customs, and many other appointments. Colored me may not
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hold all of the same places formerly held by our people, but they are holding those equally as good if not better, and we are holding MORE OF THEM than ever before.
Colored Soldiers at Carrizal.
The speedy and firm action of President Wilson in demanding that the Carranza government release the 23 colored soldiers taken prisoners should satisfy every thinking Negro that the President has no prejudice and that he is friendly to our people. He made the order demanding their release in double quick time, and you know the rest – they were turned loose. Please bear in mind that he could have delayed the matter and pursued a dilatory course, but he took the matter in his own hands and said most emphatically to Mr. Carranze that you MUST RELEASE THEM by a given time.
In reply to this demand Mr. Carranza promptly obeyed. Mr Wilson knew that these were colored soldiers; he could have taken some other course in the matter, but he acted promptly and wisely. His action convinces us that he is all right and that he is a great and good man. Every thinking Negro should praise and honor such a courageous man, regardless of what the Republican politicians say to the contrary.
His War Policy.
Almost everybody praises the war policy of
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President Wilson. Sorry to say, but it is nevertheless true, that there are a few partisan Republican politicians who attempt to critisize the President along these lines, but those critics are of the rankest partisans whose, purpose is to get office, elective or or appointive, with the chief aim in view-PILFER and PLUNDER. This class of Republican politicians crave for war; this class of Republican politicians don't belong to the class who would have to fight in case of war, but they belong to the I. W. W. aristocracy. They won't have to fight; they want war that their greed might be better satisfied, but President Wilson has kept the country out of war, retained its honor and all sane persons praise him because he has acted so wisely.
It is encouraging to note the progress our people are making along political lines. We hear on every hand the bold declaration that "I am going to vote for Wilson," "He has kept us out of war," "He has served but one term and is entitled to reelection," "He is the president of all of the people; let's help reelect him." It is more than encouraging and in November we hope to see a larger number voting for Mr. Wilson than there were in 1912. He is a good and great man.
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HON. DUDLEY DOOLITTLE Congressman 4th Kansas District. He is the wide awake Congressman who has been renominated without opposition.
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