NEGRO NOMINEES TO “RUN”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 347, 7 May 1928, Page 9

NEGRO NOMINEES TO “RUN”

AMERICAN PRESIDENCY EARLY CONVENTION CALLED (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association.) WASHINGTON, Saturday. The representatives of various negro organisations have started a movement to enter an independent combination “white and negro” ticket for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency at the approaching elections. They held a mass meeting and endorsed a white candidate, “General” Jacob Coxey, a one-time leader of an army of unemployed, for the Presidential nomination, and Dr. Simon Drew, a negro minister, for the VicePresidential nomination. The negroes have also called a national convention to be held at Washington on June 4. Mr. J. T. Heflin, Democrat member of the Senate for Alabama, has made a characteristic attack on Mr. Smith. He said: He has not been nominated yet. The people are determined not to have Tammany. It is not a case of religion with me, but I object to being told by the Pope that I must practice his religion. If Mr. Smith is nominated I will take a steamer to Europe.

“General” C. J. Coxey was some years ago the head of the “Army of Christ,” which marched on Washington. His idea was that the unemployed should march from all parts of the country to Washington and refuse to leave until Congress had issued a huge loan for relief works. In some districts the army was hospitably received, provided by the inhabitants with food and lodging, and sent on by train free of expense. The Coxey procession to Washington consisted of only four hundred persons. Banners were borne with the inscription, "Peace on earth and goodwill to man, but death to interest on bonds.” The police barred the way to the east front of the Capitol, but Coxey jumped the wall. Later he and some of his leaders were arrested.