POLITICAL NOTES: Gratitude

“De President says quiet-like, ‘Sylvester, I’ll investigate and you’ll hear from me.’ ” Sylvester Harris did hear. The Columbus, Miss. Negro who thought he was telephoning President Roosevelt at the White House to save his mortgaged farm got prompt aid from the New Orleans Land Bank (TIME, March 12). Last week Sylvester Harris seized a chance to show his gratitude.

For six years Chicago’s Black Belt has sent Republican Oscar De Priest to be the only Negro in the U. S. House of Representatives. In this year’s Democratic primaries a white man, was, as usual, nominated to oppose him. The white man died. Democratic bosses shrewdly substituted a Negro lawyer, one Arthur W. Mitchell. Up from Mississippi to stump for Demo-crat Mitchell last week went grateful Sylvester Harris.

Stumping for Democratic candidates in Detroit last week was Negro Jack Johnson, onetime (1908-15) world’s heavyweight champion. Cried he to the Universal Negro Improvement Association: “Franklin D. Roosevelt is champion now and wearing the belt. Abraham Lincoln was a good fighter in his prime, but he can’t help us now. Always string along with the champion.”