Volume 17 , Issue 43

NW Okie's Journey

It is that time of year again for cold, icy weather, especially in Oklahoma and Texas. AND ... another 4.7 earthquake WSW of Medford, Oklahoma was felt in Alva and up into Kansas early this morning between 2a.m. and 3a.m., giving the icy, crystal tree limbs a good shaking, freeing of their heavy loads from this weekends ice storms.

Meanwhile, back in southwest Colorado we are getting light snows. Without the humidity and wind of Oklahoma and Texas, our 34F temps are bearable, and do not chill you through to the bones like Oklahoma and Texas.

While it snows, we have been doing some research online for the two factions of the Republican party: the "Lily Whites" and the "Black & Tans," which you can read more about in this weeks OkieLegacy Ezine/Tabloid.

Lily-Whites Movement

The lily-white movement was an anti-civil-rights movement within the Republican Party in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. "The lily white movement is one of the darkest and under-examined eras of U.S. Republicanism." — Michael K. Faultroy,

The movement was a response to the political and socio-economic gains made by African-Americans following the Civil War and the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which eliminated slavery. Black leaders gained increasing influence in the party by organizing blacks as an important voting bloc. Conservative white groups attempted to eliminate this influence and recover white voters who had defected to the Democratic Party.

The term "lily-white" movement is generally attributed to Texas Republican leader Norris Wright Cuney who used the term in an 1888 Republican convention to describe efforts by white conservatives to oust blacks from positions of Texas party leadership and incite riots to divide the party.

The term came to be used nationally to describe this ongoing movement as it further developed in the early 20th century. Localized movements began immediately after the war but by the beginning of the 20th century the effort had become national.

The Lily Whites movement was largely credited with driving blacks out of the Republican party during the early 20th century, setting the stage for their eventual support of the Democrats.

The Black and Tans

Starting in about 1890, Southern Republicans were divided into two factions: the "lily-whites" and the "black and tans."

The "black and tans" aimed to include African-American voters within the party. As of 1913 included most Republican federal office holders. They often took a prominent part in the national conventions of the Republican party.

One reason for the continuance of the "black and tans" was its effect in holding the African-American Republican vote in northern states.

The "black and tans" predominated in counties with a large black population, the whites in these counties being usually Democrats. The "lily whites" were mostly found in the counties where fewer blacks lived.

1909 - Lily Whites of Mississippi

Looking for more information concerning the "Lily Whites," we find this little mention in The Muskogee County, dated 17 September 1909, Friday, page 4, out of Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Found on Newspapers.com

The "lily Whites" of Mississippi, headed by a certain demagogue knowns as "Chief Moseley," were trying to shut out all Negro enumerators in that state. Think of it! In Mississippi, where Negroes in 1909 out numbered the white about three to one, and yet these tender feet "Lily Whites" would steal from them what is justly theirs. The Negroes of that state should call their hands. Come to the front and demand a square deal.

Good Night! Good Luck!
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