Black Jack Democrat

Alarmed, peppery little Senator Carter Glass of Virginia sent a telegram to Manhattan. Reassuring, lively little Chairman John J. Raskob of the Democracy telegraphed back: "The story of Jack Johnson being authorized to speak on behalf of the Democratic National Committee is cheap Republican propaganda. Johnson has no connection with this committee in any capacity."

Mr. Johnson, onetime (1908-15) world's champion heavyweight pugilist, is working locally for the Democrats. Last December he was made a Democratic Committeeman in the Second Ward of Chicago. The theory was that he, one of the most famed Negroes of all time, could do much toward organizing the Chicago Black Belt the way Harlem had been organized by the New York Democrats.

In January, Committeeman Johnson reported to TIME:

"We ... are glad to state that we are meeting with wonderful success. Members are coming in daily, glad for a chance to receive their long delayed political justice.

"Knowing as they do the fair policy of Tammany Hall, they are throwing their loyal support to our organization, far beyond our most sanguine expectations.

"I shall in the future as in the past do my full duty to my country and my race."

Political speculators wondered how Black Jack Democrat's "sanguine expectations" might have been affected by Little John Democrat's somewhat insulting denial of any connection between them.