NUMBER ELEVEN.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. fTHURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1921
— -———---—-jt?
VOLUME FORTY-FIVE
Hayti Discussed
By New Yorker.
NEW YORK TRIBUNE REFUTED.
Its People Not So Barbarous and
Backward as Depicted.
Jean (?. Lamothe.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial on Santo Do
mingo and Hayti in a recent issue
contained the following remarKS. ^
First: “The llaytians for more
than a century have been possessed
of a seemingly uncontrollable desire
to post nas.e back to barbarism.
First they slaughtered the whites
and then the half-bloods.”
Second: “They have reduced to a
waste a region which the French
had made the richest area of the
West Indies.”
Third: “Yet when we went into
Hayti with good reason, about the
same time we jumped into Santo Do
mingo with no reason at all.”
A nice apology to your South
American critics! Permit me, how
ever, to say in the interest of truth
Truth—ihe motto of your newspa
per—that your first statement is un
justified. I challenge any white
American to show' any barbarous
characteristic that can not be sbowm
to exist in like proportion in the
United States of America.
White men that had sbowm no
mercy for their black slaves met their
fate. Those that showed mercy re
ceived * <fKrrcy--Ws an exam-pie, Mrs:
Bayou de Libehtas, w'ho emigrated
to the United States, shipped by
Toussaint l’Ouverture.
At no time were half-bloods slaugh
tered. although history reveals that
General Rochajnbeau, of the French i
army, offered 500 louis (10,000 ,
francs) to General Dessalines, our |
first President, to do so. There was a
civil war between certain elements
on account of economic interests. *
As to your second assertion, sta
tistics show' that exports in 1789 un
der French rule amounted to 226,
046,000 pounds of various produce.
In l894-’96, during the war, they
fell to 9.172,401 pounds. In 1903-’04,
under Haytian rule, 258,964,240
pounds were exported; in 1915, the
year of the occupation, over 327,
000,000 pounds. Do these figures
show retrogression? If we have not j
produced more and better it is be- |
cause the social forces at work in ,
other parts of the world have been j
a barrier to our further progress; to
name one—prejudice of color in the
United States.
Your third remark requires the
opinion of legally trained minds. I
'tan, however, safely say that the
best minds in this country and
abroad do not agree on the subject.
The occupation can be justified only
as a precautionary measure during
the war, in the evtn of a German vic
tory, for the protection of the Pana
ma Canal.
Americans are unfortunately very
little informed about affairs concern
ing both Santo Domingo and Hayti.
The Tribune’s editorial 'betrays ig
norance or a disregard for history.
Let me remind you that it took six
ty-one years for the United States to
■ recognize the Haytian Republic. The
slave oligarchy prevented it during
those years when help would have
been most welcomed- To profess
such a desire after HO years should
arouse suspicion.
Let the truth prevail, Mr. Editor,
and a great many problems in the
world could be solved today, and
amon them the Haytian problem.
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE
ISSUES ANNUAL REPORT_
SPENDS $185,000 ON PROGRAM
OF PRAUI11 AL HELP.
The Annual Report of the Nation
al Urban League just issued is a
brief review of its .work and a sum
mary of the results of the activities
of its locals. The most important
work—that of securing community
betterment, inter-racial and racial
I co-operation and a healthier attitude
toward living cannot be recorded
The following general statements
indicate some of the methods used to
oring these about: •
Twenty thousand persons were giv
en employment; one hundred and
thirty-live industries were persuaded
^to give Negro labor a trial.;- including
last year’s placements more than
( fifty personal worker^ have Ifeen
placed in industrial plants to increase
the efficiency of Negro labor. Two
hundred and twrenty-one noon day
. meetings were held in this connec
tion; four cities conducted classes
for training foremen, personnel work
ers and for the workmen themselves;
ten cities conducted night classes
for illiterates.
Seven men were given intensive
training and w^ere placed as League
Executives. Eleven community
houses were conducted in congested
districts in large cities; thirty
Leagues in as many cities carried
out programs for better communities
through bettering conditions among
Negroes in Health, Housing, Recre
ation, Work, Edgcatiop and Morals;
two hundred wErte and colored social
and civic agencies co-operated in
this program.
Special investigations on 'housing,
recreation, school attendance, con
dition of children’s teeth, various
industrial conditions, extent and con
tions of employment have been made
in twelve cities. Twenty-two of the
.local Leagues are conducting definite
educational programs including
health, thrift, training classess for
industrial development, recreation
and general culture.
The two ‘‘fellowrs” trained last
year—like those trained in pre
vious years, are employed in the
field of social work; five “fellows”
are now in training Schools of Social
work in Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston
and New York and four high school
and college scholarships for deserv
ing students are being maintained
by a local organization.
Several thousand women and chil
dren wrere given vacations and out- ‘
ings last summer in Cleveland, De
troit, Philadelphia, New York, Newr
ark, At'anta and Memphis by the
local organizations.
The cost of this work to the Na
tional and local organizations for the
year 1920 was $185,000.
NORTH CAROLINA BOARD
OF HEALTH.
Bureau of Vital Statistics.
To the Colored People of North Car
olina:
The Bureau of Vital Statistics
wants to congratulate the colored
people of North Carolina on their
compliance with the Vital Statistics
Law during 1920, namely the re
porting of births and deaths. The Di
rector of this Bureau has always felt
that the colored birth rate in North
Carolina was as high, or higher, than
the white rate, but up until the year
of 192*0, the figures showed a lower
rate than the white rate. There were
during 1920 25,568 colored births.
The rates for 1920 are as follows:
White.32.8
Colored 32.9
This shows clearly to my mind
that the colored people of North Car
olina are beginning to realize as nev
er before the importance of this val
uable law to their children and their
children’s children and are bending
Continued to page 8.
Bishops Should
Supply Vacancies.
MADE BY l)EATH.—OTHER
MEASURES DISCUSSED.
By Prof. J. C. Cunningham.
It has been ’preached time and
again since tne ending of the World
War that this isf.it “new world ” But
I have yet to see anything new about
for in the , old world there
were lynchingslof human souls;
there were segregations and dis
ci iminations against the colored cit
izens; there were denials of a just
trial before the -courts; there were
disfranchisementfof would-be colored
voters. And, unless the writer got
left over in the old world, I see all
of these things in the so-called new
world.
Being knocked about and kicked
about, the colored brother finds him
self in the attitude of the Pilgrim
traveler. The Pilgrim traveler, being
all alone, was traveling through a
desert. In front’ of him he heard a
roaring lion. On his right there was a
vicious bear; on his left was a coil
of hissing adders, and behind was
a pack of how-ling wolves. And, thus
surrounded, he fell on his knees and
looked heavenward, and exclaimed,
‘‘O that I had wings like a dove!
for then would f|§jy away and be at
rest! ”
And so jt is W®h the colored man
—=yea, the colol^K/ citizens of this
he can to prove himself a good citi
zen and has never failed to answer,
“Here am I,” w-henever called upon
to defend the honor of this glorious
old country; he is being knocked
about and kicked about; he is dis
criminated against; he is “jirn
crowed,” and is being forced t v pay
a first class fare on the railroad and
is given a tnird or fourth class, ac
commodation for himself and fam
ily. Yet you tell me this is a new
w-orld. Try as he may to be a law
abiding citizen the colored brother,
like the Pilgrim traveler, is sur
rounded! In front of him are the
law-less how-ling mobs; on his right is
discrimination; on his left is the de
nial of a just trial before the courts;
and behnd him is the dreadful, burn
ing stake! So, being thus surround
ed he looks up and cries to Almighty
God: “O that I had wings like a
dove! for then would I fly away and
be at rest!”.
One by one the noted men and
women are falling out of the ranks
of the great A. M- E. Zion Church.
Soon after three of our Bishops
crossed the swelling tide, our much
loved J. C. Dancy 'bade us .good-bye,
and joined them there where parting
is no more. And ere the shouting
and rejoicing over Mr. Dancy had
ceased, they looked and perhaps
cried, “Lo, yonder is Sister Maria
Harris! She has just entered
through the pearly gates!” Yes, one
by one our great Church leaders
are falling. And who shall fill their
places? Mr. Dancy’s place has been
filled by Prof. S. G. Atkins, a very
capable and worthy man. While it
may be thought a little premature
to speak of the other vacancies, yet
it is certainly no harm to speak
briefly of 'them; for truly, ‘‘One
soweth and another reapeth.”
The great work of building up the
Church must go on. And, when It is
remembered that death has no par
ticular respect for any individual, it
is to be regretted that the many
General Conferences ■ of years gone
by have neglected to enact laws so
that vacancies in the ranks of the
Bishops can be filled ere the sitting
of the approximating General Con
ference. Now, a Vice President of the
United States . is elected_(not for
any good service he gives the coun
try)—so that if there should be a
(Continued to page 5.)
CENTENARY OF HARRIET
TUBMAN.
MODERN AMAZON.
By Rev. Edward Mason, President
Board of Directors,
Some hour between March 1st and
June jst, according to latest au
thentic records, one hundred years
ago in tbe state of Maryland, Harriet
TubmaD, known as “The Moses of her
people,” first saw the light. The first
Home Coming Anniversay under the
auspices of the Boai’d of Directors
last fall at Auburn, New York, was
financially successful, resulting in
over $800 for the Harriet Tubman
Home. Presiding Elder Ellison; Rev.
E. A. U. Brooks, Secretary; Rev.
Dr. W. McHenry intes, chairman
of the executive committee; Rev. C.
A. Smith, chaplain; pastors of the
conference, Rev. G. C. Carter, effici
ent committee of ladies and friends
made the occasion memorable. It is
the purpose of the Board of Directors
to commemorate the Centenary of
the birth throughout the Western
New York Conference.
It is also earnestly desired by the
Board of Directors to secure the co
operation tfrtKf^NMrthern conferenc
es, e.sp^iAnHjjJlf^w England, New
York, and Baltmore,
Pittsburgn^W^^mo, within whose
borders she labored many years.
Churches of other denominations
are also expected to participate, for
she has many surviving friends fa
miliar with her marvelou activities
■ We-nidt
city during the Genesee Annual con
ference, 1878, the eloquent Bishop
J. J. Clinton, presiding. It was a
Jpeautiful September Sunday morning,
,and the monarch of day was shin
ing in Oriental splendor. The Love
feast had reached its meridian of en
thusiasm, and the thrilling rapturous
melodies were wafted through the
Open door and windows. Many pass
ers-by paused and listened with rap
turous delight. In a shrill, but dis
tinct voice, she gave testimony to
God’s goodness and long suffering.
Soon she was shouting and others
also.
Here was a modern Priscilla, a
prophetess, telling out of the
fulness of her heart God’s revelations
to her in the secret of his presence.
A many chorded harp was broadly
sympathetic nature, sensitive to ev
ery touch of her race’s sorest tra- j
vail. Her wit, humor, and originali
ty, were striking and compelling ’
characteristics.
She grew and was educated in tne
schoo] of adversity, and graduated
from the university of opportunity
Her eventful life extended over the
most fiery and momentous period of
our national existence. The crack of
the slave-holder’s lash, the baying
of blood-hounds, resounded in her
ears, and troubled her spirit by day,
and terrorized her dreams by night.
With thousands of others, she doubt
less found solace in stealing away
to Jesus. From the rice swamps, the
^ane brakes, and the tobacco plan
;ations, their prayers united with
lers and ascendea to the God of the
iniverse. Jacob-like, she wrestled
vith the Almighty and prevailed..
Her perseverance, endurance, and
aith. were as those of the prophets
if old. Before her remarkable activ
ties ended, over 400 of her brothers
ind sisters were guided by her from
he house of bondage, to the land of
iberty.. Over $40,000 was offered for
ier, dead or alive, by several states.
Irave fearless, possessing all-con
uering faith, it was but natural that
he should be a potent factor in the
?ar for the Union. As a nurse and
py she was found at the front amid
he rattle of musketry, and the roar
f artillery. No soldier, ’mid the din
nd smoke of battle ever marched
nth firmer step, or greater pride, to
he tap of drium or the sound of mar
ial music. By her courage and ad
Continued to page 8. _
Inter-Racial Co
Operation Growing.
By YVm. Anthony Aery.
Hampton, Va.—Inter-racial co-op
eration is steadily growing through
out the nation. In the South the in
ter-raciai movement is receiving the
hearty support of the Church and the
press, as well as the educational,
business and community leaders.
The Commission on Inter-racial
Co-operation is the outgrowth of a
conference which was held in Atlan
ta early in 1919 to consider some of
the grave problems of race relation
ships that had been brought to the
surface on account of the World
War. It is now doing organized
work in all the Southern States* 3
The Commission is composed of
white and colored men, including'
Dr. R. R. Moton, Dr. John Hope,
Bishop R. E. Jones, Bishop G- W,
Clinton, Dr Isaac Fisher, and Dr.
John M. Gandy.. The officers include
John J. E^ga’J., chairman; R. H.
King, director, and Will Alexander,
associate director. The headquarters
of the Commission are in the Cand
ler Building, Atlanta, Ga.
The {publications of the Commis
sion include ‘‘Law and Order in
Tennessee,” by Edwin Mims; "An
Appeal to the Christian People of
,the South,” adopted by the recent
Church Leaders’ Conference at Blue
Ridge, N. C.j ‘‘The Nash vile Plan of
Inter-racial
-BoetF-R***
compiled by Edwin Mims. These
publications do not attempt “to lay
down any hard and fast plan of ac
tion for any state or community or
to generalize and dogmatize-”
These publications, written in a
Christian spirit, ‘express the better
public opinion of the South. They re
port concrete achievements of South
ern communities and common
wealths. Prof. Edwin Mims, of Van
derbilt University is one of a number
of Southern white leaders who has
ably presented “the facts of religious,
economic, and social progress which
have been the results of co-opera
tive effort and of real constructive
statesmanship.
The Commission on Inter-racial
Co-operation has wisely and quietly
kept at work, organizing in some
six hundred11 counties inter-racial
committees that carry the burden
of adjusting race relations before
the breaking point is reached and of
helping to develop movements wmcn
will bring white and colored people
into friendly relations. “These inter
racial committees are functioning
in specific matters, such as justice
before the law, adequate educational
facilities, justice in public convey
ances, economic justice, and the
handling of any acute . situation
which arises b.etween the races." .
THE ATLANTA PLAN.
The Y. M. C. A. study, in referring
to the Atlanta Plan, says: “The Gen
eral committees hold weekly meet
ing separately and joint meetings
one a month. Any matters requiring
immediate ac(|on are handled by
joint meetings of the appropriate
sub-committees. By means of these
committees rumors of race clashes
have been investigated and quieted.
A junior high school has been se
cured for Negro pupils. A tract of
land has been bought and presented
to the city, to be developed into a
park for Negroes. The chief of po
lice is co-operating heartily in bet
tering conditions in certain sections
rhe officials of the Terminal Station
ire making every effort to provide
nore comfortable traveling facilities
!or Negroes- The Board of Education
las materially increased the salaries
if all colored teachers.”
A DEVELOPING PROGRAM.
The Commission has attempted to
study what Negroes want; to agreeN
in a program behind which it could
Continued to page 8._