=
.
- -.-T, .-----' •
presented to Pres. Coolidge a
mammoth petition containing
against
govern-.
Guardian that segregation was
forced upon public attention as
tion to the White House to pro
test against departmental segre
gation wnich was at that time
taking on def inite shape and
direction. Because the White
House spokesman lost his teifa
per the item was carried by the
condemned. Few were found
with the temerity to justify the
policy of the government in plac
ing a stigma upon any element
of American citizenship. The
American mind is always fair
when forced to a frank facing of
a moral issue.
Thpse who manipulate the
gw^nment will, by devious
<^tSys, circumvent the principles
of democracy when applied to
the brother in black, or rather
the brother in colors, but none
>n’s
__ prin
ciple, but only the incessant in
sistence of those debased will
compel the translation of those
principles into practice.
Herein Mr. Trotter has been
{£ persistent and consistent race
advocate. Despite his faults of
disposition and temperament
(who has not his share) Monroe
Trotter from first to last has
stood upright and down straight
for every right without reserve
and without delay. I have differ
ed with him and still differ in
modus operandi, but his devo
tion, his courage and persistency
demand an unlimited admira
tion. Because I am of a different
type of temperament in no wise
lessens the candor of my judg
ment and the sincerity of my
esteem. How the awarders of
the Spingarn medal could year
after year overlook the claims
of this intrepid agitator for
human rights, staggers the un
derstanding, if it does not sur
pass comprehension. In the
absence of previous formal rec
ognition I suggest the staging
of a nation-wide testimonial to
this unrivaled champion of equal
rigbts/Waiving aside personal
idiosyncrasies and pecularities
of temperament, Mr. Trotter has
laid every Negro in America
under a heavy debt of gratitude.
It was none but he that kept
alive the fires of agitation when
others have let them die down
in the smouldering embers of
Compromise and debasing peace.
But I must not in this release
eulogize Mr. Trotter. I am mere
ly describing him. The perform
ance on last Friday was a most
dignified and decorous procedure.
Mr. Trotter has a genius for the
picturesque and the spectacular.
He seeks to dramatize every sig
nificant event in American his
tory as a background for por
traymg me wrongs ana aemana
ing the rights of American Ne
gro citizens. One can scarcely
visit Boston without running in
to some celebration of some dis
tinguished American or patriot
ic Kftmvmmg nntiftr the SUSDiceS
lian, with the
of keeping
of the nation was to be made
newly conscious of die soul-stir
ring incidents and events which
gave rise to the birth of the na
tion. The rights of man formed
the enacting principle of the
Declaration of Independence. Go
to, said Mr- Trotter, why not
ike advantage of entering into
Aiicef
the waters? Le?vt
the occasion by presenting to the
President of the United States
a memorial demanding the
application of “liberty, fra
ternity, equality in the inner
working of the government
itself. Let twenty-five thousand
Negroes tnrough their signa
tures, %eaking for 12 millions
who woftld have as willingly
signed, ksx the President -who
embodies in his tradition! the
American ideals to abolish once
for all by executive order the
undemocratic and un-American
and unethical practice of racial
segregation within the depart
ments M the federal govern
ment. The thought was con
ceived in Trotter's mind and ex
ecuted through instrumental
ities under nis guidance.
As the committee stood in the
august presence of the chief
magistrate of the greatest na
tion on the earth, I am free to
confess that I for one felt appre.
hensive that Mr. Trotter as
spokesman might let his unre
strained ardor for his caufe get
the upper hand of caution and
propriety and inveigle the Pres
ident into a^faux pas, as he had
done oh a previous similar occa
- diiciplined byf '
ening effect of age, he kept
wholly within the gan©ng of pro
priety in the presidential
presence. He presented the case
of the twelve millions of Ameri
can Negroes to the President of
the United States in a clear
cut, unyielding and dignified
manner, such as would have
done credit to the aptest disciple
of Chesterfield. Every Negro in
the land can feel proud of Trot
ter at tnat moment,
It is against the eanong of
journalistic propriety to quote
directly any utterance which
falls from the presidential lips.
According to the prevalent mode
one may attribute the outgiving
to the mouthpiece of the ficti
tious “spokesman of the White
House."
The spirit and purpose of the
petition were fully accepted in
principle This was a tremendous
advance over the interview of
ten years ago, when the country
was well led to believe that the
White House upheld segregation
in principle as ell as in prac
tice. The committee was assured
much had already been done to
■correct the evils complained of,
and that much more would be
done until the invidious distinc
tion would disappear altogether.
There was also the distinct cau
tion that the qustion was a diffi
cult and troublesome one, and
that it could not be resolved all
at once. Admiration was ex
pressed at the patience with
which the race endured discrim
ination and wrongs whose es
sential injustice was fully recog
nized and appreciated.
The committee withdrew- The
petition with twenty-five thous
and signatures remained with
the President. The cause of the
race had been presented as forc
ibly as we were able to do. The
response was received with ap
preciation and understanding.
The qualified assurances were
as much as we had any reason
.. M ...
continue in the de
But the issue has
put squarely up to the
head of authority.
1*1 ■
* | m gprjfl| »«s
the classified service then than
now- The germs were present,
but were not allowed to ajpptf
into full growth. The present
odious manifestation* are but
part of uie degeneracy of the
time so iar as race reding is
concerned. Let us not make
the mistake that segregation is
due to tne evil machination of
any political party or section of
the country. The evil spirit is
wider ana deeper than partisan
alignment or lines §f latitude.
Nor may we expect any single
effort, however significant, to
bring complete relief. AH forces
and influences within the race
must co-operate towards the
end whicn all devoutly desire to
accomplish.
I cannot, hbwever, close thfe re
lease without a word of caution.
This specific protest is against
discrimination within the gov
ernment service. For several
years, I have been trying to
3tress upon the attention of the
race the importance of combat
ting th§ dangepoug practice of
discrimination in the civil
service commission through
whch applicants enter the clas
sified service. By death, .resig
nation and retirement colored
clerks are herein rapidly
nated from the government
no fresh recruits. They are
shut out at the threshold. Un
less we insist in keeping open
the port ot entry, in a few years
there wi.. be left no colored
clerks, and the whole question
of segregation will be settled by
elimination, and our last state
will be worst than the first,
—The Equal Rights League,
racial organization, whose work
is thus commended by Prof.
Miller, invites the race to organ
ize branch leagues everywhere
for greater strength in the
race’s behalf, notice to Secretary
Trotter at 9 Cornhill, Boston,
Mass., being the only require
ment. * Form Leagues or
Equal Rights Committees, for
the main Sesqui stroke at Phil
adelphia itself at League Con
vention, Sept. 21. Send dele
gates.)
BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH, NORFOLK, VA.
Our congregation is having
joint services with the John
Wesley M. E. congregation,
whose house of worship is be
ing razed to give place to a new
one.
Rev. M. G. Hoskins, retired,
who has been our substitute
since our minister’s death, is
taking a much needed and rich
ly deserved vacation.
Rev. F. D. Nance, B. D., class
of ’<26, Johnson C. Smith Uni
versity, was the welcome occu
pant of our pulpit at both ser
vices on the first Sunday in
July
Miss Jessie Dixon, of Char
lotte, who is attending the
Hampton Summer School, was
among our esteemed visitors re -
cently.
Little Miss Carolyn Dungee
returned as Girl Reserve dele
gate to the recent Kings Moun
tain Conference, and reported a
pleasant and helpful experience
there and in Charlotte.
The Negro is entitled to make,
under God, the best of himself
of which he is capable, and no
prejudice, contempt Or injustice
on the part of the white man
should hinder or handicap him.
He should have every opportun
ity and every assistance froi
his stronger brothc
his salvation
ng June and the situation
Negroes coincided with
neral condition. Here and
fhmtixations were record
Mew outstanding events
reported- The incidents
elew are the principal re
t deviations during the
ofJunw
uta—.This city provide
glaring injustice re
fuse of the signing of
Mayor Sims granting
m wage of S100 Per
Coi
tioi
all “white” skilled
i-skilled city employees,
colored male employees of
have petitioned the
b on Churgh Oeop©ra
Atlanta to intercede in
for a hither wage.
*, fearing the loss of
.te or other forms of
stfon, have used fictitious
addresses.
lis—A leather goods
. employed 125 girls
r new department. they
provided by the Urban
„ that city. Then
ss also this amusing state
ii “With the coming of the
whites doing street
~cing rapidly replaced
Paul—The American Ra
Company has promised
|ioy forty colored men in
-foundry to be opened in
it—The steady inflow
commonlabor is dis
_ ‘already "unsettled
Conditions of Detroit. Prophe
sies as to its effect upon Negro
labor are frequently made. The
Negro population is 81,000. In
L920 it was 41,000.
Raleigh—A movement of la
bor toward new development
sections of the State is noted
and there is a report of a tem
porary movement to Washing
ton, D. C., of bricklayers on ac
count of large building pro
grams there*
Tensing—The new Olds Ho
tel is employing a small number
of doormen, bus boys, porters
and cleaners. Efforts are being
made to extend this employ
ment to bell boys and waiters,
but local opposition makes this
improbaute at present.
San Antonio, Texas—The
first Negro orchestra to play it
a white hostelry in San Anto
nio, Texas, is filling a summer
engagement at" St. Anthony ho
tel. Alphonse Trent’s orchestra
has the contract.
Jefferson City, Mo-—The first
street contract to be awarded a
Negro has been granted Charles
Marberry to grade a city block.
He employs all colored help- His
contract is $5,000.
Minneapolis—Negroesv were
re-employed by the Minneapolis
Street Railway Company. At
the instance of the Urban
League of that city the com
pany was prevailed upon to dis
regard complaints of inefficien
cy and permit another trial.
Maurice Rothchild’s Store hired
a maid and a watchman. They
were the first Negroes to be
employed there.
Milwaukee—Negro musicians
were employed in resorts out
from this city where previously
white orchestras were employed.
They are union men.
Summitry , :
Cities in which business
houses employed Negroes in
June for the first time: Lan
sing,
City,
Sap Antonio, Jefferson
Missouri, Minneapolis,
St- Louis.
Significant industrial prob
lems: Students from southern
schools stranded throughout
the North, The city of Louisville
l the transportation of a
oi these boys back tc
leigh less hostility is reported
against Negro bricklayers by
white union bricklayers. In New
York motion picture operators
recently permitted to join the
union, reported greatly in
creased wages. One colored op
erator, formerly employed at
$45.00 a week for sixty-six
hours work, now receives $63.02
a week for thirty-five hours’
work.
FROM ANDREW ROBERTSON
INSTITUTE, OF THE IM
MANUEL MISSION,
AIKEN, S.C. ;
After a successful school year
we closed with the following
program May 17th, 18th,
19th and 21st.
Monday night the fourth and
fifth grades, under Miss Bernice
Jones had a play entitled, "Cin
derella's Sisters," which was
well rendered; also the tiny tots
gave "Tom Thumb’s Circus,”
under Miss Florine Nix, that
delighted the audience.
Tuesday night Mrs. Mary
Price presented a Chinese op
eretta, "The Feast of the Little
Lanterns,” using the second and
third grades, assisted by the
school. This was a delight to
the eye as well as to the ear.
Your humble servant presided
at the piano each night.
Wednesday night was the
Grammar School play, "How
Many Marys?” which kept the
audience guessing. Mrs. Geor
gie Smith and Mrs. Emma Con
nor directed this play which in
troduced the A. R. Institute
school song with good effect.
Friday night was Junior High
School night when the declama
tions were rendered, solos and
duetts sung, and we listened to
the annual address by Dr. C. J.
Baker on the subject, ‘tCarry
On.” Those present will long re
member tms gifted orator as he
showed tne need to “Carry On”
in the Master’s work, especially
here.
Dr. W -L. Metz was with us
last year and left an indelible
impression upon his hearers and
gave great encouragement.
Prizes were given the follow
ing: Mary Price, for the great
est number of different Bible
verses recited during the year;
to Edward Jones for unfailing
courtesy and willingness to
oblige; to Nancy Calhoun,. 9th
grade, tor the highest general
average and all round scholar
ship.
The choral class delighted the
audience each night With well
rendered Songs. [P
, Dr. C. C. Johnson gave some
encouraging remarks in hie
characteristic, happy way, af
ter whicn the Principal, Rev.
L. E. Ginn, spoke of the good
work done during the past year,
ask$d the continued co-opera
tion of the public and assured
them that with God's help we
would “Carry On.” '
On the seeond Sunday in
June we uad' our Children’s
Day and sent our ottering to tne
Board. Mrs- Nancy Price is the
efficient superintendent and
[Little Miss Martinez Jones is
pianist.
On Sunday morning and af
ternoon, July 11th, we were
favored with special sermons by
Dr. D. W. Boatner, of Mont
gomery, Alabama. This was
introductory to his lecture on
“Prohibition” Tuesday night;
which attracted the thinking
people oi Aiken. With Prof
Will Jackson playing the cornet,
Master Clarence Hammond the
violin, and Mrs. Jones the piano,
while some of the best vocal tal
ent of Ancen sang, the music,
too, was inspiring.
Among many good thoughts
advanced Dr. Boatner advocated
Miller spoke from
“Arise ye, and dej
is not your rest.'*
The speaker said
forget God not in
adversity, but in
prosperity. The ir
rael was *;ipn
placing the materi
spiritual.
One of the peculi
es of the human r
be the tendency c
have oeen freed frc
of the Negro race to the
s&r-wsr
of them as a
than their tre
The speaker
ture of ufe w
is an actor, si
plays his role
be bettet
of us? ,
was: The men who fails is;not
always the weakling., Often it
is the strong that faltfirih the
midst of his role
Nothing in the world can
rive perfect satisfaction to men
-at least nothing material,
rhere remaineth a rest for men:'
ind the trials and uncertainties;
>f this life are the hounds of
leaven to drive us horiie. Not '
liow well we played our role,
lor how ill, but the motive that. '
irged us, will be the final test;!
The Missionary Society met
srith Miss Mamie Jordan,
Gaston St., last Thursday.' The
ladies decided to pOtjnew carpet '
in the chiirch in keeping with'
the new pews. The church au-;
ditorium has been renovated5
and the
he choir loft arid pulpit
space enlarged-. The interior is
just beautiful. v *: f
The Society enjoyed its annu
al picnic last Monday. Many
spent the day with this pOpul&r
organization. ' * ; l
Dr. and Mrs. W. L. McNair 1
returned to the city last Satur
day after spending a month vis
iting in the Stated of Pennsylva
nia and New York- 'y!’
Mrs. Daniels and grandson,
relatives of Mrs. McNair, are
visiting in the Home of Dr; and
Mrs. McNair.
The Sunday school was large
ly attended Sunday, many vis- 1
itors being present. The ban
ner for . finance remains with
Earnest Workers, i
Mrs. Sarah Preyar has gone
on a two-months’ vacation. She'
will be missed in the yaurious ke
tivities of the church kn ’
day sehooi, yet her friend
her a pleasant vacation.’
Miss Clara‘ Wade, Hrilo'5 hkS;i
been visiting" her sister, Mi# -
Andrew ^ridg^ lft ,thid
for her hdifie in Askeboto? ’ ‘
Kev. ij. Tfl. Henderson, , of’
Charleston, §j €.,' Who' has beepj
visiting relatives at-his fonder,
home, Danville,' Yil,'’ paashd
through the city on his #»y
hornet stopping. With his former
classmate and friend’, Rev. -H.
C- Miller, to deliver a sermon
last Sunday night, which wis
very interesting; ' W
Mrs. Gertrude Booker ahd
Mrs. Willett Howard1 have been
iii the city for sortie time vis
ting their father arid mother,
Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Jones; On
Beach Street Theyexpebttd
return to their hoirte in NeW
York about the tor of %ugh&
•• pS fr.