he
MessengerFIFTEEN CENTS A COPY . 00.000,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,00 0,000,0
A Voice From The Dead
X
Bert Williams
An Interpretation
ODHOHOHODODO - O ODCHOCHCHOCHDHOODHO THE MESSENGER [April, 1922 .
Royal Theatre
15th & SOUTH STS . PHILADELPHIA
WHEN IN PHILADELPHIA The Most Handsome Colored Photoplay House in Go to the America . Olympia
Philadelphia Stands in a class by itself in . Prominent for the high class Photoplays shown here and the high grado music fur. Organ Theatre by our $ 30,000 Moller . nished
CO-OPERATION FOR For information on organistas cooperative spelaties apply to CO -OPERATIVE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 2 Weet 13th Street New York the finest, most gripping THE MESSENGER Published Monthly by the MESSENGER PUBLISHING CO ., Inc , York . Main Office : 2305 Seventh Avenue New Telephone , Morningside 1996 Largest Motion Picture 16e. per Copy $1.50 per Year 446 TOAD ) U. S. U. S. 20. Outoldo House of its kind in $2 Outside , . No. 4. VOL . IV . APRIL 1922 South Philadelphia . CO N T E N TS I. EDITORIALS 385 388 2. EcoxOMICS AND POLITICS STS . 389 BROAD & BAINBRIDGE 3 . EDUCATION AND LITERATURE 394 4 . Who's Who 394 5. OPEN FORUM , July , , at the Entered as Second Class Mail 27 1919 , of March 3, 1879 . Post Office at New York , N.Y. under Act
Editors : OWEN A. PHILIP RANDOLPH CHANDLER Contributing editor : GEORGE FRAZIER MILLER W. A. DOMINGO 385 April , 1922. ) THE MESSENGER Editorials
ANTI LYNCHING LEGISLATION AND LABOR RUSSIAN CHILDREN STARVING .
. , Lynching labor , , THE Dyer Anti- Bill should interest WHILE the farmers in the West use corn for fuel , Out of the four thousand or more persons who millions of innocent helpless Russian children , country , be . have been lynched in this it would difficult starve With the warehouses in America literally , indeed , to name a capitalist . The fury of the mob is bursting open with food stuffs , the babies aged and excep spent , . the , on the worker black and white It's infirm in the Volga region of Russia are dying for , by tion that a capitalist like Leo Frank is victimized . It bread . The American capitalists led Herbert , , , is invariably the workers like Frank Little of Butte Hoover are doing all within their power to cripple Montana . Over a thousand white workers have the work of relief agencies trying to carry succor to lynched country thoroughly been ! in this since 1883. So the stricken Russian people . They yell Communism , of has the virus of capitalist propaganda seeped through to drown the piteous and bitter cries famished they lynch the souls of the workers that each other children . Think of government officials trying to play and think nothing of it . upon the petty prejudices of a people at the expense
of millions of starving babies ! This is proof beyond This thing must stop , and labor must stop . It s
the question of a doubt of the crying need of labor a blow at the very heart of working class solidarity . , solidarity . With the workers awakened and aroused In the coming workers ' conventions in May , June and the Russian children can be saved . Let all workers July , lynching should be roundly and unequivocably , rally with their dollars to the Russian relief agencies condemned , the Dyer Anti - Lynching Bill endorsed ,
especially to the Friends of Soviet Russia . Let every resolutions adopted and sent to the Senate and the , , ! to at one of us decide save least our child President , urging them to pass this measure . This will do much toward drawing together , in a bond of brotherhood , the black and white workers . Let the
EMMA GOLDMAN ON BOLSHEVISM . American Federation of Labor , the Industrial Work ers of the World and the independent labor organiza WE read with interest and no surprise Emma Gold tions show their class -conscious colors by dealing on a man's attack Soviet Russia . To one conver mortal blow to greatest lynching
America's , crime - . , sant with Miss Goldman's philosophy anarchism he The Negro workers should urge the necessity of this knows that it was the most natural thing for her to do . measure upon their unions . . to is No kind of government admissible the Anarchist ; if no Thus Russia had had Tcheka if her school sys
; running tem were perfect the railroads and factories , , of all
if possible faultlessly in short she had the best STYGIAN TEXAS ! , , governments Emma Goldman would according to her , , it . ,
, creed have damned Hence we need not take her of THE Houston Post March 31st reminds us that . is .
is ravings against seriously the on verge of Soviet Russia She old Governor the calling a special , ,
is peeved longs to to of Besides she and return session the legislature “ in order that some means
America . might be whereby found the teachers would be paid . , , It is of stated course that the situation in the rural districts is that the teachers have been paid only one THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JEWISH month's salary year . " this DAILY FORWARD by is a oil . Texas rich and cotton state It is far the
, is the largest daily newspaper in
largest in state the Union . Yet these gentlemen who THIS Jewish the , , . it is a world Moreover Socialist organ with a grow so chivalrous over the protection of white wom of
nearly a . , circulation half million Twenty - five years to anhood allow all white women teach the year on , , ago amidst the most discouraging beginnings it struck one month's pay . This means inefficient teachers since , out in the name of the workers defending them in no efficient persons will stay under such conditions .
their every struggle . It is a veritable Gibraltar to the , It further means poorly equipped children since the , , Jewish workers valiantly fighting off with signal suc pupils cannot rise far above their teachers , , cess the savage assaults of frenzied capitalists . But
Is it any wonder that the has such ; Ku Klux Klan not alone does it fight for the Jewish workers it fights , a , in of all of !
Is the cause fertile field the soil Texas it a surprise workers white and black Jew and , is
king of ? that the hook worm the the rural districts Gentile native and foreign . It has also given hun of we of of de see cynic dreds to Once more the wisdom the who thousands dollars the movements of the , clared : “ If I owned , Hell and . Texas I'd rent out it upward Texas workers We bid onward and forward . and live in ! " Hell Long live the Forward ! 386 THE MESSENGER [ April , 1922 .
THE SOUTH'S TRIUMPH ! Civil War may again be made necessary to save the Union from the menace of the old South triumphant . THE South has triumphed ! The spirit of Dixie its holds the nation in grip . The slave states have RUSSIA AT GENOA ,
lost nothing since the Civil War . Rather have they . gained at every hand AT last the Genoa Economic Conference was called , ,
If a goes he and as
Soviet an Northener South returns with the Russia was invited equal . Poin of
point on . Southern view the Negro question If a caré fumed and furiously ; to Barthou shrieked but no , he ,
goes . Southerner North innoculates the wily , Northern avail The little Welshman as usual went over
point of . top ers with the Southern view the with his bag of schemes and makeshifts for up a patching nigh- The author is ending nearly nine thousand miles of well shattered Europe . Whatever
might be He has said of Lloyd George's travel over Northern and Western States . superficial opportun , ism it be he must admitted is possessed that an spent from three to twenty - two days in such cities as with faculty sensing
, , , , , inimitable of for things . Chicago Indianapolis St. Louis Denver Los Angeles the trend ; an , , , San Francisco Oakland Sacramento California , Ta With unstable ministry his Irish Free State gam , , , facing days coma Seattle and Spokane Washington St. Paul and ble fortuitous under the relentless ham ;
mering of , De rearing Minneapolis Minnesota . In practically all these cities Valera and India aloft an ugly , head of Lloyd George the Ku Klux Klan has openly advertised organizations revolt saw in Genoa another ,
prop , and offices papers for his crumbling cabinet on the one hand and about which the write daily . , , ,
collapsing Europe on .
willy - the other Thus nilly he What are the signs of such influences ? Echoes of to it . went We view the whole thing doubtfully ; , for separate schools could be heard throughout Illinois of , , the crux Europe's , , , , Ohio , Indiana Colorado , California Oregon Wash illness debts reparations the , ,
Treaty is Versailles camouflaged , fearing ington and Minnesota . evaded lest
France and , the United States stir uneasily . However In none of these places can Negroes get service , the Conference is not uninteresting since Russia and
freely in . white restaurants Practically all the theatres Germany , for the first time since the war , are invited
Negroes , or either refuse orchestra seats if they sell to gather green around the to board talk things over . ,
anywhere they - . By
them seats are Jim Crowed that , so So far good . , , we mean through a sort of premeditated coincidence
, harmony Of course was not expected to reign any , when one gets inside the theatre he finds all the Ne longer than the Russian and French delegations faced
groes have bought tickets together . So they could be .
each , other enough it And sure didn't .
, Barthou the , , with their friends doncha know ? Portland Oregon of leader the French delegation ,
proceeded to
at , object the instance of the Mayor has recently passed reso
to everything about the group ,
seeking to against Negroes Russian re lutions whites and intermingling at duce them to virtual in nonentities the Conference . , . ( By way dances the the Ku Klux Klan has a strong , , But fortunately he reckoned without knowing organization in Portland . ) the of , mettle his opponents . With singular brilliancy the
Throughout parts of the state of California the Ku astute Chicherin countered and blocked the sulking is
operating as as Klux Klan freely in . Texas The . Frenchman But these little tilts over procedure and Kluxers are going into churches and taking out white
formalities to were mere trifles the thunder - bolt which ministers , are tarring and feathering people right
white at was shot Rapollo in the signing of a treaty between in .
the is Golden Gate This almost a daily Germany occurrence and Russia . To the smug . hypocritical , , , in . " Taft Fresno and Bakersfield California of Allies this
All was of the most unkindest cut all . " Two , , places , of Angeles these too are north Los where the sovereign nations actually had had the call to crercise
spirit of to be manouvering Texas seems into positio.1 . sovereign their rights and sign treaties , and without , The of kidnappers boldness the of the unmitigated ef the holy consent the . you it Allies Can beat ? " It's ,
frontery of the tar and feather fraternity the wis peak those Bolsheviki ; they simply won't behave . But
arrogance of - you
going to able the the do ? , Klansmen while what " Ku Klux are thunders the old bankrupt ,
slothfully , whole nation sleeps with an indescribable petulant European capitalist diplomats . Shades of , , , , apathy an
unspeakable lethargy an , unimaginable in Korniloff Wrangel Yudenich Kolchak and Seminoff ! - ! ertia shatter belief Despite , , blockade counter revolutions- cvil war and ,
famine the ' is first republic . on . The South ever alert It is actively propagating workers carries
This German - as of prejudice through Russian is . race such screens the Birth alliance capital it appar
ently is . hy ; economic
a as But Nation such lecturers the late unlamented where one's treasure is his , is , . , it is Ben K. heart also unlikely Tillman Pat Harrison James Thus not an Vardaman that alliance of , Tom ; swords will Hoke Smith Watson and Thomas Dixon follow this economic pact to safeguard the . is through ; latter Southern provacateur professors through This most natural and proper . The Allies , in Souhtern societies universities like Columbia and adopt this policy , why shouldn't Russia and Germany ?
through ; in by similar societies the various cities With Russia's resource and man power- joined with , ,
Germany's , - W papers like Kalamity's Harpoon Vardaman's cekly technical brain power ail Europe and , , ; through America too to pay “ will have Tlie Pitchfork books like The Leopard them respect . , , , " "
Spots " "
Rising of . " , The Clansman The Tide Color However whatever comes out of the passing show let the workers guard with vigilance in the What the South lost the Civil War on the military utmost the against it richly Russian Revolution field has on the wiles and treachery of recovered the propaganda field . , Lloyd Georges ,
regained its Dixie has almost lost Paradise . Unless the the Barthous Japanese and American
plotters ! ,
stops its - nation ante bellum encroachments a great April, 1922. ] THE MESSENGER 387
HOLLEY . EMILE TREVILLE right and a duty to fight to improve conditions wher he is . a right to ever He has fight to improve not YOUNG Holley is the first Negro since Reconstruc only any he be his home but other home may able to tion to be nominated for a midshipman at Annap , help . If a Vegro is in Georgia and the hill billies olis . Congressman Martin C. Ansorge chose him . , by instigated silk - gloved " respectable citizens " decide During Negroes were named to be the 70's three , to him
lynch he is a
simply " ” nigger whether he comes cadets at the Naval Academy . History has it that , from Georgia or Georgetown British Guiana . They they snubbed and slurred and made to feel so were , care nothing whether he is from Jamaica or Florida they quit Already that elected the . , miserable to school , Trinidad or Tennessee St. Kitts or Mississippi Barba runiors run to the effect that his fellow -cadets will not , or does Alabama All Negroes wherever they are , are receive him cordially , but with sneers and jests , and , born suffer from common proscriptions , wanton nar
they dog his every step . , innuendos Such , will cow , rowing of opportunities segregation discrimination ardly threats and base tactics should serve only to , Jim Crow cars laws against inter marriage- . Race and steel him to the ordeal . We are opposed to war and - color determine the classification not the place of
all its machinery . opposed to preju We are also race birth .
dice in all its mutiformity . To us the weal of the It to be needs said that at times Mr. Garvey unfor navy country would be eminently served were the and tunately resorts to a similar type of unfair tactics . , a army scrapped . They are burden and discarded calling , Witness his Cyril Briggs a whie man and his . not a benefit We would also throw overboard the charging the National Advancement Association with
tottering system of capitalism whose life rests upon hiring persons to dismantle the machinery on his ships navalism and militarism . But till then every manifes of
: Garvey —both which statements Mr knew to be tation of race hatred weakens and destroys the soli absolutely false . , , , , darity of the workers and hence it must be fought Our position is that Mr. Garvey has done much , . fought bitterly to and the death good , . but also much harm His opposition to social go
Holley through Academy at is the equality . must Naval abominable His African Empire dream is es a Annapolis - government which was . institution obsolete " and Negro " undesirable His first policy is , by is in is of
not theory in tablished and maintained the taxes the Ameri defensible unsound and practice . , - or , can people white and black ten million Negroes His steamship line is not only impracticable but would
why . no must exact from the Government the reason on Negro have effect the problem if successfully
, Negro established because the problem is not one of
GARVEY UNFAIRLY ATTACKED . Transportation . , In spite of all this Garvey has done much good work
Garvey or WE hold no brief for Marcus the Uni in putting into many Negroes a backbone where for versal Negro Improvement Association . No
years they have had only a wishbone . He has stimu publication in America has given such a painstaking . lated race pride He has instilled a feeling into
points of anaylsis of the good points and the bad Gar Negroes
they as
good as that are anybody else . Ho ar , . vey and his movement as the MESSENGER The - has in - Negro criticized the hat hand leadership . He by , , , ticle in the September 1921 MESSENGER A. Philip ,
inspired an has interest in Negro traditions Negro , Randolph is easily the masterpiece on the Garvey , , history Negro literature Negro art and culture . He movement . has stressed the international aspect of the Negro , oppose tactics such as the Nevertheless we unfair problem .
upon Garvey's nativity by , Roscoe Conk If recent attacks we American Negroes are to attack Garveyism
ling in Chicago . . Simmons the Defender The merits do it like the MESSENGER editors . Be fair Don't
and demerits of Garveyism are not lessened or in appeal to nationality—that patriotism which Dr. John creased because he is a . is it any West Indian " Nor of son called the last refuge a scoundrel . ” The West : “ If argument to say Garvey like this among sensible doesn't Indians are the foremost fighters in all cities , , go he to country let him back Jamaica where came for racial rights . They are assiduous workers , vigor ,
. ” It be just as logical to say If from would Ran , ous fighters diligent and able students . , let dolph segregation in him doesn't like New York Let Roscoe Conkling Simmons meet Garvey on go back to Florida where he came from . If Du Bois . It field G. Ingersoll fair was Robert who once said : , the in let doesn't like Ku Klux Klan New York him “ I I like black friends better than do white enemies . " go back to Atlanta University . So we like West Indian friends better than we do
If Kelly Miller doesn't like the Jim Crow Car of
native Negro enemies . We have heard too much talk go , to Maryland let Carolina where him back South - anti . of West Indian intolerance We take no stock in
he came from . If Robert Bagnall doesn't like Jim .
argument do this Rather we regard it as " a little , Crowing in Loew's Alhambra Theatre in New York barrack behind impotency which mental hides when it go let him back to Virginia . If Owen doesn't like the
cannot answer logic . ” , go reluctant service in Child's Restaurant let him back to . North Carolina If Pickens doesn't like segregated KLANSMEN MUST SURRENDER JOBS . go , schools in Kansas or St. Louis let him back to Ala , , B. A. of bama . If James Weldon Johnson is not satisfied with MAYOR Steinhagen Beaumont Texas has , go a everything in let to thrown the North and West him back bombshell into the Klansmen's camp .
Florida . every of He has ordered Klan member the city em by . ( argument if it be dignified ployees to be All such can that dismissed The report reads : " The A a , , , man has , name ) is petty cheap vapid effete . Mayor in a formal statement denounces the Klan and 388 THE MESSENGER ( April , 1922 .
against city declared it the best interests of the to have group . That is why we have no patience with the its , . ” , Klansmen in employ sophims of rabid southern white or the craven sterile
apologies of fawning me - to - boss Negro leaders who If there is anything which the Klansmen like better ,
try to equality is it is . city jobs it is than soft more soft city jobs ! Certainly maintain that social not what
We are of the opinion that Colonel Young was too dip the last place in the world the tar and feather frater , to “ ” as . is in rock nity would expect to be tampered with Texas lomatic too inclined not the boat the time
serving politician , say to get he would what was en If this prescription of No Jobs to Klansmen is rigidly , , to a titled and what more indepedent self asserting- , enforced it may very likely prove the complete un
aggressive character would have received . The tactless doing of these midnight marauders . The Ku Klug cct is oftimes the proper act . While silence may some Knuts are not so " utty " that they cannot appreciate be of dignity it times the mark may also be the mark ! a soft job of a . fool We are unalterably opposed to too much
What may or will follow the wholesome example diplomacy . We feel that the Negro has lost more ? of the Beaumont executive by he ,
gained it . ,
than has Kicking is at least a sign of . life And it's to every well kick time we are en
joined to . So as we to COLONEL CHAS . YOUNG . not kick far are able recall the , of
Young it us life Colonel impresses as having lacked
Young was by official COLONEL Charles murdered the kicking quality . He was content to “ let well , . ,
prejudice hardships hardships enough ” as race His were the alone the saying goes . This we adjudge , . an as a of a Negro colonel not American colonel His life bad and senseless policy and hope young Negroes
will not emulate it . and fate are a splendid example of the vicious opera
of of inequal the custom , , tion hateful American social There are doubtless other qualities of the Colonel's ity , :
as applied to Negro . inequality
that have . the Social will merit determination for instance It was , , ,
invariably in political military religious reflect itself only an iron will that could carry him through West . educational and economic inferiority to the weaker Point
Economics and Politics
Amnesty for Class - war Prisoners
Annesty in no
be peace THERE will America until Attorney General to define the legal status of the 114 is . It is of all - . declared the last the war coun wartime prisoners Mr. Daugherty in his letter wrote in
to do of justice to people . tries this meed the The part : " following survey from the New York Call will show Most of the prisoners still undergoing sentence
groundless specious of how and the reasons the Gov have not applied for clemency and until they do the , , ,
- political ernment are for holding class war and department is not of course informed as to what : prisoners in jail extenuating circumstances or further light they might be to
subject of Evidence that false assertions concerning political able throw on the their conviction .
" It may be prisoners signature of generally have been issued over the At stated that practically all the in torney General Harry M. Daugherty is presented prisoners now undergoing confinement for violation of by
an given depart official statement out the research war - time statutes belong to the Industrial Workers of of of , , the the of ment Federal Council Churches Christ generally I. the World termed the W. W. or to
in . Working of America It is revealed that grave charges made the Class Union Oklahoma . by Mr. Daugherty against the politicals , and especially “ There were three special trials of the I. W. W. , , , , against of in
Chicago City . the Industrial Workers the World were held Kansas Kan and Sacramento . . in
any , fact 97 without foundation at Chicago There were convicted approximately 40 at , 30
approximately at . His assertions made in an attempt to justify the Sacramento and Kansas City of so - political all to these prisoners failure of the Harding administration release All called were indicted by
a Jury a jury of wartime prisoners in line with the policy of every Grand and convicted before twelve ,
directly at the other government are variance with men after hearing all the evidence submitted at their . in of Appeals in trial action two United States Courts rela The cases most instances were appealed to a of
Appeals in to tion to the large majority of the defendants in ques Circut Court and some instances the . tion United States Supreme Court . a The Federal Church Council's statement follows “ The evidence before the department shows that by , , a of
impelled prisoners in
investigation question or co painstaking letter written some the their conspira- , by
destroyed $
to Chicago Daugherty 50,000,000 of Mr. the Church Federation's tors worth property .
on friendship . " In committee international That commit Oklahoma an armed organization was armed for , ,
tee considering a on amnesty resolution had asked the the purpose of resisting the draft and seizing the reins April , 1922. ) THE MESSENGER 359 , of government and by concerted action murdered offi couraged and incited sabotage and members of which cials of the government . are therefore responsible for whatever destruction
may be . " I cannot go further in details concerning the class there
" Chicago I. ) of prisoners to which you refer. As an illustration of The and Wichita cases of the W. W.
the attitude of mind of the prisoners from Oklahoma , were carried to Courts of Appeals . In both instances
Appeals no which is , I think , an accurate reflection of the minds of the Courts ruled that cases had been made ,
against on many other 1. W. W. prisoners , the following is a the defendants industrial counts but sus on tained the convictions the war counts . These pris to portion of the oath taken by the prisoners which , , serving I are now sentences refer : oners therefore for viola , of Espionage is tion the Act which io longer opera " YOU WILL SWEAR BEFORE GOD AND THESE WITNESSES THAT YOU WILL HOLD tive .
IN SUPREME CO.VTEMPT ALL THE INSTI “ Regarding the vath quoted in the Attorney Gen ' as an of of TUTIONS OF CAPITALISI , ECCLESIASTICAL eral's letter illustration the attitude mind , , ,
of prisoners is I an , the from Oklahoma which think AND SECULAR , INCLUDING ITS LAWS ITS
of of many , the . ' COURTS , ITS RELIGIONS AND ITS FLAGS accurate reflection minds other I.IV.W. , your prisoners ' it was lcarned at the Department of Justice be " I trust that the foregoing will sufficient for
that this is not the oath of the I. IV.W. organisation
, any regarding purposes and if you have information as the sentence seems to indicate . It was said to have ,
be glad any particular prisoner the department will by been an oath taken members of the Working Class . " give it it to receive and will consideration of Union Oklahoma .
The nature of Mr. Daughierty's reply led the Chi
" This organization was created prior to our entrance on cago to withhold decision the resolution
Federation by into the war a small group of tenant farmers in , until further information could be obtained and the Oklahoma for the purpose of improving their econo to letter wa s turned over the Federal Church Council mic status . The department stated that the organi of investigation . A representative the council's for , is of so zation now out existence that there is no way up research department took the matter in detail with of checking up this statement concerning the oath .
the Attorney General's office . Digests of the cases , , However it is slight importance here since the large
and information on specific charges against the indi to no majority of the prisoners had relation the Work
prisoner asked , the report vidual were for council's ing Class Union . , states but were refused .
" On Christmas Day the President commuted the , Continuing the Federal Church Council says : sentences of 24 of the political prisoners . This action , “ As to the statement that $ 50,000,000 worth of prop has not disposed of the matter as the correspondence
during . erty was destroyed in California 1917 and 1918 here cited concerning the 114 remaining political . " to is it was learned that this the amount claimed prisoners clearly shows
have been the aggregate property destruction in that Persons who late analysed the Daugherty letter ,
pointed the phraselogy state during those years and is not apportioned among have out curious with which
the Attorney on the alleged oath . the prisoners in question . General comments
Il'hen lie erpresses the belief that the purported oath “ No evidence was presented in support of the claim
is " an accurate reflection of the minds of many other It destroyed . that this amount of property has been , 1. II . to " he was explained that this aggregate was attributed W. prisoners has gotten a long way's from , - as of -— " co these prisoners and their co conspirators- con the facts inasmuch none the Oklahoma defend , I. of . WV I. they of ants were members the W. W. spirators ” because were members the W. " -Reprinted from " New York Call department en an organization which the asserted
Education and Literature , . ! A St. , Paul Minnesota we glimpsed it VOICE FROM THE DEAD As we re
marked : " That's the first Age we've seen leaving By CHANDLER OWEN since , ! "
you us ” New York Ion't tell we said to the sub ; , WE have been travelling for two and half months scriber " why you read the Age ? " To which the sub of we have gone nearly eight thousand miles . Part scriber immediately replied : " There's nothing in it ex surveying ascertaining cept of our business has been the and the editorials James Weldon Johnson ! ” We We . is
Negro : of newstands where literature sold asserted whole heartedly That was all the stronger
have frequently seen the Chicago Defender , the Negro reason why we wondered at not being able to find it , , , World the Crisis the MESSENGER the California over the long trip before , because we had repeatedly
to get it Eagle and the Chicago Whip . But without exag tried for James Weldon Johnson's contribu
geration , we went nearly six thousand miles before we tions . at a It Age . saw one New York was delivered home It was well that we got just this issue since it had ,
, leaving
just an to in . in Spokane Washington before our for editorial referring Chandler Owen the West 390 THE MESSENGER [ April , 1922 .
Mr. Owen is physically , intellectually and socially ored readers - it being reasonably certain that this every Age alize . He is awake to new issue. The is publication has more white readers than all the other
dead ; walking around , no doubt, to save the under Negro publications in America conibined
taker's expenses . ( 2 ) It has reached a very high literary standard
all ages Throughout death has been the mortal by as shown the comments upon the back of this issue . , , , In to it
is surprising . nothing addition that enemy to life There therefore evidence has been for three years , , ,
of Age in that the editor the New York should hate the Princeton Harvard Radcliffe two copies in the , of . , editor the New York MESSENGER Library of Congress the 42nd Street and 5th Avenue ,
Library . it is The greater part oi the Age editorial is cheap petty New York Public Besides being read by ,
-- so we it leading and medacious palably false that pass over several white professors of English eco , , , as not being entitled to a decorous answer . One part nomics sociology political science and history along , , be : " of the however reads He cannot accused editorial with some of the most distinguished publicists in the , , or in England . of any constructive accomplishment business United States France and Germany in of In a 27 page Negro publications politics . " review the the go , Let us see something about this . Let us right United States the Democratic United States Depart , . of journalism into the field and test this ment of Justice in a report to the Unied States Sen , ,
, : “ Monthly , army ate said The MESSENGER the Magazine First in 1919. after his release from the with , by
published in is long , New York odds the most able to of in a period six months from June November
Negro publications . " of all , the , together with his chief associate A. Philip Randolph .... , , “ report as of Maga same we recall stated that the New he drove up the circulation the MESSENGER The
Age among of copies per . York was the better behaved the Ne - zine to twenty six thousand month The
gro publications . " terminology not be , , This will un , following increases took place : June 10,000 July by by , ; , of of ; , 15.000 ; August 18,000 September 21,000 October derstood most our white readers nor some , , .
. Negro 26,000 In Angeles The southern Negroes 23.000 : November Los alone our northern readers , ; 5,000 not miss the point though . Better behaved is the one agent . Jothar Nishida reached the mark will , ,
a " good nigger " is ; Southern term for that one who of W. H. Tibbs Chicago 3.000 Charles H. Thomas
against in , will take orders from the white bosses ; , the of Pittsburg 2,500 H. of Philadelphia W. Scarville
of Negro . , ; ; , terests the 1,500 William S. Nelson of Washington D. C. 3,500 ; ( 3 ) , Raymer's MESSENGFR publication Louis Silver of Detroit 800 Old Book The was the first
among Negroes to recognize Negro problem as , , ; ; the Store of Seattle 500 Perry Murphy of Seattle 400 ; , fundamentally a . Pursuant thereto
L. problem Tutt's Barber Shop of Seattle 500 Thomas Dab labor
Randolph of , and assembled most the , ; , Mr. Mr. Owen Worthy of . ney of Richinond Va 500 Frank Atlanta in a of
; progressive , ;
, leaders confer E. K. New Georgia 400 Clifford Williams of Boston 500 labor York all upon of Negroes , ; ence the into unions Thumm of Pittsburg 300 Charles Mooney's news admission
equal . This , upon absolutely terms with the whites stand at 135th Street and Lenox Avenue New York
, , policy widely accepted many ; agents 50 has been and such unions City : 545 and numerous who took 100 to refer the editors of the upon ques , MESSENGER all . 150 and 200 In short the MESSENGER was the first
general in affecting . ( The tions the race The confidence among Negroes . 15 cent publication put out be Despite its them can seen from the following list of persons Crisis was then selling at ten cents . ) , organizations assisted or it and who have endorsed higher price . despite the fact was denied second
praised the MESSENGER . ( Most of the following have class mail privileges nearly three years — and was the
assisted . ) oniy Negro publication in the United States denied , , District Council No. of New York City Brotherhood of Painters it
of handicaps all F. of ! such privileges -despite these Decorators and Paper Hangers of America . Affiliated with A. L.
and National Building Trades Council . ) to be we reached ( what believe an accurate statement The General Board of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of . in the largest circulation of any Negro publication the America
The General Board of the International Ladies ' Garment Workers
, except Chicago United States the Defender and the of America . Affiliated with the A. F. of L. , Negro The Marine Transport Workers Philadelphia Local No. 8 . New York Crisis . We do not know the World of , , Micrometer Lodge Machinists No. 1 A. M. W. A. ,
an analytical Board circulation but we have statement that General United Cloth Hat and Cap Makers of North
America . an ) If
. any publication its circulation was 20,000 has International Journeymen Bakers ' and Confectioners ' Union of .
, America honest - to goodness- circulation which is greater of , International Federation of Workers in Restaurant Hotel and ,
Catering Industry . which it will present genuine proof like unto ours a , , I. L. ' Local 25 Ladies ' Waist Makers Union G. W. in be
of its exception the will made , full statement General Board International Fur Workers ' Union A. F. of L.
Lumber Workers ' Industrial Union of Canada . , its . MESSENGER following submission of proof New York Joint Board of A. C. W. of A. , New York Joint Board of Cloak Skirt and Reefer Makers ' Union . . of So much for the business accomplishment Messrs New York Joint Board of Fur Workers ' Union . . Owen and Randolph What about their social and New York Joint Board of United Cloth Hat and Car Makers . . Fancy Leather Goods Workers ' Union education achievement ? If we were writing this for White Goods Workers ' Union .
, Millinery ' . the editor of the Age it would be like " casting pearls Ladies Straw Hat Union , , New York Joint Board Vest Makers ' Union A. C. W. of A. , , Age before swine ” for when dealing with the editor Cleaners ' and Dyers ' Unton . , New York Cutters ' Union A. C. W. of A.
keep in presumption the reader must mind one whose , Chicago Joint Board A. C. W. of A. ' of . by Children's Dress Makers Union New York is only exceeded his ignorance . A. ' A. C. of Joint Board of Pants Makers W. , , . Nevertheless for the benefit of our readers take The Forward Association .
The Workmen's Circle Convention . note of the followng . The Rand School of Social Science . , , The New York Printers ' Pressmen's Union Local No. 51 A.F. of L. ( 1 ) The MESSENGER has been able to carry basic
The New York Jewelry Workers ' Union of A. F. of L. , ' .
of Local No. 261 Painters Union of New York and neur information to thousands white and col 391 April , 1922. ] THE MESSENGER
Butcher Workers ' Union .
on the side of progress in politics that year as they Co -operative League of America , 6 of Philadelphia , Pa . United Cloth Hat and Car Makers ' No. have been the years after . They have resisted all ef Seattle International Workers ' Defense. be
it eminently
-- though United Hebrew Trades . forts at corruption even would Call . The New York to profitable yield to for them such groups as the The New York Jewish Daily Forward .
group of The Advance of A. C. W. of A. Mitchell Slush Fund 1917 ! The Justice of I. L. G. W.
Another thing constructive in politics which has to Of this list special mention should be made of the be accorded Chandler Owen and his associates . They New Board of the Amalgamated Clothing York Joint have raised New York from the liquorterian leader Workers of America , the International Ladies ' Gar ship which the Age has supported for years . When ' New York Joint Board of Cloak ment Workers , we began our work in New York most of the political Makers and the Workmen's Circle which gave $ 500 , , , leaders could be found as a rule in Mattheny's Saloon each to the VIESSENGER work last year. Also should , 135th Street and 7th Avenue New York , drinking the Marine Transport Workers of Phila be recorded liquor ,
smoking cigars . and No campaign except a delphia which contributed $ 1,200 last year and pur ,
campaign . beer and sandwich was made Not so any
copies . chased for its members 3,600 The New York longer . Last year we forced the Democrats and Re , Jewish Daily Forward donated $ 450 the New York publicans to attempt some kind of educational cam , of District Painters ' Council $ 300 worth subscriptions
paign for about six or eight weeks prior to the elec , 50 responded $ of and a number unions which with tion - all over the Negro section of New York . The S. ( P. .
. MESSENGER $ 25 respectively $ 100 and all And five of these men represent just what they -. ) has no large individual contributors , , preach - George Frazier Miller W. A. Domingo Wil While the New York Age was around looking for , liam N. Colson A. Philip Randolph and Chandler by Negro - in - ,
- jobs political pie two - four for hat hand Owen ! Not one of them is a liquorterian or tobacco , leaders A. Philip Randolph and Chandler Owen were ! of worm Not one them tries to look important with of securing jobs and increases in wages for thousands
a cigar in his mouth and make this practice do duty paid through Negro girls and men - jobs which unioni
for thought . , to
$ 30 per
all way zation of Negroes the from week , In brief Messrs . Randolph and Owen have brought
per . $ 60 week
education into Negro politics in contradistinction to the
A. Philip Randolph ( 4 )
Chandler Owen and with , ignoramuses like the Honorable Fred Moore who of , in the last six months have addressed many of the , course brought what they had . . largest labor councils and unions in the United States
They it raised from the bar room where all questions
to good They have done as much create racial rela by were formerly settled most of the breed supported
on a basis of equality as any men in the tions two by
the Age .
United States .
They have created also a large following all over , The Age , through the Moton influence has stood , , , this country of independent high - souled intelligent , . of a harmony but on basis caste The white for race , courageous Negro men and women , young and old . Negro a
be The man was to master and the slave , rich and poor who are tired of the political and in , lamb and lion were to lie down together but the lamb tellectualless pabulum formerly fed them by the New
belly . be in was to the lion's The MESSENGER editors
York Age editor . This following is rapidly on the in .
of harmony do not accept this kind racial crease and bids fair within a few years to retire such
( 5 ) Randolph and Owen have also con Messrs political and journalistic fossils as the Age editor to
siderable constructive accomplishment in politics . that oblivion and obscurity from which they ought of
a group like In assembling writers and thinkers ! never to emerge ,
A. George W. Domingo Frazier Miller and William Finally , we can not close without reciting the follow ,
N. they got together only array is an Colson not the ablest ing story . There erroneous belief that asafe , in
on publication of any Negro the world but So an
scholars . tida destroys or keeps away disease old South
they competed on all fours with the very best white ern father put on his little bag . And there is hardly
publications . anything which smells more offensive than asafetida . , , , as if to to Again they secured men of definite political con But add worse worse the old man went out
if there is victions who were not vacillating for a little slush was caught in the rain and got wet . And ,
. anything it is
of reactionary from year to year like some the editors which smells worse than asafetida hot , , a For instance in 1917 when the Fusionists had two asafetida . Later on the old man came in the house , or million dollar chest slush fund their candidate was to get dry . He sat down before the fireplace with the ,
. Republican a . John Purroy Mitchel Democrat The children assembled around And if there is anything of . The editor the , nominee was William M. Bennett which smells worse than wet asafetida it is wet asafe ,
Republi , of Age a supporter was not Mr. Bennett the tida hot . Consequently when the fumes of this hot , , . year began to can he permeate all at candidate that Instead went the way of wet asafetida the room once , , ,
. a great of the slush with Ir Mitchell friend Ben the old man's little girl rose rushed to her mother cry , ,
jamin of it . " Tillman South Carolina the Democratic ing : " Mamma papa's dead and don't know
it is the Age its . Mayor who kept the Birth of the Nation upon New So with New York and editor He is it . , dead and system of society York screens who spoke at the Confederate Flag Cele doesn't know The , , , , in S. C. right in of bration Charleston the middle the he and the Age support are moribund obsolescent if .
campaign of Age represents a while Fred Moore the New York not obsolete Mr. Owen new order of , ,
! society be was supporting him and therefore cannot persona grata to the , , of All the MESSENGER editors and contributors were old reactionary fossilized leadership of the Age . 392 MESSENGER (April , 1922 . THE Mм
. , MESSENGER WORK BEARS FRUIT for their engineers . In fact the editors of THE MES by
reliably of delegates EIGHT thousand miles of travel have given us new SEXGER were informed one the , , to courage . Our contact with ministers editors busi the Railroad Brotherhood's Conference in Chicago ,
formerly , a being ness and public men of what we would term , last fall that when railroad strike was dis , , , all of “ the old school," has convinced us that not them cussed a Southern delegate an engineer rose and Age are persistent ignoramuses like the New York warned the conference : “ We cannot afford to strike
be than , . If we do editor -- a type which would rather obstinate now the bosses will employ Negro engi ,
thought ; right that would rather follow his own little neers and my Neyro fireman can run the train us cell , to - of , myopic bathe his as I . ” ( group less error ridden- course than can Yet this union labor thick leuds in of its
. Negro flagrant disregard light of con mind in the new modern science On the shuts out members , , ,
, men ary we have met conscientious sincere devoted own self - interest not to mention the principies of ;
solidarity ! ) willing to who have real interest in the race who are labor ;
way have stumbled for lack We Negroes working as telegraph operators be shown the better who want ,
delivery boys . In places
. they
of venality and — have most have whites of better light not because We , , , of -- a . in found numbers of men who though the old school Filipinos Hindus anybody but Vegro Even
disgrace ,
or and Negro of in City could not be coaxed driven into the the settlement Harlem New York , in of no New employed Negroes . a 1917 are corruption of litchell Slush Fund Hindus but . York We want more Negro firemen and policemen . We be lies they adapted to April 1st Chicago Defender believe are better the delicate situa of A copy the ,
may be .
us Heading seen fore the editorial column tions into which we are running . We can take a squad 1 . up ,
“ The any in a box Defender's Platform for America - of Negro policemen and break K1 Klux Klan to - Unions parade of line Opening up of All Trades and Trade north the Masn Dixon of a 2.
. Appointment as as Blacks Well Whites The We also want to see more Negroes in the skilled . to
of the Cabinet the Race President's , , , , Member trades -- machinists carpenters brick - masons painters , of S. Abbott the editor and owner the , Mr. Robert f : inters stone cutters and plumbers . For years the ,
no this Chicago Defender deserves small tribute for machinists have had a clause in their couiitution : ,
is a step step . It the older more advanced new for “ That each member agrees to introduce into this orga largest . , of group Negro That the : ” conservative leaders nasition only a sober industrious white mar Isn't ,
circulation ? Negro newspaper in America with more this rich Other unions who have not had the clauses ,
take this advanced , all combined should than the others have followed the practice which is quite as bad . It its its
to courage is a position - and economic tribute , Was Hutchinson president of the Corpenters of mer . - enlightened , self interest ica who rese at last year's American Federation of
pronounced , is most THE MESSENGER the first and Labor Convention and objected to the resolution
spokesman for Negroes entering all trades and trades against the Ku Klux Klan !
. that the or labor unions We realized and heralded , We are fighting to drive all this petty meanness this
wages ' larger
of Negro t grea was more and , the . need snobbery out of the American labor movement This
opportunities for securing those wages . We hold that , dirty labor union deviltry this sneaking trade union ar . on that Negrocs should be conductors railroads All , Vegroes against rogance has done much to prejudice a a power to clip is physical ticket and is required the
so . Vegroes the labor unions - and justly The have been
good memory , which most pullman porters have . to between the devil and the deep sea . They have had is . be
that , Negroes street car conductors All on should stand on the fence with one eve labor and the other ,
power to ,
collect , is a memory ? " required the streets do you for : " on capital asking Gentlemen what offer , to , on , passengers getting , to
and off be it transfers notice To the shame of the labor movement must said , .
to change or . to stop make ring the bell start and capital has put the Negroes in the Unions The white is It , . , kept Negroes on
. the out on have Negroes should be motormen street cars unions the whole
When the white workers would strike , capital would a to or not nearly so difficult dangerous run street car
. In self in Negro . Negroes excellent bring and white strike breakers an make as to operate automobile , , chauffeurs and whoever can runl an automobile defense the unions eventually were forced to take the , . , in
city guiding is necessary Negroes through a congested where un guiding is a a on subject saying can run a street car track where We would not leave this without , , in called for but only caution stopping and starting word for certain class - conscious non prejudiced- labor .
a permanent track . in country grant on unions There are unions this which
, enjoy . all Philadelphia to Negroes rights Subways in cities like New York and which their white members
Among Transport of Boston should employ Negroes — both as motormen them are the Marine Workers , , International a Philadelphia the to be union and conductors . All that is required conductor an industrial
Ladies Garment Workers Union , the Amalgamated is to have the muscle to open and close a door - and no
, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America the one would claim that Negroes lack the muscle — along , of of with a vigilant eye for the entrance and exit of pas Metal Workers America the Brotherhood Paint , , , of , the United in America be unnecessary Mine Workers sengers . Shortly even this will ers the United ,
Cap of
to be all the is
of getting America asmuch as the pressing buttons Cloth Hat and Makers North is required . Ahat International Fur Workers ' Union . the Amalgamated
, and have space The ability of Negroes to be motormen on subways Food Industries others which we not
. all intelligent prin is to be gleaned from their general engineering ability . for mention These unions have and of of a All through the South Negro firemen run the trains cipled leaders . They have visions new world April , 1922. ] THE MESSENGER 393 labor . They realize that race is a weapon of the em on the “ Recorder of Deeds," the Registrar of the ployers , a weapon by which to divide the workers . Treasury , Collector of Internal Revenue , Minister to , ( 2 ) The Chicago Defender also demands “ the ap Haiti Liberia , etc. They had no higher aspiration . pointment of a member of the race to the President's They limited the ambition of Negroes by prescribing Cabinet . " certain definite jobs for Negroes. Mr. Abbott through reaching We don't have any special enthusiasm over this the Defender is higher . He is taking the position demand . We realize a Negro cabinet member would advanced of the MESSENGER editors and its
Negro . .They a
likely is be most the worst hat - in -hand in the contributors hold that Negro entitled to any place
anybody or country . No other could secure an appointment from that else holds aspires to . In the present regime. He would be of no more value to stimulating the just pride , dignity and courage
Negroes than would a labor member of the cabinet be of other editors where they will demand something
higher , as in of value to labor as such . and more fundamental the case of the , Nevertheless , Mr. Abbott represents in this an ad Defender THE MESSENGER has inaugurated a renais
in Negro development . vance over the conservative Negro editors . How ? sance
Well , the others have insisted that they had a patent C. 0 . THE LABOR WORLD
NEW YORK CALL TWO CENTS Street and , Lenox Avenue New York City . The ,
, meeting ON March 13th the New York Call the great was called for the purpose of stimulating
English daily its price labor reduced from five interest among the Negro members in the activities of . A to à copy . of the large Mr. two cents This was the outcome the union number turned out . , , . K. New York Call's labor conferences The , radical in M. Mackoff the Secretary - Treasurer arranged .
meeting , , the speakers dependent conservative and progressive unions have The were liss Line one of , agents , rallied to the support of the Call . The workers are be the business Julius Halperin General Or , ganizer ,
Campbell a
ginning to prominent
to Miss Grace see that it's futile expect a square deal social , by
capitalist A. Philip Randolph from the press . The Call has stood worker and The Waist and by , ' , is let . Dress Makers largely labor now labor stand the Call Union composed of Jews ,
Negroes . It
Italians and no draws race creed or
LABOR THEATRE GUILD color line .
LABOR has a theatre . The Labor Theatre Guild MINERS is planning a splendid program at the Fifteenth AND RAILROAD WORKERS FORM . Street Theatre in New York Susan Glaspell's LOOSE ALLIANCE , , " "
Langer's " Trifles Lawrence Another Way Out " THE workers in two of the most basic industries George "
Showing Up of a and Bernard The to Shaw's an conferred with view forming alliance .
They a
given . of Perlaps Blanco Posnet were for the benefit political formed loose one that's not a bad , . to to . prisoners . A worthy cause indeed ! The stage is a beginning It's their interest combine Their . bosses are united of powerful agency for moulding public opinion for or Directors coal mines are also .
directors of is railroads American labor to against . slow labor The workers are fashioning a culture
seemingly elementary . of learn the most lessons But their own .
some say that the Triple Alliance of England failed . , LABOR BANK Yes but that's no argument against alliance . So liave ; be no , individual unions failed but that would reason THE People's Co - Operative Bank of Hammond , , to for workers disband . perhaps , their unions Indiana has doubled its deposits and resources Well
struggle is only . and pays a higher interest than any other bank in the class the reliable teacher
the city . It was boycotted because it refused to limit
A UNITED WORKING CLASS FRONT the rate of interest paid depositors . The Locomotive ,
Engineers ' - Operative of Co National Bank Cleveland AMONG the European workers it would appear that ,
is a unity . a powerful labor institution owns 51 per cent of the there definite trend toward . stock The workers are beginning to see the utter The Communist International calls for a " united
folly of supplying a club to their enemies to break labor front . ” Other Moscow is changing tactics . . is their heads money to capitalists with If useful the labor groups are calling for unity also . The British
it is also useful to the workers . Hence it's sensible , Labor party at its Brighton Conference in June the
to get keep for the workers and for their own educa French Socialist party at its Paris Convention in Octo , as of in its as tion much they can . ber the Executive the Second International , November meeting in Brussels the Executive of the , WAIST AND DRESS MAKERS HOLD BIG Vienna Union and the Executive of the Italian So MEETING OF NEGRO WORKERS cialist party have indicated a desire to stop fighting .
to begin combining A MEETING for the colored members of the among themselves and their forces
Waist and ' Dress Makers Union was held on Needless to say that this is the only hope of the , , . , Tuesday March 14th at the New Douglas Hall 142nd workers 394 THE MESSENGER [ April, 1922 Who's Who , , BERT WILLIAMS countenance the legro in a serious dignified classical
drama . only
, - Bert Williams, the premier American comedian is Theatre going white America will res , , ,
pond favorably to Negro funny - dead . He achieved the very highest distinction in his clowns buffoons men , line. He won fame and made much money . Writers that kind of acting that stamps him as an inferior .
who knew him intimately, say that he never satisfied Modern capitalist America won't have it otherwise . , , . , , , his ambition ; that he aspired to more serious work The church press theater novel film all sedulously , It is well to know of his inner yearnings . preach the doctrine of Negro inferiority and with , , Poignant darts of regret and bitter disappointment a tragic naivete silhouetted against a grim and un , , must have shot his body through while he pondered a canny economic determinism Negroes preach it too . no . It is of on talent missing its mark account color But history teaches that the oppressed have always is . It in .
of thinkings acquiesced oppression little pleasing to learn his interest and defended their own , a , few , to ing and heartening too know that there are Hence black geniuses must be strangled art sacrificed stage the and strug Negro folk who smart under cork to the blear - eyed gangrenous monster of race hate ; up by . a rotting though succeed spewed a gle to rend the veil even but few rotten and social order , is . for this our only hope Such was the unhappy fate of Mr. Williams en , , a he as tangled in of a As we see it Bert Williams was rendered the cruel web sodden and sordid com , or of
. through hope disservice to black people He was heralded mercial art world without assurance realiz ; in he ing passion . a out the country as great comedian but left his dream and for creative work In his heart up
gods of Negro urgings- . He train the fallen culture there welled a bitter revulsion against his many - or a played in theatres that either barred Jim Crowed plaudits from white world whose cynical democracy , conception al ! Negroesma policy born of the that and Christianly brotherhood caged his pulsing rebel , , , of
- genius gray to the cold muffled men of color are inherently inferior white men and within narrow walls , .
by stilted irony of himself was art ignoble lot of dragging a strange fate Bert Williams His was the his , . of a facile instrument this insidious cult At the end people through the flotsam and jetsam of art to the he to be - lamented his failure considered and acclaimed derisive and vulgar hand clapping of race prejudiced , , , stage .
funmaking of - as a whole full orbed man on the American and America His course was what they , of wanted the lowest form . They delight yet his life's work rendered it possible for the Negro intellection , , to be as a - man only . you actor received half But ask in visualizing a race of court - jesters . Such people
what about Charles Gilpin ? Has he not faced a don't demand social equality or organize their labor , power . Broadway as a straight - fledged economic betterment audience full drama for They are content to ; ? question , laugh they tist To this we must answer yes . And make the world are not concerned about . making it
as to think It is of a still arises the question the play ? also expressive certain
docility sap ,
every drop of It is not altogether a commonplace that " Emperor contentment and that red
vital radicalism and of working Jones " is the most desirable vehicle for presenting the revolt out the wide , Negro to the white world . We can only judge the masses and render them helpless anaemic creatures of psychic chemistry goes on in the heads the which to the most unspeakable exploitation . Such is the by white theatrical audiences their attitudes . It is a reason for white capitalist America's flattering Bert
Williams . matter of general opinion that Broadway will not Open Forum
INDIA AND THE NEGRO . the British Government ordered the West Indian Regi , , on of ment stationed the island Jamaica to board ship
PERHAPS the greatest single handicap in the way in in for service India anticipation of further and seri
emancipation is of attaining Negro the almost , in ous trouble that country . The Regiment composed
universal conviction that solidarity is an ideal that ,
entirely of
Negroes to refused the last man to take is so
. impression can never be realized Because this up arms against the Hindu people in their struggle generally accepted it is generally considered impossible for freedom . in to unite the race . The solution lies not unreasoned The chief significance of this inspiring incident lies , of to optimism but in being prepared take advantage
not in the natural sympathy of the West Indians for every opportunity for effective action . , in their brothers Asia but in the fact that they , , ,
In of year military of March this the authorities expressed their sympathy openly effectively and as a April , 1922. ) THE MESSENGER 395
,
risking all racial unit the consequences of military Editors of The MESSENGER :
mutiny . It is an unqualified of I your demonstration the fact received notice that my subscription to the , , that unanimity is not impossible and with that MESSENGER had expired and that you had granted me , achieved no limit can be set the forward march . for a respite until the 14th . I thank you very much for
calling my to granting The fact that Indian freedom was the issue carries attention the matter and me the
respite . Your magazine gives me new courage each a to further lesson the American Negro . The subju , issue . I am here fighting for ny Race and daily by of
gation is the Hindus carried on British imperial
protesting against the injustices inflicted upon us as a ism with “ We must come to the aid of the backward
Race . magazine gives Your me courage I
” as new and — races its motto the same excuse as that used here at a it feel loss when does not come . All that we
to justify exploitation of the colored man . The un by have gained has been protest . We have suffered varying policy of organized robbery is to raise a smoke ; for the lack of protest . If we hold what we have , screen of educational and missionary projects behind
if we ever obtain our full freedom and citizenship which they can carry on their work of plunder . Irres , and be accorded the privileges of other citizens it will , pective of national boundaries the keen - minded Negro by to be
protest . have done May you continue to pro recognizes his own exploiter in the exploiter of the may be test and success yours . , Hindu . He cannot watch the struggle indifferently With kindest personal regards , for you and your and awaits only the opportunity to lend immediate and , co - workers I am to
cooperation of substantial the masses India .
Yours very truly , . T. . ARTHUR JOYCE J. M. ELLIS
Tabb's Lunch and Grill
140th St. & Lenox Ave. NEW YORK CITY *
Tables for ladies ,
Cheerful even to babies . Open night and day to
Time to dine and eat away .
Telephone : Audubon 3796
Hotel Olga
695 LENOX AVENUE , NEW YORK
( Subway At 146th Street Station ) IFICETELEE
A Select Transient and Family Hotel in Hot and Cold Water Each Room .
Reasonable Rates . , . ED H. WILSON Proprietor 396 April , . THE MESSENGER ( 1922
A Call to Solidarity !!
Local 8 of the Marine Transport Workers of Philadelphia , affiliated with the Industrial Workers of the World , call to the , , workers of all races creeds color and nationality to Unite . , If we would maintain our standard of living and prepare for , the final emancipation of the workers we must organize our . labor power upon an industrial basis
We are the only organization in America which has a uniform , , , , wage for engineers holemen truckers riggers and water boys .
Of our three thousand and five hundred members , over two
thousand are Negroes . , In this period of industrial depression and black reaction
only solidarity can save the workers . , , , of Let workers all races creed color and nationality or
ganize to liberate the class - war and political prisoners . Let us a organize to build up new Brotherhood for mankind where , , , there is no race class craft religious or nationality distinctions . , , , : Organize Agitate Workers Educate Emancipate !
Marine Transport Workers , Industrial Union Local No. 8 , ( I INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD W. W. ) , 121 , Catharine Street Philadelphia Pa . April , 1922. ] THE MESSENGER 397
NATIONAL HEE AND ASSOCIATION BLACKWORKERSWHITE NEGROES UNITE PROMOTIONOF AMONG LABORUNIONISM , , Until the workers of all races creeds nation
alities and colors are joined hand in hand against , their common foe — the capitalist exploiters for of a the achievement common aim — their eman , , . cipation their fight will be futile useless
As long as the black and white working dogs keep fighting over the bone of race pre , judice the yellow capitalist dog will run up and
grab in of the meat the form big profits . Race wars like wars between Nations are
fought for the benefit of the Owning Class . What Lcading Thinkers Say AboutTheMessenger
The Messenger is of exceptionally high standard . I want to express to you my pleasure at the publi That it marks the entrance of the Negro problem upon cation of a magazine , edited by colored men , that , a wholly new period of development, is not altogether makes its cornerstone the solidarity of labor and the
unlikely . absolute need of the Negro's recognizing this solidarity .
JOHN HAYNES HOLMES . MARY WHITE OLINGTON . , a professor of As former English permit me to
The editors have a thorough knowledge of the
congratulate you both on the skill and vivacity with of . cconomic history of the United States Some the
which you both write . But far more important to me
best studies in economic history have appeared in the
than the style of your writing is the substance - the , MESSENGER studies that are worthy oi a wider re
courage and significance of what you have to say . as ception among white workers as well among , H. W. L. Dana Negroes .
THE NEW YORK CALL .
Former professor of English and Comparative , Literature for ten years in Columbia University
City . , , New York You both write clearly forcefully in diction that , is fine and with ample knowledge and grasp of your
dispute your opinions ,
. may The MESSENGER show's a masterly grasp not only theme One but not criti
your presentation . , cise with much surcess on our particular Negro problem but on world prob ,
lems as well . THOMAS W. CHURCHILL ARCHIBALD H. GRIN KE City Former President of the New York of President the National Association for the Ad Board of Education . , , vancement of Colored l'eople Washington D. C. is . The work which the MESSENGER is doing vital is a The MESSENGER pioners in clearing the way ,
to NEARING union between black and white workers on the only Scott
solid ground there is .-- organized resistance to the , exploiters organized power for a radical goal . " May continue the noble work it has Roger N. BALDWIN the MESSENGER in undertaken to enlighten the colored worker this by country upon his being exploited the master class .
A large group of young colored people are begin Peter Monat , , ning to realize these economic truths and have a
Secretary - Treasurer . in brilliant mouthpiece the MESSENGER . , of OSWALD G. VILLARD New York Joint Board Amalgamated . of , Clothing America Editor The Nation . Workers by , It is as We rely upon the MESSENGER for light on the edited two well read well educated and .
Negro in question . competent Negroes as there are the United States P.
FONTANA THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL . of French Minister Education .
" The MESSENGER , the monthly magazine published , by to
intending you in I've been write for some months New York is long odds the most able and most expressing my appreciation of the thoughtful and
dangerous of all Negro
the . publications " -
Report of
vigorous you doing of help I
are and the have Department of
work to U.S. Justice U.S. Senate . derived from your paper in understanding the Negro
and his problems .
of a . I regard
from PROF as Part letter WILLIAM ELLERY the a good
MESSENGER publication . , . of LEONARD of the University Wisconsin WILLIAM BROSS LLOYD . * , is a The Messenger very excellent publication with I am all admiration of the unique style and high of on splendid articles general political and economic standard vour magazine . Every Negro who appre by
problems journalists .
journalism be of it written able ciates clean should proud . . New YORK JEWISH Daily FORWARD . CLAUDE MCKAY