Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-29
NJ GILL
WOULD Be
CHAPLAIN
NEGRO EDITOR OF CHATTANoo-
GA ARRIVES IN WASHINGTON
TO TEST REPUBLICAN CREED
AT FULL TIDE.


WASHINGTON. ID. C. Dec. 25.-One- of
the political pilgrims to arrive in WASH
ingtOn within the last few days Is Hot
Shots" McGill. black of skin. fiat of feat
ure: side hiskered and mal-odorous. He
halls from Chattanooga and Birmingham
where he has been running a paper, the
suggestive caption of which made posi-
bic the title appended to his name herein
He comes to Washington with hot pas
sion for office surging up within him, a
passion stirred by the recent PRONUNCIATION
OF the Roosevelt creed which opens feder-
al office for the colOred brother. His
thirst. however, projects him over the
usual obscure postoffice i'm the south and
over even the allurements of the lucra-
tive customs and internal revenue gratis.
He wants no less prominence than an cleo
ton to the office of chaplain I'm the house
of representatives in the congress of the
United States.
Hot Shots" McGill, black of skin, fiat
of feature. side-whiskered and mal-odor-
Gus. wants the privilege of praying each
morning over the deliberations. of men
chosen and sent here for their brains and
experience, as representatives OF the
greatest people in the world. He wants
to see that great body of men arise In
their places at noon each day as he as
cends the speakers rostrum He would
nave them DOW their nGdOS III SOASAAAA 81
lence while he invoked divine guidance in
their deliberations on the laws of their
country "Hot Shots" the Ethiopian,
side-whiskered and odorous. occupying
the nations moment of .Sweetly solemn
thought in the pulsing national heart
whose throbs stir the blood of the uni
verse. A fine spectacle, indeed, I'M pros
pect
And what is more than feature of alb
surdity in the situation, Hot Shots" has
recently come from court room where
he was made to stand trial on criminal
charge For this cause mis- own people
have denied him the right of leadership
in their affairs and have refused to give
him the endorsements he has sought at
their hands.
The wide ridicule for Hot Shots and
his mission to Washington does not arise
from his own absurd proposal to serve
as chaplain in the United States con-
gress 1t arises rather from the condition
which made such an absurd proposition
possible.
A political emergency has provoked the
president to promulgate a creed which
says in effect that the negro shall hold
Office if he Is capable of attending to the
duties of the office. Figuratively that
creed was meant to spread out over the
entire country. but literally ii is applied
only TO. the SOuln. where the emergency
pinch is keenest felt. And literally it is
applied only to those offices where the
negro occupant is not brought in contact
with the politicians who are responsible
for the emergency creed.
Hot Shots" however, has chosen to
take the creed I'M its broadcast sense In
his Ignorance and his hat-featured mem
tafity that creed has the ring of sincerity
therein On this score his ignorance will
soon give way to the widest knowledge
and his fat-featured mentality will as
sumo the appearance of keenest intelh-
gence Even the promuIgator of the creed
will find difficulty in restraining an out
ward show of contempt when the propo-
sition is lodged with him.
The lesson in the mission of Hot
Shots McGin should be widely read and
digested. Watch the results of his coming
to the national capital, If indeed he has
the temerity to air his craving further
than an arrival here. and note the hppli-
cation of the creed when it's effect is
brought home See how many of the par
ties responsible for the creed, the Crum-
packers and others higher up. win urge
him for the job he seeks. 1t has come
home TO them. Observe how they will hug
it 10 their bosoms.
Yet Hot Shots" can pray and he can
therefore attend TO the duties of chaplain.