Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-10-01
ATTACKING "BREtD-WINNERS ;,

ATTACKING "BREtD-WINNERS -
THE Richmond. (Va.,) TIuEs.D Dis
PATCH in its issue of the 27th ult., de-
sends to the lowest level of the dema.
gogue and INDUCES in editorial COM
ments that do not comport with the
ethics of higher journalism. 1t says:
1.-The Western Union Telegraph Com
pany has yielded co the inevitable. A
little while ago the company undertook
TO introduce Negro messenger boys into
this community There was a protest
from press and people, but the company
did not regard it. In defiance of public
sentiment 1t undertook to force the Ne
groes into its service, but after having
tried the experiment it has come to the
conclusion that the newspapers knew
what they We're talking about when they
warned the company that the people of
Richmond would not tolerate the limo
vation."
The better class of white people did
tolerate the innovation and despite the
fact that the stoning of the colored
boys by white ones was condoned by
the local authorities, these colored boys
remained at their posts and delivered
the messages as per contract It says:
There is no use in going over the
ground, as the objection to Negroes was
pointed out at the time. The messen-
ger boys must frequently go into the
homes of the people at all times of the
day and night and sometimes when the
men of the household are absent. For
manifest reasons it is not agreeable to
the whites to have Negroes come into
their homes under such circumstances
and as consequence the business of
the Western Union Company suffered
severely"
Well, these colored boys did go to
residences at night and there has net
been single case reported where they
committed any offense or crime in so
doing. Moreover, colored boys and
girls are already in most of the houses
of the upper classes" of whites and
usu lly the same color met the same
color when the door bell rang
We know that it is near election day,
but such clap-trap argument and APP
peals to the worst passions can not do
otherwise than invite the condemnation
OF .s ,sss,. ccaa;ssss 90 rhitS ..s.. -. -,
oss of coIored people OF TINS
oouAno...ty lt concludes as follows:
1--WE are gratifed that the manage
ment has at last recognized the blunder
which was committed, that the Negroes
have been deposed and that bright
white boys have been substituted"
Why don't you admit that the change
from colored to white boys again was
due to the change of Superintendent in
this city, new official having been
brought here from Georgia, who evil
IDENTIFY had an antipathy TO the colored
people and yielded TO the opportunities
of the loH err strata of the white race in
this community?
1t would be well to remark here tn t
this kind of talk on the part of the Ne.
graduating contingent of the TINES
DISPATCH may please the rank and file
Of the party in this rock-ribbed state of
democracy, but it will hardly aud the
Democratic managers in the doubtful
states where they are making persistent
appeals to the independent Negro vote
to assist them IN their fight against Re.
publicanism. 1t is very much out of tune
too with the following declaration by
Judge ALTON b PARKER, Democratic
candidate for President, when ne said:
"The pledge of the platform to Sc.
cure to our citizens, without distinction
OF race or creed, whether native born or
naGurallzed, at home and abroad, the
equal protection of the laws and the
enjoyment of all the rights and privi-
leges open to them under the covenants
of our treaties, as their just due, should
be made good to them"
We do not know whether Judge PARK
Err had the Negroes on his mind when
he used these words in connection with
the Jews, but it nevertheless applies to
them.
The colored boys that you are attack.
ing are not members of the loafers' bri-
g ade. They are brea6-winners, en-
deavorlng TO earn livelihood in a
legitiment employment and it is an out
rage in our Judgment that you SHOULD
have so wantonly assailed them.
oh, there are white people and there
are white people! When will some of
{ hese white folks see?