The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-07-23

/ societyg & IA tks ySysa.
good that I'D ~ vs. \ seeomp i,shsd
with $io.ooss Soisected yearly with.
out any man or woman being bank.
rupted We saw In the employ of
the Friendly Society Movements u
corps of experienced lawyers and lob
! byists.-white. II necessary to pro-
tect the interests Of the race at the
states' and, nations capitals,
But, alas. 1t was nothing more
than dream. Our societies can not
be brought to. see the force OF coop
eration> They are blind to the fact
that with an income of $1,000 or
$4,000 per annum they could en-
ploy tho best legal talent to contend
in the highest courts OF the land
against the ubiquitous Jim crow and
disfranchising laws, which we are
wont. to fight by naming days for
prayer, which no one observes. They
appear to be densely ignorant on the
subject of the long delay in enforce
ment or repeal of law when the
proper method Is employed, when the
appellant has the financial backing.
AS an example Of what might be
done. take the Georgia case in which
the white Knights Of Pythias sought
to restrain the colored organisation
from using the name. BY voluntary
contributions, $1,$9S.56 was raised
among the various Grand jurisdic-
tons for the defense, With this and.
what the Grand Lodge Of Georgia
could contribute, the case was fought
out In the court of first instance, it's
favorable decision defended in the
supreme court of the state, and
again the Negro Pythians' interests
were protected when the case was re-
manded. They lost. but the war Is
by no means ended, If their brethren
will again contribute.
Still another example, this one Of
taxation of 20 cents per annum for
male and 10 cents per annum Of fe-
male members, by which the Pythi-
ans raised over $4,000 in three
years for the purchase of a building
in Chicago. If one organization can
accomplish SO much, how much more
could be done if all worked togeth-
err?
Never was there a better summa-
ry Of the situation than that voiced
by the late Supreme Chancellor of the
Pythians, when he said:
Il am one Of those who believe
that since We are Negroes first, and
seing that the line of prejudice is
being more tightly drawn each day,
it is the duty of every individual, ev-
cry school, every church, every or
ganiZation and every lodge to do all
in its power to help ameliorate the
condition. l am also of the opinion
that if what is called the race prob
lem is to be solved, We must solve it
ourselves and. we can only solve it'by
union, and union can only be had
through such organizations as ours
1t has been SAID that we are an army
OF mice because We lack wisdom TO
become an army of lions. There is
no way Of estimating the power and
| influence We would have, If we act In
| union for the common interest of our
| 1O,00O,0O0 people and use the same
| methods that are used by other intel
| liSent interests. If measure Is in
troduced IN congress or any state leg
| 1Slature, which affects the interests
of the Irish, the German or the Jew,
or any of the great commercial inter
ests, like the railroads, the Standard
Oil Co., the mining, the lumber or
the union labor, the telegraph key is
touched and within a few hours their
representatives in the person Of the
most talented lawyers and most sue
ceSSful lobbyists are on the ground
and, being backed as they are by the
interests they represent and the m-
| nuence they carry, they prevent the
doing Of any, act that is detrimental
to them. On the other hand, If a
dozen colored men are lynched or a
Jim crow car law is passed, or if a
Dill is introduced in congress, which
would dlstranchise, discriminate
against and humiliate the entire TO-
OOO,0O OF us, few of us here and
there will simply get together and
pass a few resolutions which will
never be seen by the men doing the
deeds or making the law. AS stated
above, if we desire to protect our
selves and prevent the passage gilmore
discriminating laws and remove
those that other intelligent Interests
use. If the men composing the lead
ing organizations among us could la,
aside selfiShness and unite to do bat