The broad ax., 1909-05-01
NEGRO PREACHER AS A PoLITI.
CAL ~ LEADER.

CAL ~ LEADER.
A Nuisance That Ought to be Abated
The self-constituted preacher-politi-
cian-leader is an eye sore in Washing.
ton from which the entire racial body
is suffering previously. Why these
new political Moses feel called upon
to lay down the charges which they
are paid to serve and journey to
Washington to volunteer their advice
to the president about this or that
appointment, is a question the public
would like TO have answered. The at
tempt OF the average Negro bishop 70
mix church and state by debating ap-
pointments because of their church
connection which they no more repre-
sent and can no more deliver than. any
other ward heller, is an idea that the
American people do not take kindly
to and the time is not far distant
when the intelligence Of the race will
tell their preachers that it win not
stand any longer to be sold out for
railroad fare to Washington.
Among the whites the office Of
preacher is understood to be spiritual
ard not political The preacher is ex-
pected to devote his time and talent
to the spiritual edifcation Of the man
and not to spend himself in heeIing
around for railroad fare here and
there. If preacher will do his duty
in the pulpit he win not have time
to be Looping over the country hunt
ing public Offices for such of their
membres as win give them commits
sion on their first years pay. There is
no more reason that the Negro pull
pit should be dragged in the political
mire than that of our neighbors. You
never hear Of white pastor or bish-
op doing political stunts around Wash
ington OF anywhere else. But it is a
common thing to pick up a newspaper
and see where some Negro bishop
handed out an interview on the polit-
zeal situation, vouching for what the
president win do politically and has
neither party nor standing at home,
Half Of these Negro preachers and
bishops who lie around Washington
selling their endorsements, pulling
Office seekers for expenses, are not
citizens Of any precinct In America.
They neither register or vote any
where and they are simply out for the /
fish and loaves.
Those political preachers who par
ade about the white house in long
soats and stuvepipe hats. never at.
end a political meeting at home and
couldn't be elected to a ward meet
ng in the precinct where they live,
lot even by the vote Of their own
.hurches; yet these 'Moseses" are in
Washington advising the president Of
be United States what to do.
The political preacher and bishop
5 nuisance that ought to be abated.
'hese self-appointees ought to be I'M
rocked and taken from the pulpits
hey are disgracing. What right has
ny man who hasn't enough inter
st in his government TO pay his
TX. register and vote, to attempt to
ictate to others whom they shall
ave to rule over or serve them?
II Is a shame to see our preachers
nd bishops doing the stunts Of the
ard i1eeler and professional politi-
an about Washington. It is a dis !
race to the church and a curse to
ne race. Why prostitute the pulpit
I'd the bishops bench to the level of
le political stump? What special
ness has q peacher who has not
Used Of his own family one useful
N or decent woman to advise the
resident Who is At for ofRceG II the
resident would ask some OF the
'eachers hanging around his habitat
here are Their children and what
e they engaged IN. he would soon
I nd Of many OF his political ad-
sers. The average Negro preacher
mercenary N politics and is new {
heard until he gets the rank scent I
q tainted dollar 2
. 1
ne preacher ss a rule represents ,
ithsr the character or intelligence y
the race. As rule he is a grafter b