The Colorado statesman., 1909-12-11
FROM A WoMAN'S POINT OF
VIEW.
Denver, Colo, Dec. G, 1905


To The Colorado Statesman:
| have read of and worried over the
Congo atrocities by manning children
and adNlts. as a punishment for not
collecting sufficient rubber for the
Belgian authorities; and | also read
of and wondered over the unlawful,
un-Christian, uncivilized death of poor
William James, a Negro murderer, of
over those far-away acts of unjust
deeds, / felt that | must turn my mind
and heart toward home. For it is an
old and true adage, that charity be-
gins at home, then spreads abroad"
find that there is plenty of distress,
selfishness, greed for gold and unjust
ness practiced here in Denver | also
have been reading of the closing of
the Negro clubs and the subject has
been discussed pro and con against
those perpetrators of offenses against
law and order. Now it has occurred
to me, that both the officials and the
ITeQuenIeTS Vi lne cluDS are hoI all
so bad as painted. There are some
of those Negroes that can trace their
lineage" as well as some of the rest
of the "so-called goody-good." Some
have dear mothers, who would be
shocked to learn of their "straying
from their teachings" there are some
who are descendants from some of
the best and first families of the East,
North and South. Yet while they have
transgressed, in a way, and bereft of
all their invis ible means of support,
they too, have got to live. Now, why
not a few of our Denver Negro men
who are trying to hold from two to
three positions, divide with these men
in order that they might live? see
where a great many have left the city,
and | know there are a great many
| these men have got to eat, sleep, and
keep warm, especially this sort of
weather. Now, how are they to do it?
When the greed for gold" in holding
|
Denver? | know of two men en-
ployed in one of Denver's leading
| banks, at a fair salary, making it
every few days to a large catering
company, in order to wait parties for
sum of from 50 to So a party, and
yet these men could open up their
hearts, turn loose all such selfishness
| and say to one of these men: Il have
good position; you need the money
now, worse than l do" l also know
head waiter of a certain club, who
is holding the janitorship of an apart
ment house, working his wife to death
by inches, for he doesn't have the
time to fill both positions justly. Now
why don't he say to another of those
men: You take one of my positions;
you need it,? l also know of three
or four of Uncle Sans employees even,
holding that lifetime position, and at
spare times STOPPING to wait dinner
meal or a party! And it seems to me
the men holding such positions seem
anxious to be common servants! Now,
why don't these men turn loose" the
dinner meal and party work to their
less fortunate brothers? Now, 1 have
visited in several cities, and can say
truthfully Denver contains the most
selfish, narrow, unthoughtful Negro
men when it comes to live and let
live" Now l want these men to di-
vide with a fellow man, whose pres
ent depends on your action toward
them Help these Club" men to OBJ
tain employment in order to live and
make good citizens, for idle hands
and hearts make an idle brain-and
an idle brain is the Devils workshop.
Respectfully,
CARRIE P. DOUGLASS.