Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-02-19

mere are some white men down
here as mean as the Devil, and
there are some other white men down
here who are as good as the angels.
Let those colored men. who have
been patronizing the gambling Ia
bles, the houses Of rl-fame and the
places of riOtous living, go there now
for employment and those who have
been living upright. let them turn
over new leaf and join the process
sion of progressive Negroes. who
realize and knew that with all of
its hindrances and drawbacks that
this is the best country that they
have ever seen. and the one in which
they are determined to make a herit-
age and leave a legacy for their on
spring.
We do not mean 60 say or to infer
that this spendthrift Characteristic
exists only in the northern Negro,
for 10 is also an inherent evil existing
also in the southern one. II is a leg
acy OF slavery and is caused by the
desire to initiate the extravagances
of the white men rather than prsc-
uce their frugantles. Il is only a small
per cent Of the colored people Of this
country, North and South. who are
making positive efforts to accumulate
a competency and 20 place the race
financially upon a par with the most
favored nations Of the world.
We have the capital with which to
do business. II we will see to it that
we do not spend # IN luxuries aud
even in necessities. Even the govern
ment payroll as far as # relates TO
colored men in the service would
stagger an economist when the total
amount is considered. We have young
colored men and women. who twenty
years ago could make themselves
satisfied with $1,000 per month. now
claiming that they cannot support
themselves on $4,000 per month and
even $1,000 per month. The idea Is
absurd. We must go into the business
of saving and give up the habit Of
spending. We must stop these young
men In good circumstances who pay
$4,000 for suits Of clothes when they
can get on just as well with those
costing only $1,000.
Young colored women. who could
do with dresses costing $500 and
even less. now find that after they
get good positions, they must have
hats costing $500 and dresses cost
ing as much as they are able to pay
for on time. Il is these extravagancos
that cause this talk about lack of
capital WE have the capital but we
are wasting IL and IL is a very unpop-
ular man, who tells them about &c.
Mr.. Stemons' references 10 the dis
charge Of the oolored hremen. yard
men, switchmen. and brakemen
In Georgia, Is amusing to say
the least. These men are stW
working and II they were not.
their discharge would not az
feet the situation one iota. Labor is
needed in the Southland, and when
10 is put out in one branch of the
service, IL is employed in another
branch. But these colored men have
not been supplanted by white men as
Dir. Stemons seems 20 think. The
white men, who handle southern
railroads are the playmates OF the
children Of the black mammies and
these colored men are on the most
friendly terms with many OF these
southern oflcials. They can go to
them for help and succOr in time OF
need and they like a black man, bet
ter than they do a northern white
one for they know him better.
They are very much like some men
and their wives. They abuse each
other. even sometimes TO the neigh
bors. but when night comes they are
found at home together. They will
call black Bill a niger. but he is
a good one TO them and they will do
what they can 70 help him. They VIII
even defend him against the white
hOodlum. Mr.. Stemons fears the
Wholesale discharge of colored labor
in the South. He can possess his soul
IN patience for he will never live
to see that day. The Negro Is the
most valuable asset that the South
possesses. There are millions Of acres
here which will afford employment
for the Industrious and permit the
saving Of money by the thrifty.
When we lose in the hotels and
on the railroads. We can go to the
farm, where the Negroes can be their
own bosses and where, financially
and industrially speaking, they can
defy the world. We grant that we
are facing an Industrial crisis in the
North and to a limited extent in the
South, but we see in It manifesto
ton of Eod's nnurar apd wa fbfply