The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-02-23


previous article when touching upon
ben Davis, the Virile editor Of the
Atlanta Independent, the purpose
was TO make 1t a part Of our corre-
spondence to inform the people out
side OF Georgia who may read the In
dependent, concerning the editor and
the men and affairs about which he
mas written from time to time with
so much personal venom. The man
and his paper are factors of some in
huence in Georgia among the un-
thinking class. He has arrogated to
himself the title Of Leader" and
seems to believe he has been divinely
called upon to make "all right things
wrong and all wrong things right"
IN the Empire State of the South
he appears to believe he is a fit man
to sit in judgment against institu-
tions and men.
"A good work can be done through
Negro newspaper as a means of
influencing the welfare Of the race.
1hls IS true only when the editor is
man or clear vision, right ideas
and high ideals in public effort. 1t
IS never true Of an editor who makes
himself and paper an enemy of So
clety and begins an eternal war
against the best mon serving the
people and institutions created for
the pubic benefit. When an editor
ana his paper come to this point of
activity, they are a constant menace
to the social welfare and betterment
OF any community. It has been with
something of this conclusion about
the Independent that We have taken
the time to study it's influence among
the masses OF Georgia and the i'm
preston 1T has made upon the better
class of colored people, and write
about the paper and its editor to
the Advocate
The Ignorant and backward Ne
groes Of Georgia are like those of
the other Southern States. They can
always be interested in any project
including sick and death benefits.
Ihey believe In sitting up with the
SICK and keeping the watch over
the dead. For that reason they
are always enthusiastic and faithful
In their lodge matters. The man
who can get to this side Of their life
IN an appealing and convincing man
ner has them for sure. They will
neglect to educate their children and
refuse to pay their church dues in
ordek to pay their monthly and quar-
teriy endowment dues in the socie-
ties. This explains why Ben Davis
by the Odd Fellow route has been
able to get good grip in the col
lars Of the masses Of Georgwia Ne
groes. 1T also tells why he has a
stronger influence among the igno-
rant Negroes of Georgia than all the
churches combined. Add to this the
fact that he has among his ring men
a great many broken-down and in
competent preachers who have been
failures in attempting to preach the
gospel and "Work' their conferen-
ces and you get a pretty good esti-
mate Of why he can influence the
thought Of the ignorant masses as no
other man in Georgia. knowledge
of this has brought to the support Of
his paper many who otherwise have
no interest in it. The fact has also
made the publication valued ad-
vertising medium for those interest
ed in promoting business enterprises
and selling goods among the Negroes
or Georgia; 1T has also given Davis
the chance to be a kind of referee"
in the struggles that occur now and
then between the pastors and their
congregations. This has been par
ticularly so in the case Of Bishop
Smith, with whom Davis took sides
seemingly in every row between the
Bishop and his pastors Presiding
Elder John Harmon who had some
things to say about the Bishop was
dubbed everything in the Independ-
cnt columns from liar on down
the scale Of misconduct. It is sup
posed Davis was innocent of all the
charges he made against Harmon.
lie at least tried to persuade him
self to believe so. Some say self
deception is the rankest thing in
the world. Davis was rank in be-
ljeving himself all saint and
"Freacher' Harmon all sinner. Few
Of the people we have met in Geor-
gia were persuaded by his editorials
tn believe Davis was any better man
than Harmon.
Now the Order Of Odd Fellows is
in itself all right. And a d. G. S. Of
Odd Fellows Is all right in his place.
An official organ is pretty good
thing to have on hand to promote
the growth and prosperity Of the or
ganization. The same thing is ex-
pected Of all these agencies, howev-
er. They must all be sincere friends