Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-06-28
AFRO-AMER|CAN CU[L|NCS

race over the head. BY conges;ing
street corners you invite to your midst
all the criminal and vicious elements
Of the race who insult women and
hatch crimes. Your very idleness will
make you not only an easy victim Of
the Strong Arm Squad. but 1t will
breed in you. however high your
ideals, desire for the diversion Of
vice and mischief. You cannot stand
still In this busy world. You must
either go forward or you will go back
ward. You must either find something
to do that will make for your progress
and happiness or others will find
something for you to do to your own
degradation and your races disgrace.
Be up and on your way. Beware Of
corner loafing. Idleness Is not only a
curse to you, but crime against all
those connected with you.
Ut Is fact worthy OF note that
nearly all Of those crimes that outrage
the sense Of humanity and strain the
good relations existing between the
races. were committed by men who
were more or less habitual loafers and
idlers. Blessed is the man who has
found his work, and who sticks to it,
In a recent editorial urging compul-
sorry education the Dallas News says:
AS to whites alone, the census bu-
reau's collection shows that in 1900
there were 146. 487 illiterates in Texas
above the age mentioned, and that in
1910 there were 1886, so that in
crease Of nearly 1900 In the number
OF white illiterates. The percentage
OF them, however, decreased. owing to
the rapid increase Of the states white
population, the percentage having
been 8.5 in 1900 and 81 in 1910. But
among the Negroes illiteracy de.
creased both actually and proportion;
ately, for in 1900 there were 1888
illiterates. a percentage of 1872 with
respect to the population, while in
1910 there were only 124.618. per-
centage Of 24.6. In ten years the
whites reduced the percentage Of H.
literacy by about 2 per cent, whereas
during the same time the Negroes re-
duced the percentage Of illiteracy
among them by more than II per cent,
In another double decade, at this rate.
there would be less illiteracy. actual
ly and proportionately, among the Ne
groes than among the whites.
We believe that, with the immense
resources under careful and capable
business management, the True Re-
formers will yet pull out and again
assume the glory Of its earlier days.
The affairs of the Cincinnati branch
reached its climax few days ago.
Tired OF procrastination. tired of un.
paid bills, court proceedings were in
stituted in behalf of his clients by Mr..
Edward E. MINES, q young colored
lawyer OF this city. After conferences
Of the legal luminaries. the Judge final.
ly appointed Mr.. MINES receiver Of
the True Reformers here, which means
that he has entire charge of its prop
erty In this county, the collection of
rents and all bills, due the True Re
formers, and power to sell allsof its
possessions here. If necessary, to get
its affairs in proper shape and settle
the outstanding claims. Mr.. MINES
Is under $4,000 bond. The honor that
he has attained Is unprecedented in
this county. possibly In this state, as
he has absolute Jurisdiction over prop
erty whose value ranges between
twenty-five and fifty thousand dollars.
Cincinnati Union.
The st. Louis Central Afro-Ameri-
can Endorses the position of the Kan
sas City Journal that negro church
conferences are wise when they keep
religion and politics separate and re-
fuse to indorse this or that party and
this and that candidate for Office. This
is the sane view Of the question, act
ing on the reverse Of which has in
the past done so much damage to the
good name of our churches. A preach
er should be partisan Of course. but
he should keep his politics out Of the
pulpit, except as censor of bad prac-
| tees Of all sorts in the administra-
ton Of the government. John the Bap-
list denounced moral corruption In
Herod's court and familysand was be-
headed, and Jesus Christ denounced
corruption in the priesthood and was
crucified, but the abuses they de-
nounced have in the progress of 1912
years become impossible in Gentle
state and church administration with
out general condemnation.
In that steady progress which is be-
Ing made by our people, 1t is easy to
trace the influences which are at work
shaping and molding character and
I lifting them up into the new life This
new life is the goal for which all men
! have striven and will continue to re-
! main as the supreme reward of human
endeavorf and human strivings. 1t is
the reward of faithful service, and is
reached by series of steps whose
stays are as secure as anything which
truth and right living can construct.
Beginning at the lowest rung Of the
ladder. our people began to acquire the
rudiments Of education, save their earn.
ings, buy homes. build churches and
schools, organize societies and in many
other ways lay the foundation for that
gradual but sure success which has
come to them. This .superstructure has
been we'll laid and now Its future
growth depends mostly upon our peo-