The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-12-22
Strong Appeal 70 Reason
Don't Kick : Race Already Down,
Urges Prof. Laurence Jones.

Don't kick ! Race Already Down,
Urges Prof, Laurence Jones.
Piney Woods Country Life School,
Braxton, Miss., Feb. "a, 1916. II
An Open Letter to the Members Of
the General Assembly Of Missis-
sippi: WI
II the bill lately introduced, to pro-
hibit white teachers from teaching
colored boys and girls, was born in
prejudice, IL the gentlemen now as
sembled at the state capitol to enact
laws that there may be continued in
Mississippi government Of the peo-
pie, by the people and for the people"
look at this bill through the eyes Of
prejudice, then it would be useless TOR
any one to produce arguments against
its passage.
But believing, rs do . great many
Of the Leading white men and coiored
men whom I have interviewed, that
the gentleman who introduced the bill
was not actuated by prejudice, but has
been misinformed as to the necessity
Of such measure, ] beg to submit
SOME reasons why such .. peFnicious
bill should not be enacted, especially
during this "era of good feeling" be-
tween the races, during which era,
neither Governor Noel, Governor
Brewer nor our; present governor, the
Hon. Theodore G. Bilbo, appealed to
prejudice in their campaign for Of
fee.
There are two general propositions
I would like for you to fix firmly in
your minds before studying this bill:
1. The United States census, taken
under q democratic administration,
which am sure you firmly believe to
be the greatest fortune that could
have come to the American people,
tells us that the Negro, without out
side immigration, is increasing in
numbers all over the south, and espe-
cially in Mississippi-he is not dying
out.
+ 2. The Negro has been free just a
half century, the white race many
centuries Negro race is yet a
baby in comparison-such race
needs not only the civilizing influence
Of the best white people of the state,
but it needs also the uplifting influ-
ence of the cultured, spiritual minded
white missionaries whose hearts,
filled with love of God, impel them
to help uplift these struggling, ignor-
ant masses.
With these two general thoughts in
mind, with prejudice RELOCATED to the
background, there are two viewpoints
from which to study this bill-the
selfish one and the altruistic one:
A. The selfish viewpoint.
/. Money CONGREGATIONAL of the
available educational force, You can
utilize on the Negro will make him
more useful and therefore increase
the capital of the community, the;
county, the state K
You want man working, instead
Of working man, do you not?
"A wise man by the name of Soc
rates once said, "Not only is he idle
who does nothing, but he is also idle
who might be better employed"
2. Health Considerations great,
mass Of Negroes living in
surroundings with no
Of sanitation and hygiene
is a menace to every white citizen in
The commemorative these mission
aries, in most effective way are
Cleanliness is next to Cod
liness." -. .,., ID.
You must teach US to be sanitary,
# you would save yourselves from
he spreading Of contagious diseases,
md / would think that you would
meet with welcome arms any band OF
who are willing to come
Town here among, these ignorant
masses and teach them as they are
low doing not to infect with
18th and germs the food you eat and
he clothing you wear-f you could
zee the immaculate laundries and
raining kitchens Of these missionary
chools and over each faithful mis-
ionary teaching little Negro girls to
,e clean and neat and sanitary and in
piring them to 60 back from the
main travelled roads and teach it to
he masses, where now they are idle,
UGH q profound law would die in the
ommittee room. ...,s
More money and better health are
he two paramount ideals that every
is seeking from a selfish
tandpoint- they must therefore be
he two main ideals for the common
wealth from q selfish standpoint.
B. The altruistic reasons.
3 T.. The educational viewpoint.
|. These missionaries are teaching
he education of the heart, head and
and conceded by every .sontherner
R,,vfnn cafa