The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-03-11
INDICATIONS OF "
RACE SOLIDARITY
Progress Made the Past Year
Through United Effort.
GOOD RESULTS OBTAINED,

Brief Review Of Leading Events
Among Afro-Americans Shows Re.
markabIe Work Along Many Lines Of
Activity-Great Work Of Dr.. J. E
Spinsarn.
BY N. BARNETT DODSON.
New York.-Civilization is the altru.
istic fruition Of the ages and rests
upon mans unselfish service to man
says DR.. @. V. Roman Of Nashville
Tenn. He also says that faith in man
is as important as faith in God and
that faith in God unaccompanied by
faith in man is an injury, not a bene.
at, to human society. This is a broad
statement, with a truth as broad as
its meaning from whatever point OF
view we may discuss it. In relation
to the efforts and achievements Of the
colored race in America DR.. Romans
ipse dixit Is applicable to the letter.
Efficiency, preparedness and service
are leading elements and essentials In
the progress of nations, races and indi,
viduals toward the higher and better
things of this life. The past year
Q916 was one of great effort and
struggle in many directions among our
people and along many lines for racial
betterment. Without the qualities of
manhood and spiritual attitude such
as we find in DR.. Romans declaration
our race could never have recorded to
its credit the marvellous progress
which we see and read Of within the
short period Of fifty years as free
Americans.
spinsarn Makes Plea For Square Deal
In the effort for equal legal rights
and the enforcement of the law alike
to all, without regard to race or color,
the first gunshot Of the year was fred
by DR.. Joel e. Spingarn, chairman of
the board Of directors of the National
Association For the Advancement of
Colored People. DR.. Spingarn made q
tour Of several Of the western states,
which lasted through the month of
January. In Chicago, Columbus, Day,
ton and Cleveland, O., and at Indian,
apolis, Ind, he spoke before the cham.
bers of commerce and other organ,
lied business groups of prominent and
influential white men on the necessity
of using their influence on the side of
justice for our people and in the mat
ter Of giving them an equal chance
and equal pay for the same kind of
labor as other groups Of Americans re-
ceive. DR.. Spingarn created much ia.
vorable sentiment in our behalf.
From Jan. 1 to the end of April Edi-
tor William Monroe Trotter of the Bos-
ton Guardian toured many of the
northern and western states, speaking
in the large cities against race segre-
cation. On this tour Mr.. Trotter told
how committee appointed by the
Equal Rights league, of which b. vas
chairman, made a visit in November,
1914, to Washington and there laid the
matter of race segregation in the gov
eminent departments before the pres
ident The result Of the conference
created a national sensation from the
fact that for the first time since this
unjust practice had been put in force it
was admitted that such a practice ex-
listed.
Mr.. Trotter received much praise and
some criticism for the part which he
took in this interview with the presi.
dent. Public sentiment finally decid.
ed that It was an act in behalf of hu-
man rights and American citizenship.
which were above the selfish motives
Of any individual and that it was per-
formed in legal, orderly manner and
was therefore justifiable.
Dr.. Just Wins spinsarn Medal.
The big event for the month Of Feb
ruary was the annual meeting Of the
National Association For the Advance
ment Of Colored People, held at Ethical
Culture hall, New York. At this meet
ing Governor Charles s. Whitman Of
New York awarded to DR.. Ernest Ev-
erett Just, head Of the department Of
physiology at Howard university, the
first Spingarn gold medal. This trophy,
which costs 500, is offered annually
by DR.. Joel e. Spingarn, chairman Of
the board of directors Of the above
named association. to the man or wo
man Of African descent and American
citizenship who shall have made the
highest achievement during the preced
Ing year in any field of elevated or hon
orable human endeavor.
Responding to the call Of the late
DR.. Booker T. Washington for a ma.
HOnal health campaign the third week
In March, over two-thirds Of the large
organizations of various objects and
aims conducted public meetings where
instructive talks and addresses were
made and literature on health topics
was distributed. This movement was
the first Of its kind on so large a scale
ever undertaken and in which the pub
lie evinced unusual interest. The ru.
raj communities were greatly benefit
ed. and in several large cities the death
rate among our people for the eight
months following was much lower.
Nine Local Business Leagues Formed.
Some of the important events of
April were the meeting of the fifty.
first annual Delaware conference of
the Methodist Episcopal church at At
lantfc Civ N l. REPRESENTATIVES,