The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-11-03
OUR cAMoUFLAeE FRIENDS.
At the "Chicken Dinner"

At the "chicken Dinner"
1t is one thing to see great array
Of our white friends at chicken dir
ner" for our boys who are going rrob-
ably to their funeral for our flag, and
another to note the mercenary pur-
Coses Of scme of the participants in
the great drama. The Louis w. Hill
dinner at Union Hall, st. Paul, was a
reminder and probably one of This
,kinAsrrG Gov. 4Burnquist was to appear,
and as usual, he did NOT. He is q
-SLACHER when needed by the Negro,
and cannot be depended on when
wanted. Was the departure of these
black men so insignificant as to not
deserve his presence? Hon. Julius
Schmahl represented him. And does
Mr.. Schmahl know that he has not
done anything constructive for our
race? Mayor Erwin was among the
missing, but he did send a good rep
resentative, Hugh v. Koch, Spanish
war veteran. Did he show his proper
regard for these men? Not COM
munication of regrets was read, and ex-
plantations now are net in order, OF
course there were white men there
whose records are clean. We believe
that Mr.. Hill, the great captain OF
industry should employ some OF the
men and women of our race in adj
vanced positions, and then Chicken
dinners" would not be such pro-
nounced evidence Of his friendship.
Gov. Burnquist should give to one
Negro at least, one Of his big crop
of political plums instead Of taking
from our former scanty share, and
Mayor Irwin could profit by their ex.
ample. Among the speakers were
Col. ]. Ham. Davidson whose life is
a fitting example of equality to all
men," and he is one of the remaining
few. Hon. Dan. w. Lawler has for
many years done the right thing for
our race, and is member Of that
church, the Roman Catholic, which is
doing more today for the flag and the
Negro end has suffered the most vi
cious attacks. Why do we not have
those supposed friends, who parade
their love at this time-who have
great power in the political and COM
mercial world. do some concrete act
to show that they want to give due
recognition to the Negro! Why should
not Fred McCracken be remembered
for his services to their party and
especially for his ability? Do they
remember that Editor John Quincy
Adams Of the Appeal has done enough
during 35 years service to warrant
reward. Do they think they only
have to give a Negro chicken din
ner" under most uncomfortable coli.
ditions and march him of to war.
Such will not suffice in these times.
The writer of this article was a
speaker on the platform and he held
himself within bounds. because the
allotted time would not permit other
than remarks of encouragement t.
those noble scions of q downtrcd-
den race" OH their journey to vic.
tory or death Therefore. 1t was his
duty to waive personalities and
overcome the evil with the good.
The chairman. w. T. Francis, presided
with becoming dignity. He 10 loyal
Negro to his race and his country.
The arrangements made, because the
affair could be financed by Louie
lill, we're not of his doing.
& The Negro Is in the war at home
ana abroad. IIe must be true to him
self to be true to his country. Hc
cannot afford to surrender his man
hood for position. or his birthright
for finance: no more right here than
be can afford to act as q spy or quit
10 . coward-Over there. Let us
not be led astray by those friends
Z who want US, because We give tile
most. but pay due tribute to those
who treat us as men. And rs a
: warning to st. Paul Negroes, let the
white citizens accept the Negro Ia
their own gatherings. Minneapolis
sets the example. Tho boys hero
were given every consideration like
the other races: and one Of our black
Logs can do more among the white
people by showing his loyalty and
willingness TO go. to advance Us In
their estimation as race. than Q
thousand Negroes. by listening to tho
"bWl!" shot at US by . few white