The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-05-26
Chairman Cook Must Go!
Colored Girl Wins First Prize i'm X G.. K.

letter was sent TO MI. DecT Ia
copy was refused this paper) in which
he was notified of his dismissal and
enclosing a check for one months ad
ditional salary which General Secre-
tary Bishop says is customary in the
department when an employe is dis
charged and at the same time of the
dispatching of that letter to Mr.. De-
Frantz the following letter was sent
to Mr.. f. A. Harris, Assistant Secre-
tary:
MAY II, 1917.
"Mr. f. A. Harris,
1924 Paseo, City.
Dear Mr.. Harris: In view of the
withdrawal of Mr.. DeFrantz from Of
ficial Connection with this Associa-
ton you are hereby requested to
serve as Acting Executive Secretary
of the ,Paseo Department l will see
you shortly and go over with you mat
ters that are of vital Importance to
that Department.
Sincerely yours,
&C. S. Bishop, General Sec'y."
Upon the receipt of this letter which
Mr.. Harris very properly presented to
Ex-Secretary DeFrantz hurried
meeting of the Committee of Manage
ment was called and the following let
ter was sent to Mr.. Harris:
May IS, 1917. "a rather unluelsy day.
"Mr F. A. Harris,
"Paseo Y. M. C. A.
"City.
my dear Harris: At our meeting
authorized me to state that we have
asked Mr.. DeFrantz to continue in
charge of the Department until the
matter of Mr.. Bishops letter shown
us by you has been finally adjusted
by a Joint Meeting of the Directors
and our Managers. We have every
assurance of your deep interest in the
welfare and success of the Paseo De-
partment and feel sure that you will
recognize the WISDOM of the above
action.
VERY truly yours,
"(Signed) H. o. Cook,
Chairman"
Mr.. Bishop holds that this action
on the part of Mr.. Cook and the Com
mittee of Management is a fragrant
invasion of the rights and authority
of the Board of Directors and it clear
ly demonstrates that insubordination
in its most pronounced form pervades
the management of the Paseo Depart
ment. Secretary Bishop has always
contended that the financial as well
as the moral integrity of every branch
of the Association must be maintain
ed and has been an ardent and enthu-
siastic worker in the development of
the Negro work for many years. He
was a prime factor in the success of
the first campaign waged at 10th &
Charlotte streets so brilliantly assist
ed by the late lamented Bishop Grant
assisted by Hdw. Ross, Austin Young
James H. Crews, ]. f. Perry, H. ]
of the Organization, when the services
of Mr.. DeFrantz were first secured
when $4,000 was raised for the pur-
chase of the property upon which the
building now stands. Mr.. Bishop as
serts that no distinctions are made,
that all men are worthy of consider
alton and help, that some of his warm
est friendships have been with Col
ored men and that he has always la
bored assiduously that Colored men
should have fair chance. He regrets
exceedingly that this little tempest
in a tea pot" has arisen over the firm
and determined stand of the Metro
politan Board but is fully convinced
that the Paseo Department cannot
do it's best work until the resignation
of the Chairman of the Committee OF
Management has been accepted, and
around Mr. Harris has been thrown a
strong loyal and enthusiastic support
that will make for the Paseo branch
of the Y. M. G. A. the greatest or
ganization among Colored men in the
entire country.
II