The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-08-25


is true. Then stay on the outside
where you belong Be a wise auditor,
a keen observer but stay on the out
side of the ropes" This is what wis
dom dictated and the sensible heard.
However, the Negro may thoughtful
ly consider any public or social prob
lem he chooses and where it materially
and particularly affects him, he may
act as intelligently and effectively as
he can to promote his own interest:
this is natural and right but we are
assuming too much laboring under the
load that we are, when we take up the
white mans burden. We are now
staggering under our own troubles and
unless we can master strength enough
to lift them manfully we are crushed.
Surely we want nothing added to this
oppressive weight. We have all we
can do to grope slowly through the
dark ways of prejudice.
Unionism-The Negro-capitalism
The Negro has time in this coun-
try braving and steering clear of the
currents and cross currents which un.
ionism and capitalism provide. To the
former we are indebted for some of
the terrible ills this race has been
subjected to of recent date. We are
not trying to point out the why that
Union labor and the Negro are at
variance. We only say this much, that
If the unions open wide their doors to
NnUrn will erlo
become whole souled units to help
make this country safe for labor at
all times. They have never done this
therefore, the Negro is forcibly on the
outside. Still he has to live. AS
matter of course where unionism is
less pronounced there the Negro most
succeeds. And the Negro monopolizes
no field of labor that the white man
happens to want. Here you have the
Negro moving between the positive
antagonism of labor unions and the
plastic subterfuging of the capitalists. |
however, with this resultant |
discovery: Capitalism does not use
mob violence; does not destroy prop
erty or life. 1t may be insidious but
seldom, if ever murderous.
ALARMS.
In Kansas City the past strife be-
tween labor and what is properly not .
mere "CapitaT' but IA public service |
the Negro has certain
grounds for thought if not alarm: al
though he was not a factor As shown
we are in an international struggle for
so-called Democracy which first and
last means the right to live and the
protection Of property. In the dura-
ton of the strike we were far from
this democratic state of being. Prop
erty was destroyed with impunity by
viClatOrs with perfect acquiescence of |
supposed enforcers of the law 1t is
this that is alarming to thoughtful .
Negroes. They figure and logically,
that if certain groups are allowed to
the laws majesty and go un-
punished where all whites are con-
cerned what would happen if the vic
TINS were of that hue which would
cause the cruel overtures of race
hatred to speak? Indeed, my dear
orothers, it is reliably intimated that
)niy interest in this strike served to
iivert intended mob violence against
Negroes in this city for a shooting in
'ident that was quite contemporary.
SO we know it to be dangerous for
noble rule to displace democracy even !
or a minute in any community, and
his seems to be alarming that we can
10 easily lay aside the known civilized
aw for little barbaris play. Negroes
eason that if it is considered no
wrong to use violence in a strike con-
ention, there will be no limit in in {
er-racial conflicts. This is not saying ,
hat the supremest good will does not ]
Xlst between races here, for it does.
md it is because normally this city {
owes law and order and strives aftetr '
he beautiful. This attitude should be
guarded and responsible par
les should not even appear to lend
ountenance to destructive elements {
n our midst. AS for Negroes, let them |
arken to the great constructive call '
4 opportunity in this burg We have !
o plant more good social ideas for I
ur own welfare; establish more and
etter businesses; provide more in i
ustry for ourselvesorganize all of our
orces for the benefit of all.