The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-12-15
BY Chas. Starks.

Come to think of it, the thing was
very natural. However, we are bound
to congratulate ourselves on our
craftsmanship becausee W have proof
of its accuracy. Now let us see. The
marksman hits the bulls eye and THE
BELL RINGS. One occasionally
kicks a hound and the mongrel yelps,
sometimes skulks along, snarling and
showing its talons and offering vocferi
ating barks from the distance.
Our President paid his respects TO
us in last weeks issue of the Sun.
We shall devote our energies in
strengthening our position" which we
gained bN our first attack" Here
let us assure you that we have a COM
handing view of the enemy's works
and if we do not crush him in the
coming conflict, then put us down as
a bad soldier.
The first move the enemy: THE
Negro Educational Congress is regard
ed by thoughtful men and women as
being the most potential factor in
American life for the betterment of
the race
How broad, We admit that
THOUGHTFUL men and women have
REGARDED this CONGRESS but have
found it an elusive and magical sort
of a see and now you don't see propo-
sition. because in REGARDING it they
have never been able to discover any
laudible acts of this so-called organi-
cation. Still our President says the
Congress is the MOST potential fac
tor for the betterment of our race.
Here's Camouflage smeared OIL with
abandon and gaudiness. This is too
much. Now an organization is truly
measured by the actual work it does
in its chosen field. 1t is judged by
the intelligent membership it compre-
bends, both as to officers and laymen;
the good motives it demonstrates and
the distinctive service it renders the
people. All these may be said to be
convincing evidences of organized eff
fort. There is such an organization in
The National Association for the Ad-
vancement of CoIored People.
IL q N"PAl"l u - NHb'N = ,
three indispensable assets for the sue
cessful prosecution of responsible an
terprises of every sort. The same
thing may be said of The National
Business League and a score of others
which stand for something besides i'll
conceived press dope. The people can
see and sense the work of these
u-ortb,- nomination Thav ORC really
National in their practical scope; they
are not only "~educative' but support
the Negro in his move for civic JUS
tice and economic efficiency. Blu the
Negro in his move for civic justice and
economic efficiency. But the Negro
Educational Congress, of which no n
has discovered any tangible smart
ness, claims that 1T is the most po-
tential factor for the betterment of
the American Negro This statement
is a travesty Of human thought. The
next to be considered is the princi-
plies for which it stands Our Presi-
lent says this almost piously. To de-
termine the real principles of any or
%ganization is to first learn if the same
has n moral poise or balance. Pay
no attention to its BYLAWS, PRESS
DOPE. Its literary propaganda for all
of this can be camouflage. But rather
note the character of its official heads
and the laymen it embodies. Note if
they are of that proven mold which
reflects purity of motive, or if they
have shady regulations and are known
to be of a %grasping, selfish, evil tenn
permanent. The principles Creal )of
any organization is embodied in the
hearts and souls of those who form
its directing and acting power. This
being true, we can easily get a line
on Our Congress" the principles for
which it stands" But let us correct
a premise. Inasmuch as 'other" Off
Gals are not known to us, we wish
to give our President full honor for
whatever merit or demerit might be
due the august body" He is the man,
the plenipotentiary. So in examining
the Officials" in order to determine
the principles for which it stands"
we ask the reader to keep in mind
this ONE MAN CONCERN. If there
are associates we pity rather than
censure.
I've met the President twice. He
personally revealed to me that al
though he was associated with the
liquor interests" he desired my CO.
operation in putting a nearby saloon
out of business, because, as he admit
ted, he had a personal grudge against
the proprietor. l evaded his offer of
cooperation with a little ~camouflage
of my W by referring him to a
friend, and there the matter ended.
Though | understand this gents con
nection with the liquor interests" is
of long standing. l quote the above
incident to give you some idea of the
dualistic President who plays these