The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-03-24
A SERIOUS CHARGE.
Kansas City Sun,
Nelson c. Crews, Editor.

!
This idea of having to go through
the same ordeal of uncertainty nearly
every time the Missouri Legislature
has a session must by this time be
wearing upon everybody's peace of
mind. It's a damnable and extreme
ly intolerable nuisance, but about the
only thing we are able to do, it seems,
is to go through the usual line of pro-
cedure-send a delegation there to
demonstrate which action only seems
to serve as temporary relief, for as
sure as the sun sets some BUSH
whacking legislator will feel himself
dutybound to resubmit another Jim
Grow" bill at the first favorable op-
portunity.
| 1t does not require the services Of
clarvoyant to tell you about how
much patriotism occurrences of this
character instill into a man. You
know and l know-we all know.
| They do not seem to realize, or care
| to realize how much we are writhing
under the humiliation of such open,
arrogant setting forth of the Negro
as an inferior-a horse or a mule.
Mr.. Crews, my primary object in
writing you was impelled by an idea
have that might help some. There is
one thing certain-it can work no
harm.
| want to speak of some observa-
tions l have made just recently.
! l work out south and travel the
Troost avenue line every day. Re-
Gently my hours have been changed,
l now start to work at o'clock every
other morning and also leave work
every other evening at 6 o'clock. Just
about the same time girls and women
employed as domestics and men of the
laboring class are in the habit of 60
ing to and from work.
l was at first agreeably surprised
to notice colored girls and women en-
ployed in such large numbers where,
as | recall, a few years ago there
were very few in comparison. But
since then different things have hap
pened in such manner as to put
damper upon the enthusiastic part
of the surprise.
A man never in his whole life saw
a dirtier, more unkempt, hoarier look
ing aggregation of colored people
than those that traverse the Troost
avenue line daily. Language cannot
be invented that is too strong to de-
nounce such wanton neglect Of per-
sonal cleanliness.
The Troost avenue line is one of
the most important arteries of trans
poration in the city carrying as it
does, thousands of the most fashion
able people of the city and the deport-
ment of our race on this line-taking
everything into consideration is to my
mind, of extreme importance.
There is of course an excuse for
poverty but is there any reasonable
excuse for a woman who gets on
car with dirty stocking hanging
halfway over her shoe-top and her
= hair looking like a wet mop? Or
man who boards a car with lime caked
all over his coat and the back of his
neck looking like a stove brush? A
q clothes brush or a little soap and
: water and ten or fifteen minutes of
e time would be all that is necessary
g to remedy either of these evils.
| know you have observed these
d same things, Mr.. Crews, and l can
l. imagine just how you have felt. And
= you of course understand that there
L are lot of colored people daily rid
ing the street cars who look as neat
a and as tidy as anyone could wish for.
l. But they are away in the minority
e the other, the careless, slouchy class
e engulf them like tidal wave.
h On the other hand, to draw COM
ID parison, you cannot help but observe
how white girls-poor, hard-workine
g girls, such as laundry-workers, etc.
o. girls earning from maybe not over
TX $500 to $500 a week salary-hov
lie carefully they are of their persona
in appearance. How they take a cheaI
Id garment and strive to make it attrac
lg tive they strive to hide their man
re ner of making a livelihood and the!
at succeed!
d. Colored girls can do the same. Sim
ply because she is working in
ny kitchen is no reason why she shoult
ly go to work wearing a gingham aprol
h and with her shoes bulging at thu
ng heel.
er- l have taken up more space than
o. intended, Mr. Crews.
nd e~at sassselS be done 80 renaed
~, this AT ONCE. Can't 1t be taken u
Ic- in the churches and at lodge meet
nd ings and in a justifiable manner 6
ir. public gatherings? feel sure tina
m the satisfactory results would NOR
u.s. than repay such an effort.
II With sincere hope that you viii
i'll give this matter your valuable cor
to sideration l assure you that ] gladf
offer my services in any capacity tina
you might deem necessary to assis
ST. in terminating this pride rendin
"evil,"
Yours very truly,
,rs ROLAND PATRICK.