Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-09-07
SzIE RzeAMoND PhAMEY, R1eEaMeNp, Y1Ra1NaA

tablishing tho Bureau was arrived at
| and when the regular July meeting
OF the Board took place. tho priority
| Of the governments claim on DR..
Dubois was recognized, but doubt
was expressed us to the ACCESSIBILITY
OF his continuing in charge OF The
Crisis"
The action Of the Board of Drcc-
| tors of the National Association for
the Advancement of Colorcd People
| upset the arrangement. BY refusing
to continue him as editor OF The
Crisis. while he was patriotically
serving the United States Govern
mcnt in particular and his people in
general, one thousand dollars in
salary allowance event a glimmcr-
ing and the plans of the gentlemen
cited disappeared in thin air.
! From what source could the one
| thousand dollars in salary be Sc
cured? The authorities of the War
Department had no funds from which
they could legally supplement this
| amount.
1t developed, too, that this Depart
mcnt and this position was evidently
| to be created for DR.. w. T.. b. Dubois
! and for no one else. He was the
man wanted and no ono else. AS
! controlling the editorial opinion Of
The leading publication OF colored
people in this country, the War De
! partmCnt and the Administration
! would have in its hands Il weapon OF
Uncomfortable benefit in its propagan-
| da and dissemination of information
among the citizens OF color OF the
United States Of America
The man or mon, who originated
the plan were far-sccing diplomats
| and they should be commended for
their foresight and condemned for
their failure to secure the accom-
plishment of their object. But there
was another "hitch' in the arrange
mcnts, which may be VOL included
| in this same chapter.
Here is what the distinguished DR..
ul}ois says:
"a puzzling dilemma between de-
Votion to his life work and duty to
! his country in time of war waS thus
! forced upon Dr. Dubois. His final
! conclusion, painful as it had to be,
was to accept the commission. When
. thousands are giving their lives to
. their country, how could no long
hesitate in rislling far loss?
''This delicate situation was fur
Their complicated by Vague rumors
! which led friends OF the Association
with moro zeal than thought to
charge the Government with attempt
ed bribery and Or. Dubois with
being Il TRAITOR Some who dis
agreed with the July editorials OF
me Crisis saw in them further
evidences Of Il corrupt BARGAIN not
knowing that those editorials were
written two weeks before DR.. Dubois
had the slightest intimation that his
services were to be asked, and were
| in print before he reached Washing
ton"
Then comes tho third chapter. 1t
reads:
"Finally, tho General Staff, altor
carefully considering the matter
! from all angles, has decided not to
establish the proposed bureau at
present as its broad scope might
lead beyond the proper limits Of
military activity"
We have concluded to have one
division marked "Finis." 1t is the
! final word Of Or. w. l.. b. Dubois,
the leading citizen OF color in this
country today. He concludes as
follows:
"llCrc the matter rests. 1t is
dcplorablo that this splendid and
StatcSmanlikc plan has been aban-
donCd and equally unfortunate that
amy question as to Its dcSirahility
should Nave ever arisen among black
folk. The personal side OF ii is OF
less consequence and has left Dr..
Dubois in unrufflcd serenity. No
one who essays to teach the multi
, tudc can long escape cruciliNion."
There is this difference in the at
titudc OF the authorities Of the War
Department and the statement of DR..
. Dubois. The former say that it has
been decided not to establish the
bureau Eat present" and the latter
says that it has been decided to
abandon tho establishment OF the
bureau.
DR.. Dubois says that ho IS left in
unruffled serenity and then concludes
the editorial uttcrances with the re-
the multitude can long escape cru
! ciiiXion." What we want to know is,
! Can cruciiicd man be left in "un-
rnffled scrcnity?" We would also
like to know IL the DISTINGUISHED