The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-04-06

may not do, thinkingly, even for
money; and through the presence of
several white soldiers in the audience
made us feel that in a city that does
not permit the Chicago Defender to
be sold, he possessed courage of the
highest order, for he, in no uncertain
terms, expressed his disapproval and
demanded that every race man not
only refuse to take part, but use every
influence to prevent the less intelli-
gent from so doing. The fact that the
attitude taken by Rev. Stokes was
also taken by the pastors of the other
leading churches and individuals of
influence, caused the cryystallization
of a public sentiment that completely
killed the 'toting contest; and self
respect, intelligence and social SER
vice had won n more of the thou
sand of victories to be won in the ele-
walton of the race.
The intellectual expresses itself in
directly in the personnel of the pro-
fessional classes, i. e., ministers,
teachers, physicians, dentists, male
and female, pharmacists, merchants;
and the appreciation the average audi
ence shows for the higher orders of
entertainment such as visit Montgom-
cry on their route from Tuskegee to
Selma University, etc.
1t may be observed indirectly in the
the substantial homes, places of bust
ness and we'll located business and
income property in the downtown dis
trict.
Rev. Stokes is rated as, possibly,
Montgomery's most wealthy Negro;
but Mr.. Tulane, a member of the board
of directors of Tuskegee College; DR..
d. H. c. Scott, supervising surgeon Of
Camp Sheridan Emergency Hospital,
and many others are the leaders in
that new philosophy of the race that
a leading citizen" should stand for
something more tangible han those
possessed by the character portrayed
by the lamented Booker T. Washing
ton in one of his droll stories.
They are men of fine character, sue
cessful in their respective lines of
endeavor. economically independent
and an inspiration to the race.
No survey of the Southland would
be complete without due mention of
that gentleman, educator and pub
licist, Prof. A. F. Owens, D. D., ex
president of Selma University, for
mer member of faculty of Tuskegee
and at present Dean of Theology at
Selma University, who, in his charac-
t~eristic way, explained his resignation
from the larger to the smaller field of
endeavor by saying that he felt that
he could accomplish more good for
his race by "denaturing the empryotic
Bible beaters" and teaching the stu
dents of theology the full RESPONSE
bility both to God and man of having
a "call to preach"
While the present scope of his work
is limited largely to theology and the
social sciences, his possibilities for
the good of the race are unlimited, in
view of the fact that, for some mys.
FERROUS reasons, there are reported to
be se~venty-two and in another city
e~ighty-four churches of one denomi
nation, neither city having a racial
population greater than fifty thousand
One may not observe a large mum
Der of congregations consisting OF
from twenty-five to a hundred in near
ly every city of any size "Hooverizing'
by having preaching once or twice a
month in a large city without being
compelled to wonder why.
Perhaps DR.. Owens knows and has
never chosen his smaller field of en-
d~eavor; and if he is greatest who rem
ders the greatest good to humanity
Ibis place in the future history of the
race is secure"
His is a character one is compelled
to admire, even on first meeting-wel
poised, sincere. forceful-respectet
alike by both races, and able to per
sonally command more space and con
sideration from the white daily paper.
than any other writer of the race il
the Southland; and much of the com
~plimentary notices of individuals an(
organizations of the race emanate.
from his pen.
The Blind Boone Company acknowl
edges its obligations to him for thu
appreciative receptions, economical!
: and socially, accorded them through
out the Southland.
: At another time / hope to writ,
t you some observations and thought,
/ of T~ueskegee and Nashville, but eacl
; is worthy of a sole agency"
The Blind Boone Company is doins
) a fine business and all are we'll
though we have our joys and sorrows
Mrs. Marguerite Day, mezzo-sopran;
and secretary, was called to the bed
} side of her father, Andrew Giles, 49,
West street, Topeka, Kas., and spen
a few hours in Kansas City en- route
, Mr.. Giles is improving, however