Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-09-07
TIE STRANGE CASE OF DIR. w.
T.. B. DUBOIS,


Der contains statement in its cdi,.
tori;l columns relative to the tender
OF capt;.incy TO DR.. w. Il. Burg
h&rdt Dubois by the military au-
thoriticS. While he does not sign it.
the presumption Is that the Informal
ton ;:iVen comes direct from this
distinguished man of letters. We
have carefully noted all that IS said
ard We dcducc the following facts
thcrefrom:
DR.. Dubois was offered position
that had not at that time been
created. DR.. Du BOiS tentatively ac-
ccptcd Il position that did not exist
uHcn the condition that he would
not be financially inconvcnicnced and
that he would not be REQUIRED to
make Il financial sacrifice in so doing.
thereby driving Il shrcwd bargain.
Dr. Dubois was advised to accept the
position upon the advice OF tho
President Of the Board OF Directors
OF the National Association for the
Advancement Of Col0rcd People and
by Or. II. G. Bishop. Bishop John
Hurst, DR.. G. T.. Bentley. Col. Charles
Young. Rcv. G. IL. Waller, Hon.
Charles Naecl and Dr. V. Norton
Jones.
Archibald II. Grimkc, Esq. asked
more time to consider the matter
before giving his approval to this
line Of action. In the meantime. rs
DR.. Dubois expresses it, at Il meeting
OF the Board OF Directors. "doubt
WAS expressed rs to the advisability
OF his continuing in charge or Tho
CriSiS.' 1t was expected that the
creation OF this department would
be i'll tho nature of 4 far-rcaching
constructive effort to satisfy tho
pressing grievance of colorcd Amc.-
leans.
Instead rumors were circulated
charging the Government with at
tempted bribery and Or. Dubois with
being II traitor. 1t was seen that
the very purpose Of the organization
Of this Department would be defeated
and accordingly the plan was aban-
doncd and Major Joel T.. Spingarn,
the alleged patron and originator OF
the plan ordered to France.
But ii may he well TO quote DR..
Dubois in This discussion:
"a plan OF far-rcaching construc
to, Ia
grievances OF colorcd Americans has
bcN under serious considcrat ton by
the military authorities at Washing
ton for two months. On Juno 10,
DR.. Dubois was called in and asked
if he would accept II captaincy in Il
bureau Of the General Stan, if one
was established, for the above nur-
poses.
''Dr. Dubois replied that he would,
provided he could retain general
oversight Of The Crisis. and provided
that his captains salary (Which was
900 less than his present Salary)
could be supplemented from The
Crisis income, so that he would suf-
fer no financial loss. The military
authorities saw no objection to these
conditions.
CDR. Dubois then consulted tho
President of the Board OF Director
OF the N. a. A. G.. p, tho chairman
and the acting chairman OF the Board
and several members, including DR..
II. G. Bishop, Bishop Hurst, DR..
Bentley, Mr.. \. II. Grimkc, Colonel
Charles Young. Rev. G. r. Waller,
Hon. Charles Nagcl and DR.. V.
Morton-Jones. All OF them, except
Mr.. Grimke, agreed with the condi-
tons and urged acceptance. Mr..
Grimkc expressed deep sympathy,
but asked more timo for eonsidera-
ton"
This we regard as chapter one. 1t
will be noted that tho purpose of
this movement was to satisfy the
pressing grievances Of the colorcd
people. 1t seems to SAVIOR strongly
Of tho persuasive diplomacy OF our
great and good friend, Hon. Emmett
J. Scott, and admittedly, it was the
idea OF our wcll-wishing white friend,
Major Joel T.. Spingarn, who evident
ly values tho shouldcr-straps OF a
Major in tho United States Army to
an elevation to tho position OF
United States Senator from his own
commonwealth.
The unfortunate part OF this dis.
closure is the bargaining arrange
mcnt OF one thousand dollars in the
salary account, tho aforesaid amount
to come out Of the salary account OF
the New York Crisis. This would
have resulted in the net saving Of
much money in tho treasury Of this
influential publication.
Chapter two begins with tho fol-
lowing:
~No decision. however, AZ to os-