Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-03-02

j. w. THOMPSON, Grand Secretary ,
a.. -. - -. or. ....~-.. 800
agents and brokers, BARRIERS rcstau.
rants and what not; your profes.
sional men, including physicians and
surgeons dentists, pharmacists and
attorneys ct law your educational
institutions including Hartshorn. Vir
ginia Union University, Armstrong
High and your splendid public school
SYSTEM your newspapers and print
lilB establishments, and last but by
no means lcaSt-your forty or more
churches give you q commanding Mace
IN the life of this great city-this
historic "Old Dominion" State.
honor you and I congratulate you
and l count myself rs / have said,
most fortunate indeed that | am here
in this city which so often honored
the great "citizcn of the world" whom
] had tho privilege of serving for so
many years, and whose life was singu
lnrly intcrtwined with your city's hi;
tory beginning with that momen--
touS night when he slept under a
sidewalk here in Richmond while earn
ing money with which to mako has
way to Hampton-nced l say that I
nm referring to Booker r. Washing
ton.
And then. too, 1t Is an honor to
speak OF my close friendship and asso-
citation with another Son Of Virginia
DR.. Robert II. Motion, formerly OF
Hampton Institute, and who in the
course OF less than two years has
already craven the impress of his
mnsterful personality upon that grea.
institution founded by Booker r.
Washington, to which he has been
called as Principal and presiding
genius. | know OF your great regard
and respect for him, and l know You
wiz be Pleased to hear from my lips
or the loyal, sympathetic. and un-
Tagging devotion which has been un
grudeingly given to Dr. Motion Ivy
oil tho officers of Tuskegee Institute
by nearly 200 teachers and the 1900
or moro students, since he first reach
cd Alabama and assumed charge of
that great normal and industrial
school. Ho is making good" as we
say III common Darlnnce, and I regard
1t most fortunate that have been
permitted to serve with two such lln
selfish, useful and humanity-loving
men. as Booker II. Washington and
Robert r. Motion both products OF
your State-Virginians to the manor
born!
LII this city tho races have come
together (nnd more and more are
coming together) in spirit OF friend
ship and good within a spirit of mu
tual confidence and helpfulness, and
nave worked out a program of racia,
adjustment seeking fairness and
justice toward each other. In the
WA 1Sp1, ,,,1, srlx
passing, and when the common rights
and interests of all American citizens
are at stake, it is highly essential
be subordinated, and that all citizens
Of this grand, old commonwealth shall
come together to serve-yes, to serve
your State and your Nation in this
hour Of national emergency and need
You have here in Richmond and
Virginia the first Colored State Secrc-
tary of the Young Mems Christian
Association working under the
auspices of the State Executive Com
mittee Of the Y. NJ. C. A. under
whose auspices / speak here today.
Mr.. J. Fl. McGreW. the colorcd State
Y. NJ. G. a. Secretary. to whom I re-
fer, is one Of the most level lheaded,
one OF the most energetic. and one OF
the finest Christian gentlemen it MAS
heen my pleasure to know. In his eff
forts to strengthen this work in Vir
GINA cities and towns and schools
among Industrial workers and among
rural classes Mr.. McGrew is entitled
to, and deserves the earnest. active
personal cooperation Of Thought fun
men and women throughout this
State.
The colored people and the white
people Of Richmond are proving that
though they are different in color
with histories and traditions also
widely different, they are yet able to
1.-Two side by side in a spirit Of amity
and good within peace and harmony
each contributing in his own way
not only to the prosperity OF this
great city which stands like '"Rome
upon her seven hills" but they are con
tributing to the welfare Of this great
State and Of our Nation as well.
We are engaged in a great struggle
testing whether this Nation dedicated
to Liberty and tho pursuit OF happi-
ness, shall perish from the Earth. II
we would accomplish our purpose, nat
ional unity must prevail. Scctionalism
must be relegated to the rear. Class
feeling must be obliterated. A great
surging common Willingness to serve
n common purpose must prevail. The
North, the South, the East and the
West. each must sink It's sectional
feeling. Neither classes. nor massc~
nor races. nor creeds. nor color OF
mems skin are to be counted at
time like this, when n great Nation is
at war with a defiant foe A common
task demands n sinking Of all. OF every
thing except patriotic zeal. If we are
to conquer. Unity Of feeling communi
" interest. must dominate If we are