The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1919-05-31
League Of Nations
TWO HEROES, BUT DIFFERENT.
BY Prof. VIM. H. Dawley.

BY Prof. VIM. II. Dawley.
Both are pouring out their life's en-
ergy on Americas darker problem of
which they are part. Each is dip
lomat. Neither can do the work of the
other, but the work of each is neces-
sary. The one was trained in New
England and Europe; the other was
educated below Mason and Dixon line.
The one out of immediate touch with
his people, yet is dealing stunning
blows for them; the other in the midst
of that same people is cheering, COM
forting, soothing mothers and widows
and binding the wounds of the broken
hearted. The one is blazing path of
unrestricted freedom for the foot-sore
and bruised, the other, applying band
ages and supplying food and drink on
the spot. Comparing things of yester-
day, the one is the dauntless Peter;
the other the reserved, but not less
constant John the Divine. Compar-
ing things of today, the one seems the
editor, the intrepid Lord Northcliffe;
the other, the war minister the lion
hearted Lloyd George. Some days ago
the metropolitan press startled the
world with the intelligence that these
foremost Britons were at odds and
were about to engage in a duel to the
death. They were too clever for that.
They have their swords unsheathed
not for each other. The task for these
ardent workers for dark race is so
perplexing, so trying, so stupendous,
that if they do not initiate, they must
at least profit by the example of the
worlds first editor and premier of our
age.
The position of the Negro in the
United States prior to the World War
was far from enviable. Now it seems
worse. Hence all agencies looking to-
ward it's betterment should invite har'
mony, not antagonism; should melt
the opposition with an undivided front.
1t was easy to slay James Reese Eu-
rope, but will the easy for the slayer,
whose name becomes known only
through that luckless deed, to supply
the famous Jazz musicians place?
DR.. William E. B. Dubois has done
the Negro, wherever dispersed around
the globe, an inestimable service at
this time in establishing the Pan-Afri-
can Conresgs and getting the Negroes
cause definitely before the Peace Con-
ference at Versailles. 1t is not too
much to affirm that no one else could
have done that. Yet that was the act
of one month and its results are yet to
be determined. Secretary Emmett j..
Scott, Assistant Secretary of War, has
had an ever varying. complicated and
delicate task and has done more with
it than any other man in America could
accomplish. Take the most imposing
case, the field was open for anyone
to keep Colonel Young from being
shelved and the scores of subordinate
soldiers from walking over him to
/ generalships and to have him restored
| before the war closed Did anyone per-
| form that task? Well, what was ac-
complished-who did it? Who stayed
On the job until it was done? Did Sec
retary Scott accomplish anything else?
Consult the myriads of black boys in
| khaki whose cases were relieved. Are
we getting anywhere when we mini
mize accomplishment and magnify fail
ure? Comparisons are insidious, but
they will to the fore. President Will
son with the prestige of one of the
worlds greatest nations at his back,
and untold resources at his command,
as we'll as the selection of his task,
did not get what he wanted despite
his reception with open arms by the
allies and unfeigned hope by the
enemy.
At the very outset Secretary Scott s
position was circumscribed by a not
too friendly administration, by con
slant contact with officers, hostile and
disinterested who regarded his cause
as anoying intrusions. To whom coult
he turn from this frigid atmosphere fol
encouragement? Surely to the $4,000,
, 900 Negroes. No. But it is not theil
fault, but the fault of the times, o.
their education. 1t was such a condi
ton that caused Poland to fall. Blu
Poland has persisted and come back
So will the Negro when he learns tt
cheer instead of harshly criticizing hi
own who is struggling under an over
whelming task and doing his best.
Suppose Mr.. Scott had resigned
, when things did not turn out to hi
+. liking What would have been accom-
!. plished? Italy left Versailles and wen
q home in buff. But she returned ant
things remained as they were. Japal
Q remained and got what she wante'
\ against powerful odds. 1t is noticeabl
8 that Secretary Scott seems to prefe
achieving to talking.
J, Mr.. and Mrs. Pearman of GA Char