Phoenix tribune., 1919-05-17
ABLE WRITER EXPLAINS POSITION
IN WHICH BLACK MAN IS PLACED
AND PLEADS FOR RBETTER TREATMEN


Editors Note: The following article from the pen of one of the
leading white editors of the country remarkable document
that should be read and considered by all rghthnkng Amer
The writer of the following article surely understands the a
ud the intelligent colored whereof speaks
Detroit Michigan the home this editor article which
appeared in of the leading white daily Of that city,
reproduced verbatim for the benefit Of Tribune readers The article
follows:
"Let the white just to the Negro white viii
not be just himself unless he is just to Negro
In the midst of the loose talk about Negro supremacy
domination social equality all that we'll
perhaps to stop and consider whether the negro asking anything
the hands Of the white which
matter calmly reasonably and without peiudcef those of
who long prejudced light
it difficult perceive that anything unreasonable has been
asked behalf of the Negro For himself the Negro asking
special privileges accorded Others special consideration
kind In fact special consideration and special privileges
the things which he does desire All that asked by the
Negro by those who speak his behalf the
that accorded other citizens only this nothing
the constitution and the all equal before the
This the upon which
founded The that the Negro
and obvious meaning of the constitution and statutes shall be upheld
in practice
the Negro does not desire nor expect to be made the
object Of special privileges he naturally obctsnd he both
moral and legal right objeto the Withholding from him of
guaranteed rights the sole grounds that his skin happens be
shades darker than that of his brother
Is it unreasonable for the that allowed
stand fall solely his merits? prove incompetent
trustworthy individual let him be judged by those shoreo
ng other individuals judged
flesh carries pigment somewhat different from that
skins of other Under the constitution
teed the civil rights other citizens He should estimated
by the standards If he incompetent privi
ege of the franchise let him be debarred hereo
unworthy by educational and other restrictive qualifications but
let laws be general not Of special application Let them apply
white well as to black
The of ignorant Negro than the an
ignorant white The Of intelligent
land should be held sacred the vote of intelligent white
The Negro is in this country He did his
accord 1t the of intelligent opinion
south that he be spared Negro
the United States other born under the flag
lie entitled to the rights other citizens To deprive him
of of these rights injustice that
fully defended permanently maintained. unworthy
that claims for itself superiority This injustice
ever endure IN nation where the people because the
just in their ultimate conclusions seemingly
consent to injustice and wrong for time
AS for the question of social equality could safely
to adjust itself the question of the Negro citizenship rights
justly decided No obliged other person
social against his choice
similar aanments To The Negro
asks than simple justice This he is clearly entitled
this he will eventually receive he has patience
win it. In the time it with Negro
to that he worthy of the equal rights equal privileges
that demanded his behalf"