Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1919-05-03

receive the Jcers and insults which are COM
mOn?'
"'The position of Pullman porter-why
should it require knowledge of languages
and higher educatiOn?'
els not the time ill-spent in self-mprove-
ment requiring years of training and priva-
tons to master the technique of higher
learning in the best schools of America and
Europe to do the most humble work on
Pullman car, where you are servant of ALL
even the white employee who works beside
you and who receives greater consideration
with no mark of distinction, except the
color of mans compleXion?'
apparently equipped for the most emf
nent service and yet held back because of
the skin Almighty God gave you?''
"What are the bounds of Liberty and
Justice which gives Freedom and Oppor-
tunity to one race and slavery and jim
Crowism to another?"
"When and how are we to prepare a
manly place in our civilization for the
Negro?'
These questions and many others relative
to the Negro were earnestly, we might say
ably discussed by several passengers whose
interest now had heightened, their failing
to the reason why porter should be
so unjustly punished in an attempt to do
his duty.
johnson, with keen mind, no less had
pondered over these questions often with
a thOroughness becoming student of his
character. The knowledge of the history
and struggles Of the different races Of the
world and the slow, gradual climb of cen
turtles in which sacrifice and toll marked
each and every step of that uphill way, de-
Quoting from all given facts, that no race
that was not one time another slaves
had survived the crucial test of civilization
and that the Aztec, the aborigine of Mex
leo, and the American redman, was con-
elusive proof Of that test-with civilization
and it's conditions those races became ex-
tlnct-he was able to compare the govern
ments of Greece and Rome, the extension
of those empires, the fight of the Jutes
Gales, and Saxon races, their subjugation,
the effect of Roman law and afterwards
the English common law and from unques-
tOnable truths, the value Of education as
medium of constructive uplift He knew
the elevation of the masses the world over
to be one great gigantic problem whose
solution depends not upon anita gOnism, but
cooperation of all forces. He knew that in
no country in the world is there an absence
of racial conflict where two different groups
inhabt the same country, that in England
France, Russia and all Asia there are prob
lens affecting the status of different racial
groups far more difficult of solution than
that affecting the white and black races of
America, added to this no ess-the agita-
tor who has been successful for years in
keeping the thinking white man and Negro
apart. When he entered the Pullman SER
vice as a porter, it was not a guess on his
part of the great opportunity to serve the
Negro in the highest capacity of useful
ness. Having dedicated his service unset
fishly to the cause of human uplift, the
greatest possible good he might lend the
world in the humble office of Pullman
porter-Intellgenc and Courage will win
victories Notwithstanding common voca-
ton be ours.
The pushing of buzzer on the outside of
room II promptly at 8 a. m. brought a
ready response.
"All right, porter,' answered the Gen
eral.
''KanSaS Citv at :45 please - said John