The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1919-04-12
Damon and PythiaS AURHE2RdGN T2H&4RE May 1916
SEE "TE HOMESTEADER" LOVES THEATRE THIS 49,
DR.. THoMPKINs' REPLY AN
APPEAL TO PREJUDICE
Mr.. J. A. Wilson Comes Back With a
Crushing Reply to Dr.. William
J. Thompkns' Article of
Last Week.
WHICH is RlGHT2

Editor Sum
l am pleased that my article on the
soldiers parade drew a reply from
such a distinguished person as my
friend, DR.. William ]. Thompkins, who
revealed himself as the organizer of
the parade. There seems to be a diff
ference of opinion between us concern
ing it. The Doctor naturally thought
it was alright from beginning to end,
creditable affair and one that
marked most eyentful occasion for
our city" The writer thought that a
part of it was rendered disreputable
by the motley, disorderly mob which
was attached to it. After my article
appeared several persons, unsolicited,
expressed their approval of it and CO.
incided with my views, and there is
a young man here, a returned soldier,
who was out of town at the time and
who received a letter in which that
feature of the parade was described
as being disgraceful. l am surprised
that the Doctor appears to think so
lightly of my dreaming, as he full we'll
knows that dreams have inspired some
of the noblest and beneficial perform
ances in the worlds history. No
doubt when he was mere boy he had
dreams of being some day success
full doctor, and the fulfillment of his
dreams is credit to himself and his
race and all his many friends and ac'
nI1aintan0pc hnnn,. him
My interest in the progress of my
race and my life in this city is an
open book and l am willing to let the
record speak for itself.
The Doctor gave an interesting ac-
count of the fighting history of por-
ton of the 92nd Division of our sol.
diers in France, adding some doubt
full statements as facts, and then took
an unusual interest in the ''old ban
danna" Negro women and men who
have to earn their livelihood by the
sweat of their brow" l do not make
this charge against the Doctor speci.
ally and individually but the class OF
society he represents. Here is what
he says of the disorderly mob that
yet maintain spoilt the parade: "Black
as they were said to have been, but
sweet, o God, with hearts white and
true, simple and unkept as they were
but whose textures represented not
ill-gotten wealth but honest toll" This
to my mind sounds "mushy"; it ap
pears to be an attempt to play to the
gallery" and is in the same class as
the methods of certain white persons
who when they, wish to ingratiate
themselves in our favor, assures us OF
their sympathy for us because they
sucked a black mammy's breast"
beg to remind the Doctor that the
manner in which he expresses his in
terest in certain classes of our people
is "old stuff" and they are gradually
getting on to it."
DR.. Thompkins is educated and in
telligent and therefore has or should
have a more than fair knowledge Of
the English language. | will not be
so unfair as to accuse, him of wilfully
misrepresenting my words to reflect
discredit on the soldiers or to intimate
scorn for the poverty of their mothers
sisters or sweethearts, but l certainly
challenge him to prove that any eX
preston in my article could be so con
strued. In the first part of his reply
the Doctor offered excuses for the
manner OF entertaining the soldiers
which was not criticized and at it's con
clusion he likened the parade of &
handful of men to "all the triumpha
professions of history" This, how
ever, is a custom of some members o.
the medical profession to mystify ant
enlarge ordinary things as when they
prescribe chloride sodium for common
salt and aqua bulliens for hot water
1t is not my intention to depreciate the
merit of the Doctor or alter our socia
relation but it is time for us to ge
together and put our beautiful theories
into practice and do something will
or for the class of persons under dis
cussion, for, and l agree with the Doc
tor, that this is the crucial period o
democracy and of reconstruction"
J. A. WILSON.