Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-06-07
RACE: LEADERS SHOULD
STOP FIGHTING
TUE BIC THREE, LEADERS OF
THE RACE ARE DINIDED-TlIE
RACE is BEING INJURED.
Rev. DR.. Spillcr Speaks Plainly.

Rev. DIR. Spillcr Speaks Plainly.
Editor Of The Richmond Planet:
Dear Editor,-My attention was
directed to the contention that is now
going on through tho columns of our
paper between three Of our rccoE"
ni2cd race leaders. When | say tho
big three, | do not say in the way of
rejecting upon these three gentlemen
FOR | do regard them as being big
men in every sense OF the term. Their
greatness ard efficiency have been
recognized by his eNccllency, the
President OF tho United States and
his cabinet.
They have been often called and
consulted by him on questions touch
ing tho future status OF tho Negro.
One OF them filed the position as
Assistant Secretary of War, one was
sent by the President over tho seas
to deliver words OF advice and
counsel to those who had laid their
lives upon the altar Of liberty that
the world might be made safe for
democracy, tho other ono has also
been honorcd through tho influence
OF the President, hence they can be
truly called great.
MATCHED OUR METHODS.
l had been thinking Of the matter
but not seriously before reading your
editorial which appeared n few daYs
ago. l havo known you for more
than twenty-five years, and have
watched your methods OF dealing
with politics, fraternal organizations,
individual men and religious subjects
ana II you mado any mistakes along
the lines mentioned above they were
very few. Whenever you have been
beaten 1t proved to be only tompora-
rily. Your success Is due to the fact
that you never spend any time I'm
discussing things that were not essen
tial to the progress and development
Of the race.
We arc passing through a very
critical period, and IL the Negro has
ever stood in need OF safe and COM
petent leaders it Is now. This Is no
time to be asking who shall be the
greatest in the kingdom, but let us
FIRST get tho kingdom well founded
and then the people will rise up and
say who shall set on tho right hand
and on tho left hand Of the throne.
The boat is now upon tho rough seas
being tossed and driven by the waves
OF prejudice and race discrimination
and this is not the time to DO shaking
1t.
NO TIME TO WORRY.
,of
when the interest OF the race is at
stake. II thou has run with the foot
men and they weary thee, how canst
thou contend with horses? II in the
land of peace wherein thou trusteth
they weary thee what will thou do
in the swelling OF the Jordan? Some
men are too much disposed to take
the ill-natured side and judging by
themselves, they infer the worst. but
it Is very often tho case that the
uncharitablcness OF others where
1t Really exists is but tho re-
Election OF our own want Of charity
and want OF temper
1t often happens that the worry we
subject ourselves to has its source
in our own Imagination, although
even those about us may think OF us
uncharitably We shall not mend mat
tcrs by exasperating ourselves against
them. We may thereby only expose
ourselves unnecessarily to their ILL
nature.
The ills that como out OF our mouth
says George Hubbard, "Oftimes fall
into our BOSOM" The great and
good philosopher Farady communi-
Gated the following piece Of advice,
full Of practical wisdom the result
OF rich experience Of life in a letter
to q friend, LET me as an old man,
who ought by this time have profited
by experience say that when / was
| younger I often misrepresented the
| intention Of people and that they did
not mean what /, at that time sup
| posed they meant, and further that
! as a general rule it was better to be
a little dull Of apprehension when
! phrases seem to imply resentment
! and quick in perception, when to the
contrary they seem to imply kindly
| feeling