Phoenix tribune., 1920-01-24
MITT SIMMS.
CLEVELAND THE JOY SPOT OF JUSTICE
CBv Associated NEGRO Press

(By Associated Negro Press)
There is at least one metropolitan American city
where justice sits the throne and good will is the
watchword of progress. That city is Cleveland in Ohio
From its early history Cleveland has maintained an eX-
allied standard of human fair play and in the trying and
bitter days OF unrest and nsdous propaganda has not
taltered III its primitive faith
The maintenance of this high standard has by no
means been free from difficulties. Determined and f
some instances, erociOus efforts have been made jar
the proud egacies and destroy the fine ideals but the
better self" of Cleveland has always finally riumphed
The of Cleveland's enviable position may be
found by careful study In the first place. the pioneers
of Cleveland sturdy, honest high-mnded people,
who believed in human justice. So deep-seated have
their convictions pelmeated the spirit of the community
that outside influences have been able to dissDate
them Cleveland has been fortunate in having unsu-
ally enlightened Colored group that collectively and in
dvldually have known the attributes Of American priv
ileges opportunities and Justice Keenlv apprecating
the advantage well the Of civic contact an
ever quckened consciousness has always acted in behalf
of human betternent The blacks have never been afraid
OF the whites and the whites have been afraid of
the blacks because they have understood each other
men to men, and Americans. Hence, they have not
only co-operated with each other but have likewise de
Tended each other with nquestioned sincerity and oval
ty when occasion demanded.
The results have made Cleveland the Leading CITY
. America in universal cooperative justice Chicago
for instance has and by far, larger opportunities
than cleveland, but Chicago does not equal Cleveland
the universal spirit of justice Cleveland in this respect
in class by ITSELF and may well be emuated by other
metropolitan communities.
Cleveland has had the same migration problems as
other northern communities and the necessary encroach
men OF the group upon hitherto so-caed white neigh
borhoods has been general there as elsewhere but
you have heard Of any bombing because of it, This
due to the fact that very healthy public sentiment
prevails 1t prevails in the courts where the Judges are
famously fair and impartial; it prevails in the news
papers, where summary orders stand for treating news of
our group with respect and where unbiased editorial fire.
quenty appears it prevails in the Schools where nearly
one hundred OF teachers assigned for instruction
III grammar and high Schools unequivocaly merit it
prevails III politics, where elected and appointed
to office on fitness to serve; it prevails in the churches
where ministers OF the gospel preach the truth according
to the absolute teachings of the Christi it prevails in the
general welfare work where the needs of group are
handled III the proportion that of all others:
prevails IN the club e where for example nine mem
bers OF group honored members of the City Club
not for the magnfied superficial purpose of social con
tact but for the fundamental purpose of civic better
men 1t prevails in the hotels, places of amusement the
parks stores factories and other places of employment
and has made that great city the real American Joy
spot of justice.
Cleveland points the way to the practical working
out OF the problems OF Race adjustment Cleveland is not
one hundred per cent perfect have the people of our
group nor the other group, attained hundred per
cent efficiency, but Cleveland has tackled the lob With
sincerity OF purpose defniteness courage honesty and
persistence; Cleveland has shown the world what NAV
really be accomplished under such circumstances and
Cleveland has put at rest by example, many of the alarm
ing theories advanced by certain communities Cleveland
has acted as community, in all that term implies and
not as groups OF factions and cques where ignorance and
suspicion prevail