New-York tribune., 1921-01-30
The Negro Moses
A Plea for Cooperation Between the
Black and White Races

TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: We have read the views cs pre.s-
dent-elect Harding on almost every sub
Ject but the race problem. am Of the
white race, but am one who is IN
teneely interested in our sister races,
especially the negro. It is absolutely
important that something should be
done in regard to the negro if America
is to prevail, and It is imperative that
Mr.. Harding ghould express his views
now before undesirables get the upper
hand in the negro race.
I was reading not long ago OF Marcus
Gevey, styled the negro Noses" in
The Worlds Work. hope that this
man, with his back-to-Africa idea and
ais agitation against the Anglo Saxon
race, will not, with his 5000, 900 follow
ers, get an upper hand in a race that
has always, until lately, been at peace
with our race
TO ne it seems as if the white race
IS sleeping and is permitting 8 volcano
to be formed within the negro race that
will result not only in Bolshevisn but
in :. force that viii be destructive to
Anglo-Saxon ideals. 1t allows magazines
10 be published and spread broadcast
among the negroes, preaching to them
the efficacy Of the Karl Marx theories,
even the destruction OF everything
white.
The possibility % black revolution
IN America Ia remote, but the chance
FOR it should be broken up at the start,
and the New York newspaper. should
cooperate with any one willing 60 uss
reasonable methods to forestall such a
useless and disastrous outcome, so far
as the prosperity and tho good name o9
America are concerned.
Some time ago read Of venton
Johnson and letter he wrots 10 Presi-
Gen.-elect Harding. II interested me as
Il Interested M. Harding, and made
Journey to Harlem 70 consult with
The man who wrote IL He IS q negro
one who IS well known among our
race as poet and among his ewn peo-
ME as editor Of conservative and able
magazine. He gave me copy o. the
letter. and quote 1t for You, that you
might perceive policy that would ena-
ole E-. Harding to cope with the negro
radicals-a policy that is even moro
astonishing than that of Frederick
Douglass Or Booker n, Washington. He
says:
The yaca problem is q problem Of
obtaining FER America the best in every
man, not the problem Of establish
ing yace supremacy. Although / myself
nm descendant Of Africans have no
desire shat the negro should supersedc
the white man in the domination Of the
country, and have no desire that the
white man should attempt to conduct
the affairs OF this nation without the aid
o. ths negro or any other racial e}e-
nle-- in America.
"1f America belocss 20 al races then
81 races saould work to maintain
America. II the negro is permitted to
hate the white man and the whits man
IS permitted to hate the negro Boil
shevisn will obtain toothold IN the
worlds most democratic nation. Hate
is the only element that can prolong
the race problem. That sentence is
the keynote os Johnson's policy The
South cannot develop cotton without the
negro. Neithe- can Il develop cotton
without the white man. The interests
Of the South depend upon each race
working with the other Take either
race out O. TIE South and the South
would fail. Likewise the North needs
negro labor as it needs white labor"
think the country AZ large should
know Mr.. Harding's attitude on the
views OF such men az Ferton johnson.
inasmuch as Anglo-Saxou ideals are At
stake and i is necessary for some negro
leader to present them for the good OF
al races. GAVIN p. ROSE.
Edgewarsr, n. J., Jan. 20, 1921.
Som AtfSfuo Nexw