The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-12-23
PEN SKETCHES OF PRESENT
DAY NEGRO NOTABLES.
BY w. H. A. Moore.
(By A. N. P.)
Rnhert Russo Motion.


1t does not matter when Robert
Russo Motion began to count time,
nor does it make any difference
where he first began to wrestle with
fate for place among us full chest
ed earthmen. Men come and go and
few manage to stay on with us
long after times ceases to be a con-
sideration with them. Appraisement
of character, though, is risky and
pesky business. This is especially
true IL the subject is walking about
the Earth where one is liable to
come, at any moment, face to face
with his highness or his lowness Tor
that matter. The undiminishing fact
thai goodly number OF our first
place characters have been more
prominent than great adds not III
tie to the peskiness and the diff
culties of the task assigned me by
Manager Barnett. In the case OF
Major Motion the task becomes a
pleasant duty. got my first inn
pressions of him out of the air. They
were neither clear cut nor compli-
meptary. MY conclusions concern
ing the place he was about to take
in our midst were quickly reached
and decisively determined in the neg
alive. We were to endure another
Leadership of doubtful value" l as
sumed and there was nothing left to
do but swallow the dose and take
another nap. / am changing front
on the Motion aspect OF deserving
honOrs among our prominent per-
sonages. | find much of his utter
ance constructive in purpose and the
most of his attitude brave and well
poised in spirit. There Is but One
Motion. What he says In Scotland he
AYERS in Alabama. What he declares
is the truth in New York he as
serts to be a certainty In Georgia.
Not blantantly but in calm spirit
and a clear voice. Shelly's religion
was somehow bound closely within
the spheres of duties. Notions mind
seems to be rigidly focused on what
men shall do TO create harmonious
relationships for each and for all Of
us. He includes white and black in
his determinations. "The world will
be better place to live in II all men
win begin to recognize the great
truth that rights are the common
property of all and duty the common
heritage of our impulse to work and
build for a unified posterity," he re-
Gently declared. Quite inclusive, l
should say imagine that leadership
is somewhat far removed from his
calculations. He appears to me to be
the Principal Of the Tuskegee school
moved by an abiding and sincere in
terest in the broader applications Of
what we are coming to know as
real education" 1t may be that he
| has the common sense to realize
that as the Principal Of Tuskegee
| Institute he will provide himself
with firmer first place the his
tory of his times than he could ever
hope to hold as "The Leader of His
Race" Oft times l marvel at the
temerity of certain types of men and
women who constantly seek the lime
light In the affairs of the race thru
out the country. And then again /
wonder If we made the paths a lit
tie harder in the going II we would
not be doing them a favor for which
they finally would feel very CRATE
full for our thought of them in this
particular. II has been so easy for
one of us to become great" in the
more general considerations of things
as they effect our thought of them.
o. the responsibilities of greatnessi
They submerged Napoleon and the
brought the Unreasonable woe of q
deep love suffering to the soul of
Dante. But this has nothing to do
with Robert Russo Motion, particul-
arly. What really had in mind was
that there is q man who had not as
sumed the role of a great parsonage
of the race nor had he had the hon.
or unceremoniously thrust upon him.
Most of us had determined that he
"wouldn't do" "He hasn't got the
stuff in him." l have often heard
remarked about the favorable pros
poets for his future. But esteem for
him Is mounting steadily. would
say that common sense IL his big
possession. Couple this with a sin
cere refinement of manner and a
distinct honesty of attitude and you
have character that is growing in
the accumulations of sound wis
dom and becoming firmer fixed in
the truer admirations of his fellows.
May Time hold this man to its heard
and love him much.