The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1922-03-08
CAREER on MARCUS GARvEY

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The career of Marcus Garvey, the
Jamaica negro who appointed himself
provisional president of Africa and
enlisted many thousands of American
negroes in his crusade for the liberia
ton Of the black continent from the
white yoke, rivals that of 1oussaint
IfOuverture.
Garvey's crusade collapsed the
other day when he was arrested by
postal inspectors for selling passage
to Africa on mythical n-going
liners. He neglected to provide ships
before selling tickets to his crusad-
ers. The only vessel flying the flag
Of the Black Star line is retired
Hudson River boat tied up to one
Of the docks in New York.
President Garvey landed in New
York not so very long ago from
Jamaica with nothing but creative
imagination and glib tongue. He
soon demonstrated his talents as a
promoter. Besides his position as
President of Africa, he promoted
himself to the position of president
of the Black Star line, managing edi-
tor of the Negro World, principal
potentate, paramount chief and presi- |
dents general of the University Negro /
m prov m ent Association. A fat |
salary accompanied each title. The
bigger the title the fatter the salary. I
The total reached $27,500 a year.
That is in addition to the profits
from his holdings in the Black Star
line, Negro Factory Corporation and
other concerns for colonizing and de-
veloping the continent of Africa.
Stocks in these companies found
ready buyers among the thousands
who came under the spell of Garvey's
oratory.
Although the majority of intelli-
gent negro leaders were suspicious
or openly hostile to Garvey from the
start, he soon enrolled large army
Of Jealous crusaders, eager to open
up their pocketbooks and follow him
to Africa. He has done more, prob
ably, than any other man, not ex-
cepting Booker T. Washington, to
stir up the feeling of race conscious
ness among American negroes. Local
branches of the U. N. I. A. sprang
up in every section ofthe United Stat
es. A recent convention Of the or
ganization in New York, while it
fell short of the $4,000 delegates
claimed by Garvey, was one of the
biggest negro gatherings ever held
IN America.
Toward the last, when it was seen
now successful Garvey had been in
the imagination of the
American blacks, even the more in
leaders of the race attempt
I'd to salvage the wreck of Garvey's
dishonest management and direct the
energies he had Embossed into worth
,hannels.
Before the crash came, however,
opposition to the Garvey program de-
reloped from an unexpected quarter
High Commissioners" sent to Liberia :
IS an advance guard of the crusade
we're received with hostility. Garvey !,
md his title retinue were told to !.
mind theM own business. "Africa
or the Africans" did not mean "Af- y
lea for the North American negro" .
he editor of the Black Man, a ma
i've paper published in Capetown, :
south Africa, in letter to an Ameri- !,
an negro publication, probably voiced q
he sentiment of the 100,000000 r,
lacks Of Africa when he said: "There =
5 not a native king, prince or chief
n this continent who will surrender :
is crown or his natural rights of
overnment to a commoner like Gar
ey just because the latter happens
} be a smooth talker" v
Meanwhile Garvey is out on $500
all and the captain of the Black Star G
mes boat the Shady Side, occupies
imself shooting craps with an oblig- W
lg longshoreman.