Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-03-10
CALVIN IS DISMISSED
FROM MESSENGER
STAFF FOR POLICY
(By Floyd ]. Calvin.)


On February first, 1 was Assistant
Editor of The Messenger Magazine.
On March first, 1 am not Why? /
think it is boCanse that between those
two dates l gave utterance to the 20 =
lowing words: THE fight between The
National Association Tor the Advance
ment of Colored People and the U. N
I. Association has reached such
a stage that it might not be unwise u
impartially review both groups and
see what should be preserved and
what destroyed in each organization,
for the best interests of the public at
large.' This was spoken noe in the col
umns of The Messenger, but indepen.
IDENTIFY in the general Negro press.
The Editors of The Messenger have
the unquestioned right to dictate just
what should be expressed into the
pages of their magazine. They are also
justified in eliminating any factor
which tends to create an outside i'm
preston that all is not we'll within
their ranks. Therefore, to drop me
from their editOriaI staff--for what
ever reason-both logical and correct
ANOTHER POINT RAISED.
But the settling OF this point gives
rise to another equally as important
Why should T, after some months Of
association, wilfully provoke such
unavoidable action?
First. as Assistant Editor l was in
no way responsible to the public for
what appeared in the magazine. Even
though l believed every word that
was written. or not a single word it
all remained my personal and private
opinion. But If the time ever came
when I felt disposed to object or dis
agree, that was also my personal right
So that the points involved are purely
issues of public policy.
MADE NO ATTACK.
From editorial reference to the posi-
tion which took 1t seems to be clear
that / did not attack the ranks and
file of either the N. A. A. c. P, or the
U. N. I. A. Also no one could deduce
that / approved Of Marcus Garvsy or
apologized for w. e. B. Du Bols. rhen
where was my offense? Here: The
very fact that did not point an accus-
ing finger at the entire membership
Of the u. N. I. A. was the straw that
broke the camers back.
AS I understand it. Messrs. A. Phil
ip Randolph and Chandler Owen advo-
cate that not only must Marcus Gar
vey be destroyed but the Universal
Negro Improvement Association as
well. To my mind this is unsound
Speaking particularly of racial uplift
L cannot countenance annihilating a
whole group merely because the leader
OF that group comes into disrepute
Surely. the best of leaders may some
times err-perhaps for multiplicity
OF reasons-but it is not logical to
presupposc that a majority of their
followers have likewise gone astray.
tain group is on the wrong track
what would be the correct course for
would-be public servant7
First. what is public servant p
Concisely. he is either an elected or a
self imposed spokesman for the peo-
pie. Second. in speaking or acting for
the people what rule must be his
guide?-In order to remain a servant
helpful, constructive, prophetic-he
must seek to advance the peoples in
terest. Third. how can these interests
be best advanced?--By lessening fric-
fion between groups; by calmly point
ing out errors for the people to avoid;
by presenting a practical program
from which the majority may derive
specific benefits. Thus after much OBJ
servation and serious reflection, ]
found I could not advocate that the Z.
N. /. A., be smashed simply because
Marcus Garvey is suspected of being
n bad actor: and I thought it Mt least
no harm to express my honest coDvic-
tions.
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