Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-02-02

i, The best product of the citizens OF CO.
or in this country. Hon. Marcus Ia :
vey is young and indiscreet. Ag
would have sObered his mental exhuo
! frances and invested him with trans
eendent judgment which would have Ell
sblad him to see some good even in the
uninviting toad.
This distinguished Negro leader
avs further:
The unfortunate thing about Negro
| leadership is that it is self-appointed
| and our people have not yet risen 20
the point where they can discriminate
between appointed leadership and elect
ed leadersh p. It is natural that the
man who is selfish will appoint him
self to the best pcs ton when the bes'
position should only be filled from
among the people by the ableS t man IN
their choice. We should, Therefore
earn to so discriminate as TO let self
appointed leaders realize that theil
reign IS at an end.
What Constitutes a leader and how
can a person appoint himself 4 leader
unless such an appointment is confirm
cd by the people or by tho organize
ton who Is to follow him and accent
hia leadership? We hardly think tina
ny one will seriously question thf
fact that the brilliant DR.. W. E. DU
Bots is a leader and thet his leadership
has been accepted by a large pr2poi
lion of the colorel people Of this coun
try.
We entertain the same opinion con
corning DR.. Kelly Miller. who from
certain angle is one Of the greatest
recognized leaders in this country to
Pay and it is question as to whethes
c could not line up following in a
discussion equal to that of his disting
In he'd confrere. Dr. w. e. B. Du Bots.
Rut what is tn. definition of a leader?
Webster's New International DictiO J.
airy says
leader: One that leads. A per on o;
animal that goes before to guide OF
show the way or that precedes or di
reefs in some action opinion or move
ment.
A guide, conductor. One having au
thority to precede and direct; CHEF
/. commander; captain.
The distinguished Britisher is cali
ing. for the displacement of all OF thesa
leaders wfren they reach an age
which he does lot specify and thu
manifest impression is that old age
brings a>out hypocrisy. fraud, decep
tion and zelfishness. Still there is az
old leader right At Hon. Marcus Gar
vey's elbow, the well-known although
oraetimer erratic T. Thomas Fortune
who with ali of his peculiarities 'fwon
his spurs" during His early Life in his
journalistic fight for the race and VIII"
&c upon fundamental questions Al
true as steel. Where can there be
found young lelder to fill his place?
It seems to Us that Mr.. Marcus Gar
vey essays to lead the whole Negro
race in this end all other countries
and he believes that the leaders, whom
he criticizes desile to do the same
hing. If they do. they are woefully mis-
taken. There never has been and we
fear there never will be the one leader
! OF the Negro race during this or tha
next century. Dur leadership is made
rp of myriad Of leaders, who contro;
their own following.
There is Kelly Miller following o
w. F. B. Du Bois following, a H. c
Smith. following, a Henry Lincoln
Johnson following, B. j. Davis follow
ing William Monroe Trotter follow
ing. L. K. Williams following, q
ministerial following, medical follow
ing an insurance company following
a member of the colored bar following,
Henry Allen Boyd following and .
host of others that we might name
Each is practically supreme, within
the limits of bis own endeavors
These leaders might with profit to
themselves and others meet together
and choose for a specified period OF
time leader &C leaders.
No such individual has appeared up
IN tine horizon of this or any other
country. None of these men would for
IN instant contend for leadership witt
n the confines Of the Universal Ne
gro Improvement Association to con-
test with Hon. N Gus Garvey for the
leadership. Some unwise individuals
,ried it once or twice, but there now a
tombstone may Le seen in which all OF
their bodies are buried in the grave
yard of oblivion. A similar fate would
await any of the members or leaders
OF the Garvey organization. who would
attempt a similar act in the Associat
ion over which DR.. W. E. B. Du Boz;
holds sway.
We do not approve of these attacks
upon Mr.. Garvey He has a following