The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1924-03-01
Timely Topics
HOWARD LOSES HER
APPROPRIATIONS
Dallas Express

Dallas Express
Because a trustee of Howard Uni
versity criticized the quality of the
religion of America, the institution
must lose an appropriation of approx
imately 100000. 1t will lose this
amount If in its appearance before
the upper House, the Senate Appro-
priation Committee will not restore
the lost appropriation.
A point of order raised by Repre-
sentative Byrnes of South Carolina
that there was no authority for the
appropriation with the exception OF
one item was sustained by the chair
man of the committee after he had
read and discussed excerpts from the
sermon of Rev. Frances ]. Grimke
on What Is the Trouble With the
Religion of Today" delivered before
the Convocation of Theological Stu
dents last November 80.
The situation is from many view
points unfortunate and lamentable.
1t is unfortunate that the spirit of
revenge should seem so fully to &C
tuate a member of our national legis-
lative body as to allow him to be
willing to cripple the efficiency of a
whole institution for the betterment
and education of American students
because of his disagreement with ex-
pressed thought of an official of the
institution.
Were such action fully justifiable
it would be as natural for every citi-
zen to conclude that the government
as such should not be supported be-
cause of the misconduct of the few
officials who are responsible TO the
Teapot Dome situation.
The situation is also unfortunate
in that, for all of the years that How
ard University has been expecting
and receiving aid from the United
States government, its officials have
never been able to see to it that there
was authority for the appropriation
of its budget. Certainly it is correct
to presume that If it was justified in
receiving such appropriations it
would be justified in asking that it's
appropriations be authorized.
On two occasions before just such
a situation has arisen but at no time
has any action been taken which
would lead to permanent correction
of or removal of the danger of its
repetition.
If the appropriation is totally lost
because of the point of order of the
South Carolina Senator and the in
stitution is hindered and kept from
its highest point of efficiency, Amer
lea as such will suffer, for those who
are to be trained in the school must
serve the nation if they would serve
themselves well.
But, the action of this statesman
is by no means surprising. Coming
from a state already made famous by
his predecessor who was noted for
his rabid opposition to everything
possible which seemed to favor tn.
Negro, this man only seems to be
striving to maintain its reputation.
He comes from a district in which
1t Is alleged that 67.3 of the citizens
are denied the right to vote. He
comes from a state which, if statis-
tics are to be relied upon, does not
believe in the education of its Ne.
gro youth. Naturally, then, he could
be expected to do all in his power tc
thwart such training wherever he
found it possible.
But 1t Is unfortunate that sucf
men with such training should hav,
in their hands the fate of institution.
with great possibilities for good t.
the nation and the time must some
how come when the Offices which
they fill can be filled by those wh,
represent the choice of all the peo
pie.
In the meantime Howard Universe
ty may suffer. But in the minds o
those who are most vitality intereste
In its welfare should be more thai
passing thought of making decide,
attempts at making such an occur
renee impossible in future time. An
in this campaign year there is larg
possibility of successful outcome fo
such an attempt.