St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1936-01-17
COMMENT
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
Some thirty years ago the con-
dition Of the Negro economically
and in the matter Of his civil lib
erty had grown so crucial that a
conference of business and profess
sional leaders was called to meet
in Buffalo to take steps to meet
the situation. Out Of it came the
Niagara movement, which later
was succeeded by the National AS
ISOLATION for the Advancement of
Colored People. About the same
time was organized the National
Urban League.
Both of these organizations have
done yeOman service in behalf of
the Negro. But today, owing
largely to the effect of the depres-
sion that has clouded the affairs of
all the world, the Negro finds him
self in an even worse position than
when these helpful organizations
were instituted for his relief.
Negro leadership is again called
into action. A National Negro
Congress is called for February Ia
to meet in Chicago. This time the
call is wider, more inclusive and
seeks to enlist a far greater num-
Der of prepared, sincere and capa-
BILE men and women to gather for
the consideration of matters touch
ing vitality the very future exis-
tence Of the Negro people.
It is not possible here and now
to go into detailed explanation of
the plans and purposes of the con-
gress.
Suffice it to say that the names
of A. Philip Randolph, John R.
Davis, Elmer A. Carter, Rev. Clay
ton A. Powell, Mary Fitzhue War
ring and at least $50 other equally
well known leaders, assure that
the call is inspired by desperate
need and should awaken every
thinking member of the group to
instant cooperative action. We
use excerpts from the call in our
editorial column. To those who
want clearer picture read the
pamphlet, A Call for a National
Negro Congress, which may be Sc
cured by sending three cents to
John P. Davis, Sec., TIT Florida
Ave-, Washington, D. c.
The Congress will of necessity
confine its discussions to the broad
et aspects of the problems: The
Negro in industry; attitude of the
unions; the denial of the franchise;
application of relief. To the COM
niunities that will send delegates,
and this includes Minneapolis and
st. Paul, it may properly be sug-
gested that there are many small
but important matters to which
their attention should be directed,
both because they will not be in
cIuded in the discussions of the
congress, and because upon them
is based a number of our major
injustices. Our willingness to ad-
Just and correct these smaller
things in which Indifference has
grown to be characteristic, will be
an earnest of our interest in and
ability to aid the promotion of the
greater detectives of the congress.
Scarcely a meeting of any kind in
the Twin Cities, religious, social
or civic, can draw more than
corporal's guard at the hour set.
Even those who pay from 80 cents
to $1.OO for a dance entertainment
content themselves with two hours
of pleasure when four hours is
theirs for the same price. This
waste of time, energy or money,
which everyone receives so placid
~, is aggravated by the fact that
experience shows it to be so I'M
necessary. I attended a musical
last week, given by one of our
group in a white studio, and $500
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