St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1941-04-11
LETTERS THE EDITOR
More Generals Than
Privates
By Milton III. BledsOe in
the II. {. Call


the X. C.. Call
1t is too true that in our ranks
we have more generals than pri-
Yates. Far too many small-fry per-
sons aspire to leadership in the
Negro race. 1t is the conflicting of
opinions and judgments that is re-
tarding much of our progress. The
fact that man or woman serves as
a precinct committeeman or CON-
mitteewOman is no proof that they
are eligible for the delicate and
arduous responsibility of leader
ship.
True leaders are born and not
made but training is great help.
1t is not enough that a man or
woman has the interest of the Ne
gro race at heart. No matter how
good the intentions of the would-be
leader may be, such intentions do
not constitute the basis for han
ding the welfare of hundreds and
thousands of people.
And the inspired leader is an
other one to be watched. Those per-
sons of little education and fore
sight who dream that they are
called by divine power to leader
ship may be just recovering from
hangover.
Leaders, no doubt, are inspired
but they must undergo long periods
of training and self-sacrifice. In
order to lead they must have the
fine trait of being able to follow.
They must be able to see the other
fellows viewpoint.
The ability to elbow" and make
pretty speeches is no true estimate
of a leader. Nor is the ability to
attract large groups and lose them
just as readily Of any advantage to
one who aspires to the role of a
Moses.
Our great need is for a strong,
single leadership that is capable of
welding our group into one solid
mass that will go up and down for
certain set of principles.
There is, however, one bright
spot in this whole leadership bust
ness.
It is the rise of trained social
leaders working with well-knit or
CARNATIONS that deal in facts and
facts alone. These men and women
are research experts and talk what
they have found out by experience
instead of what somebody told
somebody else to tell them.
For too often the leader who
boasts of the fact that he is talking
out of experience is most of the
time talking out of his hat"
For it is not more organizations
that we need as a group but more
EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATION. II
is not more leaders that we seek
but more capable, trained and eff.
fective frOnt-line fighters who place
the welfare of the group above
personal gain, leaders with a pur.
pose whose coattails can't be pulled
and who can't be made to look east
when they should look west.
We have far too much of the
leadership that wants to be differ.
ent. If a fellow leader favOrs &
fight for equal rights the other is
certain to preach that ''being peace
full" is the best way to get what il
coming.
And there are always those lead
ers who have their own axes tx
grind in the name of leadership
They are always ready to "deal'
for principles either with known
enemies of the group or with un
principled political henchmen.
We have too many head men ant
women who feel that their cause i!
so precious, so noble and uplifting
that they refuse to lend their eff
forts to aid other movements. Be
fore they will even sacrifice theil
own stubborn will to that Of tn,
: common welfare and good Of al
the people, these Judases will figh
teeth and tOenails constructiv,
movements that in the end meal
less for all concerned.