The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-01-17

important and nec- A~<>* -
essary elements In
progress h con- Mr.. Casey
structl,e and pro-
gressiye discomfort. The Negro
badly needs this element In some
forcibly expressive form In Negro
public opinion. We badly need an
adequate tolerance 10 encourage
such expression. Where such ex-
preston i In the public Interest.
even though Il hurts cur friends
and neighhors, let the fact he pub
llshed; this makes for an alert and
responsive public opinion. A free
press. free Negro press i u pow
eriul weapon In this regard. II be-
comes the primary medium through
which an alert and responsive pub
lie opinion Is formulated. 4 free
Negro press sets the example, mt
least II onght 10. for this II the
greatest service that II can render
10 race progress. No matter what
embarrassing follow. this l. un.
duestionably the correct rule 10 fol-
low. Principles come before friend.
ships and associations. The Detroit
Tribune has proved this In the ease
OF Liany articles submitted by me
and published In It's columns. II
you believe these contentious are In
error. the columns Of The Tribune
are open 10 You and will publish
your opinion Just as readily n II
has published mine. Conflict cIari.
fies thought. clears the atmosphere
and makes for progress. Set down
score for free Negro Press.
This week. this article concerns
some conclusions from the five ar
ticles on Negro leaders as they bear
upon statement made by Fred
Butzel few years ago al the ami
yersary banquet OF the Urban
league. Mr.. Butzel spoke as a
friend before three hundred OF our
select citizens gathered there 10
celebrate this occasion. In the
course OF his address. he stated that
The culture of the Negro is not
high enough for him to live in a
city like Detroit" Those are his
exact words. That statement was
not challenged then. nor has II
since been challenged In public
meeting or the press. Not even a
whisper OF disapproval has come
from our social leaders. Perhaps an
enlightened audience has said TO IT,
self. | accept II as true. wish to
compare and break down that
statement with some OF the conclu-
sions OF the five articles on Coop
erative Leaders
One conclusion from those ar
tlcles was that the propagation OI
evil tradition from generation "a
generation, relentless exploitation,
and ruthless repression has left
the masses of our Negro population
IN our northern centers OF indus.
trial population, unprepared 10 full
~ and adequately cope With all the
highly competitive conditions and
requirements In such urban Gen.
tiers. Where such masses Of our
Negro population got cooperative
leadership, they have been enabled
10 overcome these handicapS and
become n constructive part Of the
population. We have shown that
most OF our leaders being exploit
I've In character. have contributed
nothing 10 this helpful adjustment
0f the Negro masses. hut rather
have been hlndrance TO them.
Now 10 apply Mr.. BuizeI's state
ment that, -The culture Of the Ne
gro Is not high enough for him to
live In n city like Detroit
One test OF culture is that ability
to produce the necessary character
and ability in leaders to answer the
vital needs OF the community for its
development. Has our society
class in Detroit exhibited any such
social competency or even an inter-
est in any such condition? | an
swer that they have shown neither
the ability nor an enlightened inter
est In any such condition and none
OF the leaders who fall victims TO
its charms become vital cooperative
leaders. This class does not pro-
duee a cooperative character. II
does not put principles before
friendships. 1t produces no leaders
strong enough TO carry out such a
vital policy. That was tho chaI-
lenge hurled ut our social leaders
by the late Father Daniels when he
said. Their reignlng motto is to be
good fellow" Mr.. Butzels remark
was really challenge TO them.
The Negro does not produce No.
cIal cooperation enough 10 enable
him 10 successfully live In n city
Ike Detroit. There j. positive proof
of this condition In The grand Iury
expose OF the hospital situation nj.
iecilng the Negro. There was ne,.
er any doubt In the public mind
that some OF these hospitals operat.
Ing among the Negro were In man.
ner and method strictly against
race principles and deepest welfare.
W some eases there Il not ,he
sllrhtesf douht that n saIushle rnce
principle has beeu sacrificed by
such leaders Who operate Thorn.
Did any protest ever come from the
circles OF our educated and select
cinssesl M. because n was n mat.
YER az preserving friendshlps rather
.mfn STANDING for Vital principle.
Ihey have not the courage 10 ss.
nonse DrlnelnIes that condemn
friendships. Such exnIoIters Of The
race thrive because Their. 4 no AIDE.
uunie EXPRESSION for PRINCIPLES that
project rnrlal Interest. Friendshlps
come before princInles. when there
y ? conflict ~ Interest throw Tho
principles overheard. That 4 the
spirif nt some III the assoclailons