The guardian., 1953-11-28
BOSTON
BAKED
BY MABE KoUNTZE

By MABE KOUNTZE
"Do they not err that devise
evil? But mercy and truth snail
be to them that devise good"
The Bible
THE PULLMAN PORTERS
Benefit Association observed
it's 38tn birthday on Nov. 20,
last week, Friday. Along with
the equally famous Red Caps,
the Pullman Porters constitute
one of the most efficient and
loyal group of workers in the
world. Their public service tops
that of most politicians. Many
a Porter or Red Cap has more
intelligence than some men at
Washington.
CONGRESSMEN have sought
the advice of Red Caps and
Porters whom they trust in
confidence) often more than
anyone else. These (and other
public employees are the closest
to the people. much closer than
any politician will ever attain.
Some of the greatest men in
the world have paid the highest
homage to Porters and Red
Caps. They deserve every bit.
PHIL. RANDOLPH represent
ed the spirit of most Pullman
porterS when he, as their
spokesman, helped launch the
crusade for Fair Employment.
not only Tor colored Americans.
but for all Americans. This
unSelfish spirit of both Porter
and Redcap is traditional They
are dedicated to serve others.
the same as any priest or pas
tor. And most of them do a
grand job.
DIPLOMACY which is res
pecting the dignity of others
and being we'll schooled in good
manners, is something these
men use and which the world
needs more of. The postwar
primitive trends are trampllng
the dignity and regulations of
others and creating germs OF
enmity and strife. And II dis
unity and strife can be correct
ly be symbolized by biological
poisons then some of our pol
itical statesmen stand guilty
before the world.
THE TRAVEL experience
which has long led Pullman
Porters through the U. S. A.,
Mexico. and Canada, has ma
turally moulded them and
their brother Red Caps among
the best informed citizenry in
the land, bar none. Where these
men reside they have helped
further progress because they
work the pathways of progress.
Many are well educated and
some have been more vastly
educated than some Congress
men they served.
HOW MANY colored leaders
like Congressman Clayton Pow
ell and labor leader Phil Ran
dolph have come out of the
ranks of Pullman Porters and
Red Caps I do not know. But
the list included college pro-
fessorS, doctors lawyers. clergy.
and leaders in many fields.
These men worked not only
for their own families but the
entire colored race. And like
the famous spiritual, nobody
knows the trouble they have
seen. 1t was p'enty.
THEY SAW lynch mobS set
in motion by fanatical pro-
paganda. They saw U. S. color
ed troops segregated like cattle
while enemy prisoners were
treated, in comparison, like
kings. They saw the very worst
of Jim crow discrimination.
And they met up with Hitler
theology people who refused
eoualities while trusting their
wives, children, food, even their
lives into their hands. What
men have kept and practiced
greater faith?
THE FAITH Of these quiet
humble Americans has been
a contributing factor in moving
the mountains of prejudice.
Their Christian labor, patience
and forgiveness, plus their daily
work of teaching Americans di-
plomacy and good manners can
not be measured in gold. Any
Porter or Red Cap can look any
arrogant tyrant in the eye, re-
calling the Bible, Better is a
little with righteousness than
great revenues without right.