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250 THE CRISIS FROM A WHITE SOUTHERNER. Mr. Oswald G. Villard. Dear Sir: This letter is written to congratulate you on your recent address at Baltimore, Md., before the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. All that you said was true, but you merely touched the fringe of the truth as it actually exists in the South. It is the egotistical boast of the southern man that he knows how to deal with the Negro, and that he alone can solve the problem as it should be solved. But, how does he propose to solve it? One who has a thought for the future actually blushes at his methods. I am a southern-born man, a descendent of an old slave-holding family, but I am thankful to that Power from which emanates the energy and intelligence of the world that I have in me a spirit of fairness that is not common in the South. For the past six years I have been at work in this state and in South Carolina. (I regret, on account of the present governor, that I am compelled to admit that I have been a resident of South Carolina.) My work has been that of a commercial secretary, and I have had wide opportunity to study the Negro situation by coming directly in contact with it. I have no information at second hand, and I want to say that the world does not know how basely the Negro is treated by the so-called knighthood of Dixie. The dog and the horse, as a rule, are treated with more consideration-particularly the former-and neither of these animals is robbed of his earnings by a commercial arrangement that is calculated to pull him lower in the scale of existence The abuses of the Negro are too manifold, and cry too loud for some one to make his treatment less brutal, to be treated in a letter. A form of peonage, not defined by the law, exists all over the South-a most debasing custom that fails in every particular to build along those broad lines which mean so much in the final analysis of things in this country. But the Vardamans, the Tillmans, the Bleases, and others of their ilk-not one of them representing the best thought of the South-hold up the Negro bugaboo and ride into the councils of the nation, and there use their little power to make more debasing the circumstances which surround the Negro. I have the data for hundreds of columns of matter-not guess work but fact containing time, place and names, that I would like to use. But being in the South and dependent for my living in this country, where laziness among the whites runs rampant (for the Negro does all the work), I can not use it. I would like to write what I have-in fact, devote my entire life to the work-treating with poise and consideration the cause of the Negro of the South, but situated as I am I can't do so. But let me say that some day the world will know; for God in his infinite mercy will not permit things to continue for all time as they are to-day. Again let me say I want to congratulate you on your address, and permit me to ask you not to use the contents of this letter other than in confidence. I am chairman of the ways and means committee at my home and also master of exchequer, and I have to guard the source of income until I can see my way into a broader field. I am, Yours very truly, THE NAVY. My Dear Mr. Editor: I am a reader of your valuable magazine and I wish to make a few comments in regard to Negroes in the navy, who number about 4,000. Much discrimination is on board ship and at shore stations, but as we are not allowed to make complaint to the department, what are we to do for protection? There are colored men on the engineer's force, mainly coal passers, firemen and sometimes oilers and second-class petty officers.That is about as far as they go in that branch after spending the best portion of their lives in the service simply because they don't want a Negro over a white man. I am writing from experience, having served eight years in the navy, even if Mr. Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, flatly denied the charge against the recruiting officers of using fraud to keep colored men out of the navy. A colored man in the navy is barred from all athletic sports, and if he has a trade and applies for enlistment in the navy he is told that there is no vacancy and advised to enlist in the messman branch; even there he has little chance on account of Japanese and Filipinos. My advice to every young colored man is to stay out of the navy. Yours respectfully, AN EX-NAVY MAN. THE CRISIS ADVERTISER 251 [[boxed]] THE ANNUAL Children's Number The most popular number of the CRISIS is the Children's Number. This will be the OCTOBER number, which will be published September 20. All pictures of babies must reach us by SEPTEMBER FIRST. We want babies of all hues and kinds. Send the pictures early and mark them plainly on the back in ink. If you want the pictures returned, be sure and send return postage. [/[boxed]] TEACHERS-ATTENTION! Competent teachers can secure good positions in the South. The demand for teachers who can hold positions as Principals or Department Heads is greatly in excess of the supply. We make it our business to find the place for you that you have prepared yourself to fill. Send stamp for further information with registration blank and contract. Address: TEXAS COLORED TEACHERS' AGENCY, P.O. Box D 1099, DALLAS, TEXAS Big PAY for EASY WORK If You Live in a Small Town We want 5000 agents-5000 bright,young men willing to hustle and earn $5.00 to $15.00 a day selling our fine hand-made-to-measure clothes. This throws open one good job in every community or town of not over 10,000 people. To the first man in your town who writes us, will be given the first opportunity to get our COMPLETE SAMPLE OUTFIT FREE. [[image]] You need no experience, but start right out making money-$2.00 to $9.00 profit on every suit you sell. WHOLESALE PRICES for Suits $7.98 to $28.00-Pants $2.48 to $8.50. We prepay the postage or express on every shipment. Every garment is made-to-order and strictly hand tailored. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR YOUR MONEY BACK. To prove to you the unequalled quality of our tailoring, we will let you order a Sample Suit or even a pair of Pants at the wholesale price. Remember, we want only one agent in each town. Someone else from your town may write us tomorrow-so don't delay-but mail your letter today. The Chicago Tailors' Association Dept. 826 Van Buren and Market Sts., CHICAGO THE ASHBURN BROTHERS SHIRT MANUFACTURING CO. INCORPORATED LYNCHBURG, VA. Makers of Plain and Fancy Shirts DIRECT DISTRIBUTION One or more from factory to consumer Ask for our Famous New Comer Shirt Write for Samples WANTED Agents for THE CRISIS. Dignified work. 70 Fifth Avenue, New York. Mention THE CRISIS
