TO TIM NEGROES INTO “REDS!”

Evening Star, Issue 19660, 13 September 1927, Page 1

TO TIM NEGROES INTO “REDS!”

LATEST SOVIET BREAM Soviet alchemists are possessed with llio idea that they can transmute American negroes 'into revolutionary Heels, according to a story unearthed in New York, Washington, and Chicago. The scheme of conversion is said to bo tho transportation, all expenses paid, ol groups of not more than ten negroes at a. time to Moscow lor training mimes of one to three years in Communism, whence they are to return as lied apostles of revolution among the colored people of United States. Meantime it is alleged that tho American Negro Labor Congress, with headquarters in Chicago and a publication, is serving as a clearing house lor Bolshevist propaganda, and a means of recruiting candidates lor Moscow treatment. , ■This revelation first appeared in tne New York ‘ Herald Tribune,’ signed by M. Jay Racnsin, following a propagandist speech in a Harlem negro church made by one Lovett h ortcWhiteman, who had been in Russia and led in the organisation of the Labor Congress after returning to this country. Mr Facusin reports that the first group sailed from Philadelphia in September of 1025, eluding efforts of New York and Federal authorities to nalt them, and ho estimates that from lilt;; to 100 have gone over to learn the Bed gospel. The Washington correspondent ot the ‘ Herald Tribune ’ wired that “ Go vernment officials were amazed ” at tho disclosures concerning the fcoviet plot which “ were seen at the State Department as the strongest possible vindication ot the department's settled policy of not recognising Russia.” Tins kind of sentiment is editorially echoed Indianapolis ‘Star,’ which toys: “ the latest revelations should convince any doubting Thomases in Congress. r llic American Government's objection to recognising Russia has been based on two grounds—failure of Ibe Soviet regime to pav its debts and the activity of Communist propagandists. Ibo biller count has been immensely strengthened.” Whilo the Philadelphia ‘lnquirer doubts if tho negro race i.s promising Communistic' material, it believes that the activities of individuals should be watched: “The situation is not complicated by official relations with the Soviet Government. We are perlectly free to boycott these enemies ot mankind. Indeed, the time has come when tho whole civilised world should encircle Russia with an invisible barrier lor il.s own protection. What they are trying to do here they arc trying to do everywhere. Bolshevism is a political infection that must be quarantined.” The Philadelphia ‘ Public Ledger,’ however, thinks Just “ another hobgoblin ” has been raised. The Memphis ‘ Commercial . Appeal ’ suggests that colored people may possibly be inveigled by Russia into a secret organisation, “but there are educated negro loaders who kupw the evils of the Russian .system, and it will be their duty to guard their people against any error.” “The negro Communistic cs quite a venerable one,” says the Norfolk 1 Virginian-Pilot.’ According to this Southern paper; “Tho largest centre of negro radicalism in the United States is New York. But, according to the ‘ Herald Tribune ' itself, l it was declared by a well-informed person in the Harlem district that it was doubtful whether tho Bolshevists had actually converted a hundred negroes there in two years to the Communistic idea.' By tho ‘ Herald Tribune’s' own frnctual reporting, tho negro Communist terror qualifies as a false alarm.”