The Western Barber from Topeka, Kansas • 9

THE WESTERN BARBER. 9 50,000 inhabitants which are not subject to the new law. Mr. llridgeford, the proprietor of the barber factory here, is also looking up a location in Kansas City, Kan. Although the law does not take effect for about two months yet, its good effect is already visible.

NAPOLEON LE BLANC. WICHITA STILL AT THE FRONT. Secretary Harry Kasson of Local No. 10, K. S.

B. reports that they will have over 50 members by July 1. One man put out a 15 cent sign, but said lie was going to leave town in a day or so, which is a natural consequence in Wichita, where they are organized and working harmoniously together. The majority of the Barbers who raised their prices in Wichita are well satisfied. Wichita is trying to pass a Barber License ordinance, and every city in the state should do admitted to examinations, and there is no law or restriction in Missouri depriving the colored barber from joining the union.

In fact, there are colored barbers in this state members of barbers unions. Two years ago while holding the office of corresponding secretary of the Qualified Tonsorial Artists Association of Missouri, I called qu the colored barbers as well as on the white barbers, and I solicited their membership without distinction of color or race. And I invite Mr. Sam Jones, referred to in the foregoing clipping, to deny this fact, for at my solicitation he attended some of our meetings and contributed to our fund to push through the state legislature a bill creating a board of examiners and a license law, which I drafted and published in The Razor Edge of St. Louis, at that time our official organ.

Mr. Dan Lucas cannot deny the fact that he himself was admitted and attended the meeting of a Sunday closing movement which existed in Kansas City about four years ago. We allowed him the same privilege as any other barber in attendance. We allowed him the floor and he spoke uninterrupted. We white barbers of Missouri have taken no to hinder the colored barber from joining, barbers unions.

If the colored barbers choose to lemain out of the union that is their privilege. Some years ago I made the colored barbers of this city the proposition to organize a branch of our union of their race and affiliate with the white union. In union there is strength. Prices and closing hours could have been better regulated, but they declined and have taken no step to help keep the trade from going down to the low and degraded condition it has fallen. Now, since the colored barbers have lacked in vigilance, it is true they may not get the dation for appointment on the state board, (but that amounts to nothing, there is to be only three members of the state board), but they are not deprived of an examination and registration if properly qualified.

This cry of discrimination is raised by this man Lucas and 1 presume that the barber factories are backing him to make the fight and Mr. Jones has joined him, thinking that it will advertise them, (as we all know they both need the advertisement). Hoping that this explanation throws enough light on this subject to remove the prejudice which it may have created amongst the fair minded and intelligent colored barber. I am informed through good authority that the governor intends to appoint one member from this city and that will be Mr. J.

L. Hanks, as he has a good political pull one from St. Louis, which is likely to be the president of the Boss Barber Protective association of that city, and one from St' Joseph, and, as far as I can learn, it will be a friend of State Senator Haines of that district. Mr. C.

G. Adam of this city is the candidate of the Barbers State Protective association. The nickel barbers of this city are looking up locations across the state line and in towns less than Ji it? WHEN A MANS OUT OF A JOB. All nature is sick from her heels to her hair Wen a feller is out of a job; She is all out of kilter an out of repair Wen a feller is out of a job. Aint no juice in the earth an no salt in the sea, Aint no ginger in life in this land of the free, An the universe aint what its cracked up to be Wen a feller is out of a job.

Wats the good of blue skies an of blossomin trees Wen a feller is out of a job, Wen your boy hez large patches on both of his knees, An a feller is out of a job? Them patches, I say, look so big to your eye That they shut out lansoape and cover the sky, An the sun cant shine through em, the best it can try Wen a feller is out of a job. i Wen a man has no part in the work of the earth Wen a feller is out of a job, He feels the whole blundrin mistake of his birth Wen a feller is out of a job; He feels hes no share in the whole of the plan, That hes got the mitten from naturs own han Wen a feller is out of a job. i For youve jest lost yer holt with the rest of the crowd Wen a feller is out of a job; An you feel like a dead man with narry a shroud Wen a feller is out of a job. You are crawlin aroun, but yer out of the game; You may bustle about, but yer dead just the same Yes dead with no tombstone to puff up yer name, Wen a feller is out of a job. Sam Walter Foss.

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