JAMES S. THAELE

Our white brothers have got to translate their actions into realms of practicalities and learn to practice what they preach. Hitherto, their evils have hit the thermometer of our auditory nerves many degrees beyond their normal registry that it is almost a physical impossibility to hear what they say. It is indeed amazing to see that delegates accept in good faith and with genuine integrity a quasi hypocritical policy that emanates from such a source as the Dutch Reformed Church---a source that has made itself notorious without that source, making a public confession of its notoriety. . . . The programme of the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union of the African race is well defined, this the radicals must realise through and through. In it we have a weapon that can paralyse 'the whole industry,' as the able champion Dr. Abdurahman, has put it, 'within twenty-four hours.' The calling of this Johannesburg-Pretoria Conference is prompted, not by Christan attitude on the part of the white men; it is because of the awakened attitude on our part, as the African Race, from our long sleep of decades. We, of the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union would recommend the 'radicals' of the race that roads must converge at East London for the annual Conference next month.

-James S. Thaele, "Christianity, Basis of Native Policy", The Workers' Herald, December 21, 1923.