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I uul ew»ry SaMiday by Roecoe C. 11. at 311 N. 4fh St., Richmond Ta. One Year- **0° Six Months __- 1,10 Three Months-- ---- \1\ communications Intended for pub.i .atiou should reach ^s by Wednesday, j Entered at the Post-office at Richmond Virginia, as second class matter. i EDITORIALS; Give Cox A Chance It was one of the most unfortunate things that happened m Richmond County, December 19th. From reports it seems that d State Prohibition Inspectors went to the home °t Ram op ' and found some liquor. When he was observed to enter hn. house, the officers commanded him to come out, stating that the) would not hurt him. Just why it was necessary totel I him tout hP would not be hurt, is not clear to us. I he ofiiceis uuinu stated that after more colloquy, he fired two shots at them, kill Officer Jam^sN. Wood. What the Planet is interested m is until* the* Sheriff'(who w known by him) and the Common wealth’s Attorney) who was also known by him) armed upon the scene and then surrendered as gently us a child, gives rise to a belief that he acted as any wise or prudent man is supposed to act when attacked by strangers, without any identification mai ks to indicate whether they were on a lawful mission, or whether “Billv the Kid” or ,4Jesse James reincaiceiated. w ‘ We are sure Randolph Cox is sorry he killed Officer Cox and we are also very sorry that the Officer is dead, but it a hu man mistake was made, even by Cox, he should be given the full measure of justice by the courts of Virginia. By full we mean, that he should be tried in an atmosphere that will give him a chance and the right to have his side ol Die case belie\ed (not just hear) and then let his story be weighed against the offi cer’s story by a jury. We believe that when this is done, Cox will be declared not guilty of murder, either in the first or second degree, but that it was a plain case of manslaughter, and that in our judgment at this distance, lamentably justifiable. •» Rev. Graham’s 50th Anniversary We note with pride that Dr. Wesley F. Graham, pastor of the Holy Trinity Baptist Church, of Philadelphia, Pa., has served fif ty years in the active pastorate. This is an enviable record and his Richmond friends (whose name is legion) rejoice with him in the achievement. The power of his pastorate held for many years at Fifth Street Baptist Church, was so potent and life-giv ing that his works here shine yet with pristine splendor. Dr Graham is not only a great religious asset to a community, but his ability and ingenuity give impetus to the business and civic life. His Church has elected him for life and we wish for him a long one. The Guide's 31st Anniversary Edition The Planet congratulates the Norfolk (Va.) Journal and Journal and Guide on its Thirty-first anniversary edition. Its journalistic sense and printing ability were demonstrated superb ly in this massive production. May they continue to demonstrate their ability until its 50th anniversary edition, and then some. -o THE AMENDMENT INVALID It is left to a New Jersey judge of a United States District Court to decide that the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constiiution is invalid. This decision has created consid erable comment, the force of which remains to be seen. This decision is given by the youngest judge on the bench, who show ed som etemerity in doing so. The decision only affects the ju risdiction of the court, but no doubt it will reach the Supreme Court of the nation where it will be reviewed and decided upon. The judge holds that the amendment was not legally ratified in that only constitutional conventions and not state legislatures should approve ratification. There seems to be some premises for the conception and which will cause the judicial ones to pon der the point. On this decision also hinges the amendments af fecting the citizenship ot the colored people. STAUNTON, VIRGINIA Rev. A. Hall Whitfield, pastor of the Augusta St. M. E. Church preached what his members think was his strongest sermon alst Sun day Morning. The pastor took for his text “Ethiopia shall stretch forth its hands.” The pastor first began his sermon by admonishing his hear ers not to take the “inferior com plex” that is often directtd at our group, seriuosly, as the Negro was rich in ancestry. Beginning at the dawn of creation Rev. Whitfield carefully unfolded the history of the world to show his hearers that every important man of the bibical age was of dark extraction. Tracing very carefully the human race from the time of Adam to Noah, and from thence on Rev. Whitfield traced even Jesus Christ from the sons of darker people. An unusual word picture was painted of the birth of Christ and how the Lord told the men to flee into Egypt, which he pointed out was a race of darker people. Rev. Whitfield declar ed that this was done by God, not only because Egypt was hostile terri tory, but because He knew He was sending the Christ to His people who would protect Him- After reviewing the history of the life of Christ the Rev. Whitfield pictured the death, march to Calvary’s Hill and showed that it was a Negro who helped Christ to bear His cross on that bit ter day when the sun refused to shine. Contrasting the age of the Black Supremacy ox the black people, he said that Sodom and Gohhorah were inhabited by black people. Ninevah was built by Nimrod, a dtcendant of Ham. Here* he pictured the downfall of the black folk because they had forgotten God. But, he shouted that God still gives “Ethopia hope” and it w'ill yet stretch forth its hands. That the Negro simply passed thru the period of slavery to again know how to appreciate God and learn the * V art of self-government, and chat some day he would return to his homeland to claim it. At this point the pastor likened the efforts of Mar cus Garvey to Moses, as a leader who would lead the sons of Ham. Rev. Whitfield declared that God worked wonders in a mysterious way. Altho it looked as though the white races had about ravashed Africa of its great wealth. He dramatically questioned his audience with the query: “Who knows but that strip of land that causes all white men sleeping sickness in Africa is but a way that God is guarding it for rightful owners, the Negro race?” He urged the Negro boys and girls to hold up their heads, as they had a priceless heritage. The Rev. Whitfield remarked that if Jesus Christ should come to the United States today it migh be difficult for him to stop at the best hotels, and especially would it be so in Virginia on account of its “One Drop of Negro Blood” law. -o HUBERT DELANEY DONATES EXPENSES OF SPEAKING TRIP TO N. A. A. C. P. New York, Dec. 19— Assistant Uni ted states District Attorney Hubert T. Delaney has sent a check for $5. to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which had been sent to him by the Orange, New Jersey branch, to cover his expenses incurred on a trip to speak there. « “You can well understand,” writes Mr. Delaney, “that even though the country in general and I in particu lar are suffering from the financial depression, I cannot quite see my way clear to take money from a na tional association which is doing such splendid work in behalf of our group” Mr. Delaney has asked that the check be applied to renewal of his 1 membership. Dr. W. L. Ransome On (ECONOMICS VERSUS CHRISTIANITY) Hit Ote Side OfThe Negro Cluirpiil UraployiiHt It is not the policy of this writer to provoke controversy by an apparent attempt to answer newspaper articles. Generally speaking, it is better to let unapproved articles die in the shadow of silence, but sometimes it seems wise to speak. An article from the pen of Miss Nannie Burroughs with res pect to the duty of Negro leaders, especially the churches and pastors, concerning the unemployed, recently received wide pub lication. The Rev. Dr. A. C. Powell of New York characterizes this article as a “scorching indictment.” He cites much that he and his church are doing to meet the situation and says, “This is the only practical way to meet Nannie H. Burroughs challenge and to answer her scorching indictment.” The Incident Is Uncalled For Dr. Powell seems to indorse the “scorching indictment.” His eiforts put forth to alleviate the tense situation of unemployment seem to be prompted by what Mrs. Burroughs says rather than a sense of duty. Long before Miss Burroughs wrote, churches were doing what they could in many places to meet this situa tion. Many who have never read her article or who do not know her are helping. It is not reasonable to conclude that the ministry is so ignorant, indifferent and selfish as to need a scorching indictment to call them to this task. The Church Made Last When It Should Be First and First When It Should Be Last Many of the people now in need had little use for the church in the time of prosperity. Much more money is given to rackets, bootlegging, good time and fraternities by many people than is given to the church. The average Negro pays his club and lodge dues and gets his luxuries before he puts aside any church money. Some even live high with no thought of the needs of the church. When, however, need comes, the church and the preacher are hauled before the bar of damnation if they do not take care of such people in a time of need. We do not mean that the church should retaliate. We do not deny the call of charity which is “the greatest of these three,” but some how one ought to say that if the church is to be a present help in the time ol' trouble, then those who would be helped should remember the church when the time is not one of trouble. We do not charge that all who are in need have not been faithful. There are gen erally exceptions and good ones, but a wholesale criticism of the ministers on account of failure to help or relieve such a situ ation is unfair. The Norfolk Journal and Guide in its last issue carried the cut of a woman under which was written this inscription: New York-Mme. Stephanie St. Clair, a wealthy Franco American who told the investigators of the Magistrate’s Court of how she made regular payments to police who in turn “protected” her number racket in Harlem. She claimed that after she retired these offi cials “framed her and had her sent to the work house” We wonder how many of the women’s foi rner customers are on the charity roll of Dr. Powell’s church. Help them? Yes, help them, but no one should make such people feel that they are glo ! ouslj privileged to sin, gamble and squander their earnings, and that the church and the minister are ingloriously doomed for not supplying all of such people’s needs from the earnings which they, the ministers, have saved, and few ministers earn enough to live decently, to say nothing of saving. Where Is The Money To Be Had? If the people are out of employment, and the “collections” from the people must be the source from which the church gets her charity money, then how can the church do many great things? It is simply a vicious circle. Most of the money, the money, the minister’s salary excepted, which has been con tributed to churches has gone into fine buildings. The church cannot convert these into cash to give away. The members of the church who have jobs and who have notbeen affected by the pres sure should, contribute, but these are largely in the minority. The Pastors Most of the pastors do not make a “living salary.” Dr. Powell is able to give away more than the average preacher makes during a whole year. Those who have should give. Every wel linformed person knows that the salary of the average minister is below that of any other of the kindred pro fessions. Most churches are behind in the payment of the pas tor’s salary since the coming of the economic pressure and some pastors have almost become objects for charity. Dr. Powell states that he refused to accept the gift, or offered gift, of a new car even though the one he now drives is four years old. We have been informed that Dr. Powell’s is a Packard car. The average preacher has been driving a Ford or a Chevrolet for more years than that—the same car bought by him. Many pastors have none. A Packard cost three and four times the Ford and it ought to be driven longer. The average church is barely able to meet its as sumed obligations because of the stinted way in which the aver age member contributes. Let those who can give, give. But indirect abuse is a sin. Charity Not New With Churches—nor With Pastors The church is not excited over the situation—“the poor ye have always with you.” Despite the fact that many men in pros perity forget the church, the church “faithful few” have always made sacrifices, when necessary, to help—even though the recip ient caused his need by his sinning. Noble Examples The church forces—without the criticism of the Burroughs article, have done many noble deeds to meet the present situation, in the city of Richmond the Sunday School Bible classes (white) siarted a movement to employ 102 of the most needy unemployed men in ihe city, for three months, at three dollars per day three of these men were colored. The pay roll for all was to be the same, t hey were to work on the parks and city cemeteries—places where Negroes had not previously been employed. Churches and fraternal organizations of both races joined the movement and are rising nobly to do the task. They are doing this not to answer Miss Burrougs, but because they are not dead to a sense of Christian duty and the call of charity. In the Writer’s Church i Yestei'ay (Dec. 21), sixty-two dollars were laid on the table in answer to the efforts of a little society of the church who looks after the “poor.” This church carries regularly a list of its members who are in need and who are helped monthly. The writer himself has never turned a beggar from his doo—and there have been many. He is not an exception* but rather just one of the thousand ministers, who themselves have nothing for old age, yet hely beyond their means, taking consolation some times in saying, “great is your reward in heaven,” and sometimes rising to a noble height and doing for virtue’s sake. Learn A Lesson Instead of criticising the churches we should call the atten tion of the people to the fact that since churches are expected to help them when a needy time comes, they—the people—ought to remember the church when there is no time of need with them and let go the number racketeers, good time social and luxuries. People should not waste money and then expect to fleece the clergy as a panacea. If the people would obey the gospel preach ed in the churches there would be far less human suffering in this world. What The Np Wants Is work, Not Chanty From The Atlanta Independent Charity is no remedy for unem ployment. The remedy is a job for every man who is idle. Congress may appropriate millions and billions and place it at the hands of the President to be disbursed in his wise and ex perienced discretion, but such an expenditure of the taxpayers’ money will not provide jobs for the millions of unemployed men and women tbioughout the country. What the people want is work, and not soup houses and bread lines. Loans to farmers in the drought stricken area on sentiment as securi ty will not make jobs for the idle. Then, loans to farmers and other special classes every time they have a short crop, or it rains too much, or the Mediterranean uy «uei.u> smacks of socialism, destroys sell help, and leads to communism. The people must not look to the government to feed them, but the government must look to the people whom it protects to support it. Loans to farmers, land grant banks, drought and Mediterranean fly relief are special legislation for the favored few, have not even afforded tem porary relief to the privileged classes these experiments sought to help. None of these remedies were in the interest of all the people and none of them have helped any part of the people. Condition have drifted from ,ad to worse and the favored few are now suffering in common with the masses. What the people want is work, not money from the Government to open ip soup houses, bread lines, and charity wards. The Negro is willing for the President to give the White otople all the millions that Congress gives him, if he will just make it possible for the unemployed Negroes to get jobs so they can help them selves. If the President is going to use the millions voted him to speed up good roads and public buildings, see to it that union labor and no other agency shuts the Negro out from his share of the work. The man outside of the union is entitled to as much consideration as the man inside; and it is hoped that the President’s big and humane heart will see that equity is done between Americans, as he did when he fed the world during the World War. If the Government is going to pay the farmer a dollar a bushel for wheat when it won’t bring but sixty cents, and pay the fruit grower for fruit when the Mediterranean fly eats it up, why should it not pay the laboring man his perdiem when out of a job? The principles upon which these appropriations are made are entirely different from the principle upon which the protective tariff is based. Protection to home industries has for its purpose the protection of American labor against the pauper labor of foreign countries and at the same time build up home industries to provide employment for American labor. This policy is not in contraven tion of the Federal Constitution, but in harmony with its purposes and aims. But millions to feed the people and pay the fruit grower for a crop he has never made, and the farmer a price for his produce, contraiy to the laws of supply and demand, is special legislation and in violation of the Constitution of the United States. It is little less than a raid on the Treasury, as the President has point ed out. hy create a deficit by giving the taxpayers money away? The millions appropriated are not only going to create work for the unemployed; they are purely charity. The politician wants a story of philanthropy to tell his constituents when he goes home. H. hey don’t care whether it is consti tutional or not, nor how much it costs the taxpayers. The Government cannot afford to Pay a farmer because it does not rain in his field, or because the Mediter ranean fly eats up his fruit, or the boll weevil eats up his cotton boll. Give the Negro work, not charity. ,®n t let aliens and foreigners get all the work? Let the native born Americans have a chance t.o earn meat and bread. Don’t let a man’s color stand between him and a job. 1 he black man is starving like the white man. Let relief be common, not special. ’ V1*3 frisis the Negro is not soing to be placed in a position where 5L5?n ftelp dispense charity and divide the work the government rhrhtCSf Ie,Vh°Se who deny him the dktHhnk6 f PJotectlon be fair in the ;l stribuhon of government help and IS intolerance^ P'eJ'UdiCe' “»*** SCIENTIFIC MEN HO'VOfi IVOPtf OP MOREHHOUSE PROFESSOR Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 20:— The nos sibihty of improving the acoustics ort ^satisfactory auditoriums by iegulating their humidity was the in teresting suggestion embodied in a paper read before the Indiana Acad emy of Sience at its annual meeting last week, by Prof. Halson V. Eagle son, of Morehouse College, this citv Entitled ‘‘The Effect of Hmidity oa the Reverberation Period of a Room,” . rof- Eagleson’s paper aroused great interest at the meeting of the Acad emy, which was attended by more than four hundred scientists from over the State. It will be published in the proceedings of the body. The study comprehended several hundred delicate experiments with the reverberation periods of rooms under varying condition of humidity. These revealed the fact that the de gree of moisture in a room bo affects its period of reverberation as to make decided changes in its acoustic prop erties. The work was done under the ad vice of Dr. Authur L. Foley, head of the physics department of Indiana University, from which, Prof. Eagle son graduated in 1926 with the A. B. degree, and in which he is continuin' post-graduate work looking to the masters degree. Dr. Foley expressed great interest in the experiments, it is understood, and has offered his cooperation in carrying them to more exact and unmistakable conclusions. Since 1927 Prof. Eagleson has been a teacher of physics and mathema tics in Morehouse College. VIEWS OF . THE PUBLIC _ ------ ■■ - - ■ DOCTORS OR UNDERTAKERS? By Frank R. Cro«»waith With Unparalleled Avidity the cancer of unemployment continues to gnaw at the very vitals of the capitalist system. Notwithstanding the frantic efforts 9f many quack economic and social doctors to arrest its progress, the social microbe appears determined to conquer. The agonized moans of the patient grow increasingly fainter. In the search for a salve that will ease the pain, prolong life, and perhaps postpone death, the “best minds” of capitalism obviously are baffled and bewilder ed. Frankly, the situation is alarming. Unemployment Is No New Pestilence, no stranger, but an old acquaintance. Periodically it sal lies forth to attack its capitalist patient. Each succeeding attack leaves the patient in a more weakened condition and thus ren der him less able to withstand the next visit. This gorilla-like warfare of the unemployment bacteria seems at last on the verge of proving its tactical value. When, in its latest attack, the first symptoms of the desease appeared, the “quacks” made “a careful diagnosis” and falsely labelled this traditional foe of capitalism “prosperity.” “The sage of Northampton had generously and wisely bequeathed to God’s chosen country the golden heritage or prosperity,” chorused the* quacks;' whereupon Wall Street anointed Herbert Hoover to safeguard the legacy. It Is Now Generally Apparent that this “blessing” was a malig nant disease in disguise. It is be coming increasingly clear to millions of people that this “burst of unprecedented prosperity'’ meant for the masses who work, involuntary and protracted idle ness, poverty and destitution; while for the relatively few finan cial and industrial rulers of the Republic, it meant increased wealth, prestige and power. What Is This Thing Called Un employment? To begin with capi talism and unemployment are synonymous. As long as we persist in operating industry for private gain, and permit individual owner ship of the socially necessary means of human existence, unem ployment will follow society like the tail follows the kite. Society con no more escape the blight ol unempoyment while at the same time it continues to tolerate pri vate ownership in land, factory and transportation facilities, than can a cake of ice cream remain frozen in a cauldron of molten lead. In Order To Prolong Its Lite, capitalism must constantly seek new and improved methods of producing and transporting wealth. However, while new in ventions generally bring to the capitalist owner a measure of in creased profits, it nevertheless, also drives an additional nail in capitalism’s coffin. Under the capitalist system industry is run for profit, not service; therefore, by substituting machinery for human labor the capitalist in creases commodity output; yet, in order to bring to the capitalist owner the margin of profit he seeks this increased output must be consumed. The capitalist him self is unable to consume it. His class as a whole, because of its relatively small number, is also un able to consume it. Machinery can increase production, but machin ery cannot consume that which it produces; hence the problem. If machinery had the same wants and desires as a worker and was paid a wage, most likely with a little skill we could navigate around the industrial bends (periods of de pression) if and whenever we came to them. Since The Ability Of The Working Class to consume goods depends upon the availability of employ ment and wages received, it ought to be clear even to a moron, that when the working class is cut off from employment, the largeat market for the consumption of gods becomes closed to the capita list. It is a partial recognition of this economic truism that has prompted some of our celebrated quacks now whining at the bedside of capitalism to suggest that science •and invention take a ten year holiday. Fortunately for man kind, it is as Impossible to stop the flow of mechanical invention and scientific research as it was im possible for Joshua to make the sun stand still, or King Canute the waves cease rolling. The Capitalist System is a dying system. The quacks attendant upon it may succeed in accelerat ing the tempo of its now feebly beating pulse, but their patient’s days are numbered. Neither i)r. Rugged Individualism nor his Commissions to “investigate unem ployment”, not all the State and Municipal Committees for “the reief of the unempoyed” can re store Old Man Capitalism to a state of vigorous health as in the days of its long spent youth. Old Man Capitalism has seen his best days.. His back is bent, and his head is bending lower. Feebly he totters down the lane at the twilight of his life, on his way to his long-deserved grave to join the company of his forgotten fore bears. Upon his final collapse and consequent interment there un doubtedly will come from the corners of the smug and contented rich exploiters of both black and white labor, a sigh of regret. It is even possible that from the ranks of the working class, ignorantly a tear or two will be shed. But neither sighs nor tears nor prayers can bring back to vigorous life the old man. However, he shall not be forgotten. The world will re member him for some of the worthier contributions he made during his youth. It was he who did most to tickle and encourage the acquisitive instinct in man and thus laid the material basis for a life of peace, plenty and freedom MR. JONES SUGGESTS SMALL LOAN ACCOMODATION FOR COLORED PEOPLE Editor The Richmond Planet Slfhat the two colored banks in Richmond have merged into one will he a demonstrated fact January 1st, 1931. It is far more interesting and far more inspiring to know of a bank merger than to know of a bank failure. The latter denotes bad» business and when it happens the depositor invariably gets the worst of it. Since the writer belongs to the depositor class, it may not be in appropriate or inopportune to sug gest that experience has taught us < a colored bank should not be individaully owned or individually run. It should not be tied up or con trolled by any special interest, or by any one organization, or association, or fraternity, or religious denomina tion whatsoever, but in a large way if should represent the entire Negro ’•ace. And if thus organized and operated it will command greater nnnuiar support. There are many vioces telling us about race pride, of the great need of nntyonizing race enterprises, of de noting funds in Negro banks, and «o forth and so on. But many colored ncople do not accept the advice of Miese advisors when only a few of Miom practice what they preach. The average person refuses to be lulled :nto confidence when he sees stock holders neglect to patronize their own business enterprises, when he be holds bankers that do not realize their own needs and necessities, that could not visualize the fact of com nctition. being foolish, wasteful ami unnecessary. It must he admitted that a colored bank is bound to have its opponents and doubters just as science has its 'inbolievers and haters. Progress ha/; always had its detractors and "remies. and a Negro bank can not: ppcape the same fate, even though it "ipv not be charged with an em bezzlement, or misappropriation, or discreoancy, or irregularity in the handling of funds. Since one of the chief aims of a well organized bank is to render ervice satisfactorily in all respects to its patrons, it is clear that the consolidation of the two banks into one strong institution will greatly h.halize the banking interests of our group. It will tend to remove the folding of suspicion, insecurity and. h* ■ itaney of many when it comes to* placing their all in a Negro bank. Business conditions in Richmond increase yearly with more insistent demands for greater banking facili , ties for our people. Under consolida tion these requirements can be more readily met and a greater service rendered the community. It is well mgh impossible to over-estimate the value and importance to business re presentatives which the combination of these two financial institutions mean. There was until now a positive lack of evidence that Negro leadev ship, Negro executives and Negro management could adapt themselves to current business methods as prac ticed by white business leaders. It may be said in passing that there are interlocking associations, institutions and organizations other than Negr*, banks that would be wise to consoli date their interests. After all is said and done it should be bourne in mind that a Negro bank however sound and secure will not appeal to white people. Reside their gigantic financial institutions a little Negro bank appears as a pigmy, But, the pigmy, so called, gives employ ment to Negro clerks, bookkeepers and others. How many white banking institutions employ Negro book keepers, clerks and stenographers? White banks number Negro deposi tors by thousands, but a Negro bank' can count its white depositors on the fingers of one hand. In the last analysis the growth, usefulness and stability of the Negro bank must depend upon the support that Neg roes give tneir own institution. Let me ask in closing what would happen if every Negro in Richmond, every colored association, fraternity, organization, club, business enter prise and .church, would withdraw their money from white banks and deposit the same in one Negro bank?^ The answer is that the Consolidated Rank and Trust Company would have to erect a new and larger bank- ( ing house. It would be forced to '■i .ploy more tellers, clerks, bock keepers, stenographers and janitors. Ft would be obliged to secure th% serveces of a messenger, an elevator operator, a day and night watchman and then some. The Negro bank would then cease to be regarded as a nigmy and white bankers would sit up and take notice. One sound, strong Negro bank is enough for this city. It should appeal for patronage to all the colored peo ple in Richmond and vicinity. It hould be in many respects a poor :>an’s institution with a small-loan h nartment in operation. It should nder service by extending accomo-. Nation, amply secured, to the class of •>tople from which its founders ■prang. Only in this way can the best interests of the banker, depositor and small borrower of our group be conserved. Theodore W. Jones Richmond, Va. GOODWILL BAPTIST CHURCH At The Goodwill Baptist Church 410 N. Monroe, Sunday Decembor 28, 10:00 A. M. Sunday School. 11:45 A. M. Subject “Spiritual Inventory.” 8:30 P. M. Subject “Post EjT periences The Premise For Con clusions.” Rev. W. B. Ball Pastor. for all peoples. His claim to fame will adequately be looked after by the young, vigorous and healthy child he is leaving behind in the world—Socialism. At present the dying old man needs fewer doctors and more undertakers.