The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-12
FAVOR THE JONES BILL
COLORED PEOPLE PETITION THE
LEGISLATURE TO PASS 1T.
A Mass Meeting Last Night at Her.
culean Club Attended by Repre-
sentative ColOred People.


held last night at the rooms of the Hercu-
lean Club on Indiana avenue to consider
the bill introduced by Represent alive Jones
repeating the law that provides for separate
schools for colored and white children. The
rooms of the club were comfortably filled
with representative colored people, who
without exception favored the passage of
the bill.
There were short talks by nearly every
one present and some talks of considerable
length. DR.. S. A. Ebert spoke at length
in favor of the bill. He said that the people
of the North look with horror upon the
Jim Crow cars in the South provided
for the use of colored people and call ii an
outrage, yet here in Indiana Jim Crow"
schools are provided for the colored people
and IT Is a matter of another color and is
all right.
Il am willing that my children shall go
into the race for preference in this world"
continued Dr. Ebert, land fight their own
battles without any legislation for their
especial benefit, and then they can succeed
or fail as their qualities will permit but /
do not think it is just that we should be
compelled to enter the race Handicapped by
laws. 1t is disgrace to the people. a dis
grace to the State Of Indiana and a dis
grace to humanity"
James Williams said the only plea he had
heard from colored people against the bill
is that it will throw the colored teachers
out of employment. He characterized that
as mean and vulgar plea-a plea for a
few against the masses. He would not adj
NIT that II would throw out all OF the coll
ored teachers, but said he would favor the
Dill II IT should displace 10000 colored
~ hsn h.air s.lef
dren. he said, are too sacred 10 be lightly
thrown aside for the sake &C few paitry
dollars that some members of the race
might receive for teaching.
lsadore Blair said he favored the object
sought TO be accomplished by the bill. but
did not think the bill would do what II was
intended il should. He called attention to
the fact that the bill provides no penalty
for its violation, and therefore any school
superintendent or trustee could violate IL
with impunity and have no fear of the con-
sequences. He also thought the colored
people should not stop with the one bill for
the betterment OF their condition. but
should seek to have the laws prohibiting
the intermarriage of the races repealed. He
did not dwell much upon this subject. but
mentioned IL as one Of several laws which
he said discriminate against colored people
Gabriel Jones, the author Of the bill under
discussion. REPLIED to the attacks of Blair.
He said the bill is all right without n PEN
atty clause. He did not think II necessary
that there should be penalty clause and
thought the law could be enforced without
IL
marriage he said: II do not want that law
repealed and do not think many of those
here do" At this a man in the audience
said II am very well satisfied with my
wife. and never want a white woman for n
wife" Representative Jones then continued:
Il know you do not. and think am right
when j say that a colored man who wants
to marry a white woman either has ex-
tremely high aspirations or very low as
prations generally the Latter, Ior maos ,yS on
have been cast of by their own people as
unfit for their association.
The meeting adopted the following memo
rial to the Legislature:
} I'VE appeal to the members of the Legis-
lature to push Representative Jones's bill
colored children in the public schools
of the State. We represent that
the colored people of this community are
that the preachers who passed resolutions
against the measure are strangers in this
city, and that they in no sense represent
the people of this community; that Indiana
alone of the Northern States Keeps up TINS
disc elimination against colored children:
that we ask for no special or class legisla-
ton but simply that the class legislation
our statute books be removed shat this
measure simply seeks TO abolish the cruel
and inhuman practice now In vogue IN this
CITY of compelling colored children living
within a stones throw or schoolhouse 90
walk long distances TO reach "A so-called
colored school.
.'The question Of the employment OF coli
Ored teachers mas 10 COhuctNlOh itc
legislation-the schools are for the children.
our only concern about teachers Is that
the best only may be employed-the oppo-
sition 10 this measure on the part OF any
colored people comes only from those i'm
terested in the employment Of certain
teachers but the number Is so small ana
their motive so apparent that no attention
should be paid to their claims.
I'VE assure the members of the Legisla-
ture that We know the sentiments or the
colored people of this community and or
the State. They are intensely interested
in this measure. and as a matter OF simple
justice ask its passage. We feel assured
that the best people. white and black,
throughout the State favor his measure.
which simply gives every child In he State
under the laws equal chance in the race
of life. The great AnglO-Saxon race. SO
proud of its wonderful a. hievements. need
not hobble any people i'm order To hold Its
own in the race OF life.