Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-27
The National A
Council Want Colored Mans
Appointment Confirmed
AN ADDRESS ON RACE QUESTION
The Council Issues an Addres. & the
People Of the United States in Which
They Outlined Some Of Their Griev.
ances and Their Constitutional
Rishts-General News.

of the National Afro-Ameri-
can Council. in session here, passed u
resolution urging confirmation by the
of the nomination of DR.. w. d
Crum to be collector Of customs al
Charleston, S. c.. and adopted an adj
dress to the country on the race ques-
ton in general. The address is signed
by Alexander Walters. chairman Of tha
executive committees: Cyrus Adams,
secretary. and William A. Pledger, act
mig president of the National Afro
American Council. The address in part
is as follows:
ut is evident to the thoughtful among
that we are passing thru one of the
most critical periods of our experience
III this country. Questions that immedi-
ately concern the liberty and we'll
being of one-eighth of the population OF
the United States and scarcely to a less
degree the whole population of the
country, are pressing for treatment as
never before.
"A systematic effort has been inaugu-
rated on the part OF the south, which
has for its object the withdrawal of the
franchise from the Afro-Americans OF
that section. and their reduction to a
position of absolute subserviency in all
the relations Of life. IT has been openly
declared by some of the most prominent
leaders of the south that 1t was the in
tention Of the trainers; of the new con-
situations to disfranchise as man AFRO
Americans as possible and leave every
Caucasian in full possession of the SUI
The effect has been that not
only has the Afro-American been dis
franchised. but also that a very large
number of Caucasians who previously
to the adoption Of these constitutions
in elections, have ceased to
and vote.
I'VE contend for u constitutional
rights on the ground that the right OF
suffrage has been conferred upon Its
citizens by the federal government.
I'VE heartily commend the Afro-
Americans of Virginia. Alabama. Louis
lana and other states. who are seeking
thru the courts of the land, and
we pledge them our moral and financial
support.
I'VE denounce the mob murders now
SO prevalent in this country.
I'VE call the attention of the country
TO a condition of service on many farms
in a number of the southern states re-
sembling very much the old peonage
and ask for legislation looking
to the remedying of the evil.
I'VE submit our protest against the
unfair practices in the transportation OF
passengers in southern states, discrim-
unjustly against Afro-Ameri-
cans; requiring Of them the highest
rates Of travel and providing in return
The poorest accommodations in cars
cage; and we invoke the exercise OF
he powers Of the interstate commerce
commission, by that tribunal, to pre-
vent discrimination in rates and ccom
against interstate passen-
gers.
1--WE appeal to congress for favorable
action upon one OF the several meas
lres now pending therein for the ap-
Of a commission to inquire
nto the condition Of Afro-Americans of
he country.
I'VE heartily endorse the deliverances
President Roosevelt with reference
10 the fitness for appointment to office
md the attitude Of tie federal govern
nent toward all of It's citizens, regard
ess of race or character. He has I'M
parted new life and yigor to the lime
IGNORED principles and traditions OF
1uman rights, and has given hope and
inspiration to a people struggling
beneath the burden of nate
md prescription. We commend Theo-
Roosevelt to the affection and con-
idence Of our people regardless OF
party affiliation."