Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-02-06
AFRO. AMERICAN
COUNCIL. .. .

Below we publish condense repor,
| Of the Executive Council meeting OF
the National Council, The men. bers
of that committee from Iowa John L.
Thompson aud I. B. Williams of Des
Moinss and Mrs. w. H London OF
Buxton, Iowa. I. Z. Williamson was
present and J. Frank Rlagburn was
present also, he having John L.
Thompson's proxy. 1t was large
and enthusiastic meeting.
Washington, D. O., Feb. 2.-The Elk.
ecutive Committee of the National
Afro. Americn Council held its regular
semi-annual meeting at Lincoln Me-
mortal Church, Washington, d. c.,
Monday. January s6, 1908, Bishop A.
Walters, Chairman. presiding.
It was decided to hold the next annu-
al meeting of the National Afro-Ameri
can Council at Louisville, Ky, July 2,
1903. The arrangements for the meet
ing are in the hands of u committee of
which William II. Steward, Esq,
editor of the American Baptist, Louis
Vile, KY, is Chairman. Disfranchise-
ment is to be the paramount theme for
discussion. Each person on the pro.
gramme will be limited to twenty
minuets, and all speeches must be in
manuscript.
Monday night q public meeting was
held. Acting President, William A..
Pledver, of Georgia, presiding. Ad-
dresses were delivered by Rev. George
w. Lee. Il. L. johnson, Esq, Hon.
John G. Dancy, James H. Hayes Esq :,
ex-Gov. P. B. 8. Pinchba and Bishop
Walters. A musical and literary pro-
gramme was rendered By prominent
local artists.
APPEAL TO THE COUNTRY
The address to the country is signed
bp Alexander Walters, chairman of
the executive committee; Cyrus Field
Adams, secretary, and William A.
Pledgep acting president Of the coun.
ell, and is, in part, as follows:
ut is evident to the thoughtful
among us that we are passing through
one of the most critical periods of our
existence in this country. Questions
that Immediately concern the liberty
and well-being Of oue-eighth of the
population of the United States, and
scarcely to less degree the whole popu-
lation of the country, are pressing for
tseatmeut as never before. A sYste.
matte effort has been insugurated on
the part of the south which has for it's
object the Withdrawal of the fran
chise from the Afro-Americans of that
section and their reduction to a posi-
ton OF absolute anbserviencyin in all the
relations IF life. It has been openly
declared by some Of the most promi-
nent leaders of the south that ID was
the intention of the trainers of the ne W
constitutions to disfranchisc as many
Afro-Americanu as possible and leave
every Caucasian in fall possession Of
the suffrage. The effect has been
that not only has the Afro.American
been disfranchise, but also that verv
large number of Caucasiaus who prev
ious to the adoption of these constitu-
tions participated in elections have
ceased to register and vote.
"We contend for our constitutional
rights on the ground that the right of
sutfcage has been conferred upon it's
citizens by the federal government.
1--WE heartily commend the Afro
Americans of Virginia, Alabama,
Louisiana and other states who are
seeking redress through the courts of
the land, and we pledge them ous
moral and financial support.