Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1904-07-01
Colored Men Aroused
The Cruel Treatment of
Negroes in the South
is Denounced.
STRONG RESOLUT ONS ARE PASSED
Sioux City, Iowa.

liz ICSoiutiOllS uSilOulSlHS tuS
cruel treatment of colored laborers
in the south, which had been drawn
up by committee appointed at the
last meeting of the club, were unam-
iously adopted at an enthusiastic
meeting of the Sioux City Colored
Mems club, held last night in its
hall at w. Seventh and Main streets
The members of the club were
united in expressing indignation a,
the alleged inhuman treatment &C
corded Henry Williams who ran
away from one of the plantations
down in Louisiana and who appear
ed in Sioux City few days ago in
terrible physical condition as the
result of a beating he received from
the boss of plantation. They pro-
pose to do all in their power to
arouse the public to the conditions
down there, and copy of the re-
solutions will be sent to each sena-
tor and representative in Iowa.
The resolutions are as follows:
Whereas, This club, through one
of its members, James Washington,
has recently been called upon to ex-
tend aid and support to one Henry
Williams, fugitive from a plan
tation in Louisiana; and,
Whereas, on investigation, the
club has discovered that the said
Henry Williams while in the NOM
inal employ of the owners of the
plantation was in fact slave and
subjected to the most cruel and in
human treatment by his employer
or master which it was possible for
the human mind to conceive, and
which treatment in severity far ex-
ceeded the harshest treatment given
to slaves in the south in times of
slavery; and,
Whereas, this boy, who is now
only nineteen years Of age, has by
such treatment been enfeebled in
mind and crippled in body to such
an extent that he willduring the re-
mainder of his life be charge upon
the generosity of the public; and,
Weereas, Nearly half century
ago, at a tremendous cost of blood
and money the institution of slavery
was eradicated from this govern
ment; and,
Whereas, We, representing the
colored citizens of the city of Sioux
City, believe that such practices
ought to be stopped by this govern
ment, and that every colored citizen
residing anywhere beneath the stars
and stripes should have equal rights
and equal protection with every 9TH
er citizen under the constitution of
the United States; therefore, be it
Resolved, That these resolutions
be properly engrossed and a copy
thereof sent to each of the senator's
and representatives from the state
of Iowa, together with detailed
statement of the facts underlying
this particular case, and that such
senators and representatives be re-
quested TO bring this matter before
the proper authorities, and after an
investigation, if the facts shall war
rant the same, to take such measures
as shall in the future prevent like
acts of lawlessness. !.
The members of the club propose
to interest other colored organiza-
tions in the matter. Letters will be
written to the presidents of colored
clubs throughout the state, asking
that they cooperate with the Sioux
City club and take steps to ascer-
tain the real conditions in the south.
The committee which drafted the
resolutions consisted of James Wash
ington , chairman; Charles Williams
amp John Shores, and was increased
cy the addition of H. M. Jewell,
president Of the club; J. Wilbur Nor.
ris and William E. Gordon.