The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1904-08-27
CALL FOR MEETING

cations, such as Churches, Colleges,
Benevolent Societies, Newspapers
and other Race Organizations.
GREETING:
The Seventh Annual Session of the
National Afro-American Council will
be held in Music Hall, Olive and Four
teenth streets, St. Louis, Mo-, Sept: 6,
Z, and 8, 1904.
The Necessity for the Meeting.
In view of the legislation against us
as citizens, not only against our civil
rights, but against our suffrage, no one
should question the necessity for an
organization of this character, and ev-
cry Afro-American, without regard to
his views on other subjects, should be
willing to unite in an organized effort
to improve these conditions.
The hostility upon the part of the
enemies of the race has been so per-
sistent that many of our friends have
become timid and Indifferent in our
Defense It is with the view of com.
batting this opposition of our enemies.
strengthening the hands of our friends
and working for the absolute undoing
of all determinations against the race,
that this meeting is to be held, and we
ask the hearty cooperation of every
AfrO-American who is interested IN
the welfare of his race.
Basis of Membership.
1Article III of Constitution.)
Section l. The Afro-American Coun'
Gil shall be composed of members as
follows:
1st-All persons who hold life
membership.
2d-Council Delegates, representing
duly accredited Local Councils.
3d-Afiliated Delegates, represent
ing organizations of similar plans and
purposes cooperating with Afro-Amer-
lean Council.
Sec. g.. Every Local Afro-American
Council shall be entitled to representa-
ton in the National Council by dele
gates elected on a basis of one dele
gate to every fifty (50) members, said
delegates to qualify upon presentation
of credentials and payment of ten
cents for each member so represented.
Provided, however, that any Local
Council having less than fifty (5O)
members shall be entitled to one vote,
upon presentation of credentials and
payment of the annual tax OF $500.
Sec. 8. Religious and secular organ.
izations which have for their aim and
work the mental and moral elevation
of the race, and which desire to CO.
operate with the National Council, may
be represented by affiliated delegates,
not more than two delegates to each
organization. Said delegates shall
have the right to vote upon payment
of $500 for each delegate.
Sec. 4. Editors of Afro-American
newspapers and Principals Of Academ-
ic Schools and Colleges, may be ad-
mitted to membership in the National
presentation of credentials and pay
ment of the annual tax of $500.
A Truly Representative Body.
From the above it will be seen that
the National Afro-American Council is
a representative body. The mere pay
ment of SIS does not entitle one to
membership. Every delegate must
bring written credentials certifying
that he is the representative of local
council or affiliated organization, the
editor of an Afro-American newspaper
or the principal of an academic school
or college.
Disfranchisement Paramount Cues
While many other questions relative
to the rights of the race will be con-
sidered, it has been decided that Dis
reimbursement is to be the paramount
topic for discussion. This question,
which is of such great Importance at
this time, will be considered from ev-
cry view point by some of the great
est thinkers of the race.
Speeches Must be Short and to the
Point.
By the action of the National Afro
American Council, each speaker is linn
tied to twenty minutes, and in view OF
the fact that a portion of the Caucas-
ian press of the country is ever ready
to misrepresent the words of Afro
Americans, all speeches must be in
manuscript, in order that there may
be absolute proof of just what each
speaker said.
Reduced Rates on Railroads.
Delegates attending the National
Afro-American Council will have the
benefit of the lowest rates by buying
round trip tickets to the Worlds Fair
at St. Louis, which are on sale at
every ticket office in the United
States. In many cases the short limit
tickets are sold for less than one fare
for the round trip and in every case
the rate is less than the usual rate
granted by the railroads to meetings
of this kind. Remember the date OF
the meeting is September 6. Z, and 8.
It is our earnest desire that every
Church, College, Benevolent Society,
and other Race Organization send rep
resentatives, accompanied by the an
nual tax of $500, to this great Nation
al gathering. We have every reason
to believe that the St. Louis meeting
will be the largest ever held in the
history of the organization. Let all
the organizations above named elect
their delegates as soon as possible
and send their names to Cyrus Field
Adams, Secretary, 934 S Street, N. w.,
Washington, D. G.
The citizens of st. Louis are pre-
pairing to entertain the Council in first
class style and the trip promises to
be delightful one.
lSigned.]
William n. Steward,
Acting President,
Alexander Walters,