The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-15

! PETITION TO CONGRESS-

Justice of the Peace J. A. Purdic, Of
Lee Ward, has received a letter from one
D.. r. Thomas, q negro, Of Globe, Ar,
who Is advocating Il plan by which all
the negroes arc to be sent to Africa
by the government. In the letter received
by MIR. Purdie is a petition which asked
for contributions for the purpose Of cs-
tablishing a fund. part of which is to
so into the hands of the said D.. r..
Thomas, and part to be used by the Az
rcun colony to be established, and also
Il blank form 10 be filled out by some
person who desires to become an agent
of the company
In the early part Of the year Squire
Purdic received aFletter from the same
negro. The request was made that tho
names or several prominent negro men in
the city be sent to him. The proposition
was stated In thealetter. Willing TO obligc
person who vas pushing a scheme by
which all the negroes were 10 be sent to
Africa. Mr.. Purdle answered tch letter
and sent the names of several well known
negro men. He received Il reply asking
him to arrange for the renting Of hall
\ In which n convention might be held and
definite steps taken to push the propo-
sition.
Squire Purdlc now only acts as JUS
tlce for the Second Police District, but is
at the head of j. a Purde & Co., and
says he has business enough to keep
him busy without engaging In q business
E that Will keep him renting halls for negro
conventions. He answered to this effect.
Nothing was heard until this week,
when a letter, dated July Sth, was re-
ccived, This cpistlc reads I'VE enclose
herewith some papers and request that
you confer with the school trustees and
commissioners and arrange to appoint
agents to attend the same
We shall also want regular agents In
all cities and towns. ! wrote YOU from
Solomonvillc, Arz but heard nothing
from you or any one else, MY office
may not favor the movement, but that
makes no differences, The race has
been warned to rise up and return TO
It's native land. and the warning has
been with them for nine years, and
they commence moving In 1906, which
makes the tenth year and end,
Very respectfully,
ID. Il. THOMAS" 4
A postscript is added, which reads:
The agent starts out BY publishing
the petition, and then calls lectures on the
black movement to Africa from tho
United States. The door fees are their
own, but the money donated by tho audi,
cnce must be carried TO its place. ac.
cording to the printed instruction on
collecting sheet No 2s, Then lhs agent
starts out with the petItion,'
The petition sets out that al. honor
able citizens will please sign this rcli-
ton" which IS to be to Inc President
and 10 Congress, asking that d linnn IN
Africa be prepared for the blacNs. Tho
home 10 to extend five hundred III les l'y
one thousand miles, more or less, Tor tie
ex-slaves and their offspring" 1t is to
be protected by the United states, gov
crnmcnt for ten years All the NEGROES
woh want to so are to be sent; all OF
those out of employment are TO be sent
nnw two-thirds OF all the nsro conVicts
AFRO 10 depart for Africa. THIS Is the
scheme that D. r, Thomas. the lnstiga-
| tor, wants 10 send TO Congress,
! In the application that Is 10 be signed
| by the person who becomes an agent is
this clause: acknowledged by the United
states Government May 20. 1901, aud Feb
ruary l6, 1904