Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-10

One OF the largest and most re-
preventative audiences that ever as
sembled at the Nations Capitol gath
cred at the Metropolitan A. NJ. f..
Church on Friday night OF last week
TO consider suffrage conditions in
the South.
The meeting was under the aus
pices OF one hundred leading col
Ored citizens OF the United States
with the Sons OF Allen and in Co
operation with tho Constitution
League.
In opening the meeting the pre-
siding officer, Prof William II. Rich
ards. scholar and orator. said I'VE
have met together TO remind the
members Of Congress OF the oath
they subscribed TO. and TO urge that
the amendments OF the Constitution
be enforced IL such enforcement re-
quires all the guns in our army ana
navy" This Introduction ELECTED
prolonged applause.
THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
Then followed the opening hymn
by the Metropolitan choir. and the
invocation by Rev. Oscar ]. w.
Scott. after which former Congress
man White of North Carolina read
the resolutions which were unani-
mously adopted by the meeting.
The resolutions were as follows:
This meeting OF citizens OF the
United States. held az the National
Capitol. urgently calls attention to
the nullifcation of the Federal Con
stitution and TO the growing disre-
gard OF law in certain States OF the
Union which, If unchecked. will sap
the foundations of this government.
Contempt for constituted authority
Is the most fatal heritage that can
be transmitted TO the rising genera
ton. The assumption by one OF the
rights OF another IS not only contra
ry 10 the principles and spirit OF de-
mocracy but is dangerous to the wei
fare OF all Yet American citizens
are being deprived of their rights
under the law, and an arrogant oil
igarchy usurps the power of the
whole people.
These facts are within the knOwl-
edge of all and are undisputed anu
indisputable The continuance Of
this state OF things seriously threat
ems the perpetuity of our free insti-
tutions. The spirit OF American in
stitutions is the equality of all men
in civil and political relations. I'm
der this government Privilege gives
place to Rights. the ballot is the
symbol of sovereignty and equality
and where the ballot is with
held Rights are invaded anu Privi-
lege is erected in their place
IL is the plain duty of every pa
triotic American, therefore, TO insist
upon the rigid enforcement OF every
provision OF the fundamental law of
the land We demand for all A
merican citizens. in every State OF
the Union, a free ballot and equal
treatment under the law. Since
. none is exempted from the RESPONSE
bilities of citizenship none should be
denied its Rights. Therefore We be
lieve I'm manhood suffrage, except in
case of disabilities arising from
crime. insanity, or pauperism.
We believe in the purity Of the
ballot and that this is to be secured
not by reducing the number of vo-
ters, but by removing from the yo-
ter those temptations which induce
him TO prostitute his ballot, namely
by the enactment OF laws securing
the privacy of the voter while pre-
pairing the ballot; OF laws against
bribery. and of laws requiring the
publicity of contributions for cam
paign purposes and prescribing the
objects for which they may be spent
We believe in national aid to ed
ucation in those states where by
reason of economic conditions pub
lie school facilities are not provided
for all the people or where, by rea-
son OF hostile sentiment, a part OF
the people are denied public school
facilities.
We demand that the majority par
ty in the 59th Congress shall redeem
the pledge made in it's National
Platform of 1904, and which was
endorsed by the American people al
the succeeding election, to wit: We
favor such Congressional action as
shall determine whether by special
determinations the elective fran
chise In any State has been uncon-
stitutionally limited. and. IL such Is