The Washington times., 1906-07-05
BELMONT COLONY
AROUSES WHITES
TO DANGER POINT
Residents to Use Drastic
Methods to Stop Col
Ored Settlement.

Five hundred indignant residents
Of suburban Washington are up IN
arms, literally, over the PROPOSE
ton TO sell the subdivision known
as Belmont, situated on the Rock
vile road. just across the District
line in Maryland. 10 coiored peo-
pie. The sale of lots in tho sub
division is now being advertised,
and the fact that colorcd persons
are desired particularly as pur-
ehasers IS emphasized in the an
nouncement.
The community, embracing the
home-dwellers in Bethesda, Friend
ship Heights, Somerset, Drlammond,
and that whole section Of the Dis
trict and Maryland, is ablaze with
anger. a number of meetings have
been held and fiery denunciations
of the proposed sale of Belmont lots
have been INDUCED in freely. It is
flercely declared that the plan shall
not be cOnsummated, no matter
what methods are needed for its
defeat. The suburbanites declare a
willingness TO go to any length.
Any Method to Prevent Settlement.
Richard NJ Ough. one Of the leading
citizens of Friendship Heights. and a
pioneer resident Of that locality q large
owner OF property. and a man who
stands high in the esteem Of his neigh
bors and the community. is the most
avowed exponent Of the methods OF re-
preston which are freely threatened.
NO negro shall ever build q house in
Belmont" said Mr.. Ough today. "You
may say that for me. with the greatest
pOsitiveness in which the thought can
be conveyed I speak for 800 men as
determined as I am myself. We do not
care what methods are needed to prevent
a calamity which appears to be inpend-
ing. whatever hey are. those methods
viii be taken.
Would Destroy Happiness of Homes.
ITO establish a negro colony at Bel
mont practically at our doors and be-
yond the restraint of the District police
force. would mean the impairment OF
our property values. ii constant menace
TO our peace and security and the
destruction OF the happiness Of our
homes. White men cannot be expected
TO endu- e it-and we certainly shall not
YOU may call the organization We
are forming White Caps, Ku kluX, or
what you will Be assured Il IS an et-
fecJive organization and that its mem
Ders mean what they say Belmont Will
not be a negro colony. The land may
be sold to negroes, but that will be the
end Of it."
Lee D. Latmer. secretary of the w.
/ II. West Company and a leading resi-
| dent of DrummonG, was emphatic in his
condemnation Of the project.
The threat that hangs over our
heads IS a very serious one,'' said Mr.
Latimer. and I confess see no means
of meeting the situation, save TO buy
these people on. ! understand a fund is
being raised for this purpose. although
a contribution.
PERSONALLY, I don't think I would
care 10 continue my residence in this
section IL the plan is consummated Our
homes would become insecure and our
families would live in a constant condi-
ton OF danger and uncertainty. The
very prospect is positively appalling
Something must be done TO meet the
danger that menaces, but 1 confess I
don't know what IL viii be-"
Henry w. Offutt, OF Friendship
Heights, is another resident who feels
about the matter practically as do Mr.
Cugh and Mr.. Latimer. AS TO the seri-
Gus menace OF the situation, ne is quite
at one With them and he expresses a
strong hope that the negro colony at
Belmont wiz fail through. Further than
this he does not care TO go. Many
Others living in the affected neighbor-
hood give vent to similar sentiments
Most Of them confess a perfect inability
to discuss the situation in any language
suitable for publication.
An organization of the indignant
citizens has been formed and constant
additions to it's membership are being
made 1t was this TO which Mr. Ough
referred when he said. You may call
US White Caps. or Ku blux, or what
you will" According TO him, the or
Continued an Sixth PaRal