The Washington bee., 1907-02-16

rf REPRESENTATIVES. by the hon, hetuS
w Sims. of Linden, Tennessee, a bill
orohibiting miscegenation, or, otherwise,
marriage between the whites and col
ored and Mongolian races in the Dis
,rfrf of Columbia. The bill was re-
isrrsd to the Honorable Commissioners
of the District of Columbia for a re-
mort on their opinion. The bill has
beru returned without a recommenda-
ton.
If Won will read the bill you will
see that it prohibits legal marriages
IN the District Of Columbia. and is silent
.s 70 illegal acts that exist in certain
sections of this city between white men
and colored women, Congressman not
excepted.
T. is A notorious fact that there exist
today in this city a number of magnif-
cent houses that are frequented by
whit. men of high social and political
standing. The occupants of these hous-
q, are co.orcd women.
am rs much in favor of preserving
the purity and honor of the races as
,be distinguished Democratic member
from Linden, Tennessee, but I would
suggest that he add an amendment TO
his bill If It shauld be acted upon, so
that it will include white men and
white women as we'll as black men and
black women
want to say that the colored people
IN this city are only too anxious 10
see the bill passed if Congress will
add to it am amendment that will keep
white men from colOred women, and
especially colored prostitutes who are
conducting an illegal business for white
men.
ann opposed to class legislation.
Acts committed by white men mad
white women should be punished. and
such laws should be enacted that will
apply to them as well as to colored
men and colored women Perhaps Con-
grcss Is not aware that many Of our re
,pectablc and highly cultured women
cannot walk unmolested upon the public
streets of our city. They are followed
and insulted by white men
IF the honorable member from Ten
uesscc will pay a visit to the section
to which my letter refers he will un-
doubtedly hesitate before he pushes his
bill and asks its adoption. He is not
informed of the social invasion of white
men to the fashionable resorts managed
by Ethiopian blondes. Those partiCu-
lar houses are exclusively for white
men. and if you don't believe that the
colored brother is persona non grata
let him present himself at the door and
he will be told that all cOOns look
alike" to them. This house is for the
exclusive race which Representative
Simms would separate from these dark
damsels. Has the distinguished Con-
gresham from Tennessee been inform
ed that there is to be a wholesale mat
rimonial union between his race and
the colored race. that he wishes to pre-
vent by the introduction of such a bill!
Has he set himself up as the guardian
Of those who would select their own
partners for life? l. he afraid that
his women will see in the colored man
superior quality for admiration? l de-
sire TO say to both branches OF the
law-making power in this country that
the colored Americans in the District
Of Columbia will not force themselves
into the society of Mr Simms if they
are not wanted.
Has it come 70 the point in Amer
lcan civilization that Congress must en-
act laws to keep white women and col
ored men apart? The bill should be
changed so that it will apply to white
men in high social and political circles
The colored chambermaids, colored
bridesmaids and colored mattresses are
daily pursued by men in high Official
circle. If such a bill passes It will bt
class legislation as we'll as gross dis
elimination. The colored man knows
ms place, and the introduction of such
bill demonstrates the weakness OF the
author Of the bill. He says to the world
that the American white woman mus
he checked in her madness for a Ne
gro husband, It is an evidence OF tht
white mans brutality toward his WON
en-, that they would prefer a coloret
husband to a white one. Why was
such bill introduced? Is it not al
evidence Of weakness? Would not Con
gress put itself in a false light by en-
couraging such a bill. The Commits
4onerS should have had an opinion
They are the representatives of the peo-
pie They should have promptly replied
That such bill IS uncalled for and un-
wise.
We were all created by the same
beIng and yyhava-s .L,t - n fact there