Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-06-30
WANTS RACE INTERMARRIAGE.
Young Brooklyn White Woman Among
Indorsers of Radical Theory.

on-lnterrnarTlaSe, TeSdTulesS VI
color-exploited at the banquet Of the
Cosmopolitan society Of Greater New
York. in Peck's restaurant, on Fulton
street, a few weeks ago, has become a
subject of comment throughout the
United States.
That such a revolutionary idea
should be launched in an assemblege
where white girls and women, many
of them Of social prominence, were
squeezed between ebony-skinned ne
groes in little dining hall, was not
the least amazing feature Of the en-
tertainment.
Among the white men present who
waxed enthusiastic over the ideal
state of intermarriage between white
and blacks as the true solution Of the
race question were Oswald G. Willard,
editor of the New York Evening Post
a son Of Henry G. Willard and a
grandson Of William Lloyd Garrison;
William H. Ferris, a negro graduate
of Harvard; Edward G. Walker,
president of the Sunrise Club; Dr..
John A. Morgan, West Indian, and
Hamilton Holt, editor Of the Indepen-
dent. Mr.. Holt was responsible for
launching the blending caste propa-
ganda.
The seating arrangements at the
banquet were in harmony with the
thought color scheme that burst forth
In the impassioned speeches Of Mr..
Holt, Mr.. Willard and Miss Mary
White Ovington, a Brooklyn society
girl, whose father Is proprietor Of the
ST. George Hotel in that borough.
Miss Ovington was the only white
woman at the speakers table.
The Rev. Madison c. Peters was
invited to speak, but when he arrived
in the dining hall he suddenly re-
membered a more urgent call to de-
liver an address at another prandial
function, where the seating arrange
ment was less unusual.
At one table, about which were
grouped a dozen white girls, clad in
shimmering gowns, some Of them de-
collette. sat Capt A. H. Thompson,
negro, who commanded a negro regi-
ment in the Spanish-American war,
occupying a post OF honor between
two white girls from Greenpoint-
Miss Isabelle Eaton and Miss Marion
Doolittle.
At the same table sat Mrs. ]. w.
Gates and her sixteen-year-old daugh-
ter, Bessie, the young girl radiant In
slightly decollette. It was announc-
ed by one of the officers Of the Cos
mopolitan Society that the Gateses
were prominent socially in Seattle,
and that the young girl was in the
east to study art
DR.. John A. Morgan, the West In
dian, whose skin was blacker than
that Of any other person present, sat
beside Mrs. A. Stirling. At another
table, Mrs. L. Landis, who Is we'll
known in Brooklyn society, was con-
spicuous among a group Of ten ne
groes, men and women. Her husband
sat at the same table. Miss Marie
Perrin, who would not give her ad-
dress, was one Of the young white
women at the table with Capt.
Thompson, the dashing young infan-
tryman. She sat close to Miss Mar
tha Thompson, a negro girl, distantly
related to Capt. Thompson. DR.. o.
M. Waller, a negro. who is secretary
Of the Cosmopolitan society presided.
But the attention Of the diners
was not all focused on the white
men and women. The manager Of
the banquet called attention to Mrs.
Anna Allen, wealthy colored lady,
of Brooklyn, who owns many houses,
not tenements either" Mrs. Allen
wore a Merry Widow" hat, with
plumes and brilliant diamond ear
pendants.
The purpose of the Cosmopolitan
society is to solve the equality Of
race problem. Editor Holt was voci-
ferously applauded for saying:
Conditions are going to get worse
in the south before they get better.
When the colored people get educa-
ted, the whites in the south will have
to recognize them as their equals
What must the remedy be? Inter-
marriage If continued long enough,
would solve the race problem. To let
things remain as they are Is unsatis-
factory. Deportation is impossible.
Then it must be amalgamation and
education"
After the furore of applause that
greeted Mr.. Holt had died down the
names of Roosevelt, Taft and Bryan
were mentioned amid groans Social
ism was acclaimed. When Miss Owing
ton was called upon to speak she
said:
Move your chairs nearer together
and get up closer"
The suggestion was eagerly obeyed
by the negro partners Of the white
girls. When the noise Of rustling
chairs had subsided Miss Ovington
went on:
II am very glad that I have been
asked to welcome you in behalf Of
the Cosmopolitan club. We hope to
have many such clubs soon. Caste
spirit is not simply a race question.
am in this work because it is human.
The danger Of this caste spirit is not
a racial matter, but relates to we men
and women of this republic. 1 like to
think that we are going to eat with
and stand up for our colored brothers
and sisters wherever and whenever
we meet them, or wherever we can.
II believe it would be terrible
state of affairs when the negro gives
up any of his rights as man. He
should never be satisfied until his
equality is recognized"
Mr.. Willard followed Miss Ovington
with:
THE spirit Of caste is the most dan
gerous thing that can threaten the
land, particularly a democratic form
of government. We stand in this
country for equality-equality of
rights, liberties and to do as we see
fit. 1t is a question Of whether one