The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1908-02-15
CALL OF NATIONAL POLITICAL
SUFFRAGE CONFERENCE or
coLoREp AMERICANS.

public toward its citizens of color un
der the present Republican admins
tration and the approach of the party
nomingating conventions in this year
1908 produce q crisis for one-eighth
OF the citizenship of these United
States Of America. The open alliance
between the President and the multi
fiers OF the Constitution in the South
constitutes the most fragrant collu-
sion between a Republican President
and the Southern Democrats since
the emancipation of the American
slaves As years ago today. save in the
cases Of Andrew Johnson at the close
of the Civil War or Of Rutherford b.
Hayes at the close of the Reconstruc-
ton. But it has remained for the
present chief executive of the United
States to prescribe in oficial docu-
ments an inferior grade of education
for one class Of citizens, and to thus
oficiaIly brand that class as concealers
of criminals and as rapists, while the
defaming and discharging in disgrace
of more that a hundred soldiers, all
Colored, without a trial or chance
to be heard in their own defense is \
denial of justice ana constitutional
rights visited upon Colored citizens
unprecedented in our country's his
tory. The placing of the nations
sanction upon the segregation of cit
liens for and because of color in pub
lie travel but completes the Federal
maltreatment of the Colored citizens
under the present Republican ad.
ministration, leaving him stripped of
rights, branded and in contempt.
In view Of these unusual and ex-
traordinary conditions, in view Of the
attempt OF the present Czarocratic
regime to perpetuate itself in power
in Imperial fashion, in view of the
open candidacy for the Republican
party's nomination for the presidency
of one who in his official position as
cabinet officer has in public speech
in the south condoned their disfran-
chisement Of citizens for color in ad-
mitted violation of the federal con-
stitution, and who has supinely en-
dorsed in toto the brutal and auto
cratic discharge of Colored soldiers
without trial by executive decree, you
as one of a class which almost from
necessity has for two generations by
its solid support. and with a loyalty
that sacrifices friends, the chance to
make terms with the enemy and even
life itself, kept the Republican party
almost continuously in power, but one
who is free from party obligation, are
invited to a National Conference Of
Colored men, and Of avowed friends
to be held in the City of Philadelphia,
Pa, on the 7th day of April, 1908, to
counsel together as to the wisest
course to be pursued politically by the
Colored citizens Of the country espec-
tally those unrobbed Of the ballot who
are willing to use this weapon for the
rights and liberties Of their class, un-
der the present abnormal condition of
affairs.
This conference will have special
reference TO what demands shall be
made of political PARTIES as to the ma
tinnal platform s"% most particularly
to what candidates. for the presiden-
tial Nomination most deserve the sup
port Of the Cnlored voters. Please
come prepared to make a stand for
equal rights and for constitutional lib
erty for all in these United States
without regard to race, color or creed.
ALEXANDER WALTERS,
President of the Afro-American Coun-
Gil.
WILLIAM II. SCOTT,
President Of the Suffrage League Of
Boston and vicinity.
WILLIAM MONROE TROTTER,
President of the New England Consti-
tuition and Suffrage League.
Boston, Mass, Jan. 81, 1908.