Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-06-02
DECLARES THAT GRAVES IS WRONG
Says statement That the Mob stands
Between Women Of The south ana
Carnival Of Crime. such as Would
Annihllate the Negro, ~ Untrue
Thousands Are Lynched.
(Bx Associated Press

NEW YORK. June. THAT 3.20f
men. women and children have been
lynched in this country In the last
quarter of a century. was the asser-
ton Of Mrs. Ida Wells Barnett at the
national negro conference IN ;a.s city
today.
Asked why this was permitted Dy
Christian nation, she quoted joins
Temple Graves as saying that the
mob stands as the most potential bull
wark between the women of the
South and such carnival of crime
as would precipitate the annihilatfon
of the negro race
All know that this Is untrue" Mrs.
Barnett said. The iynching records
she added. disclose the hypocrisy OF
the lyncher"
Describing the riots at Springfield.
Ill.,, Mrs Barnett said II was all be-
cause white woman said thai =
negro man had criminally assaulted
her. Later. Mrs. Barnett said, the
woman published a retraction. but
the iynched victims were dead.
Would Maintain Bureau.
Mrs Barnett. who has spent sew
eral years in the investigation OF
lynching through the South and West,
brought proposal to the conference
that II maintain q permanent bureau
for investigation with attendant pub
IIcity Of all lynchings Publicity, she
said. was an effective safeguard. In
herent racial inferiority was declar-
ed by the Rev. Alexander Walters,
African Methodist Episcopal bishop
OF New York. to. be a fallacy. Inc
quality of opportunity and environ
ment made for the difference betEeen
the races, the bishop rontended He
urged national organization OF the ne~s'
gro manhood rights. .Disfranchfss-
ment Of the negro was declared by Al
bert e. Pillsbury. former attorney
general OF Massachusetts to-. be
fraud upon the country"
The course of tne SOUTH he said,
has made it. the. affair OF every white
citizen
Are the people Of thirty-ss1 States
wIinng to be defrauded OF their POI
liticsI rights In order that ten States
may disfranchise the negrcs" he ssk-
ed.
Oswald Garrison Willard. chairman
of the second session, introduced VIII
liam E. Wailing. secretary of the cou-
ference, whose unselfeh labors,- Mr..
Willard said. have made this confer
ence possible
The Negro Lsbcrer.
Mr.. Walling spoke of the Southern
negro laborer. recognized. be said, a.
an invaluable asset TO that sections.
but having no rights at an He eon,-
pared the employers Of labor on the
large plantations with the feudaf
lords Of Europe and said that Their
interest in the negro ~as BASED large
ly on how They could preserve him
in his present helpless Condition ano
get the most out of him for the least
possible money expenditure.
Joseph c. Manning. OF Alexander
City. Ala. spoke on the political status
of the negro in the South. He spoke
in part as follows:
Growing cut Of the attitude Of tas
controlling element in the South the
negro as consequence Of the inge-
nicus exploitation CT the race prob
lem there Is no constitutional OF free
government in any immediate South
err state. those nest responsible
for tais situation are the same flesh.
the same families, the same scna-
ncnts as are vel known in our
Southern history as the slave own
ing political and social arfxtocracy.
This regime dominating Alabama =
now simply the progeny Of the olc
slave owning obligarchy- q