Franklin's paper the statesman., 1909-06-19

nearly ali part IN tne government, sJiiit
murdered with impunity and all treated
with open contempt by officials, they are
held In some states in practical slavery
to the white community. The systematic
persecution of law abiding citizens and
their disfranchisement on account OF their
race alone is a crime that will ultimately
drag down to an infamous end any ma
tion that allows 1t to be practiced. and IT
GEARS most heavily on those poor white
farmers and laborers whose economic po-
stion is most similar to that OF the per
secuted race.
The nearest hope lies in the immediate
and patiently continued enlightenment OF
the people who have been inveigled into
campaign of oppression. The spoils OF
persecution should not so to enrich any
class or classes of the population. In
deed, persecution of organized workers
peonage, enslavement OF prisoners and
even disfranchisement already threaten
large bodies of whites in many southern
states.
We agree fully with the prevailing opin.
ion that the transformation OF the un-
skilled colored laborers In industry and
agriculture into skilled workers is OF vita
Importance TO that race and TO the nation
but We demand for the Negroes, as for
all others. free and complete education
whether by city, state or nation. n gram.
mar school and Industrial training for al
and technical. professional and academic
education for the most gifted.
But the public schools assigned to the
Negro. OF whatever kind or grade. viii
never receive a fair and equal treatment
until he is given equal treatment In the
legislature and before the law Nor viii
the. practically educated Negro. no mat
ter how valuable to the community he
may prove. be given a fair return for his
labor or encouraged to put forth his best
efforts or given the chance to develop that
efficiency that comes only outside the
school until lie is respected In his legal
rights as a man and citizen
We regard with grave concern the at.
tempt manifest south and north to deny
TO black men the right to work and to
enforce this demand by violence and
bloodshed. Such a question is too funda-
mental and clear even to be submitted to
arbitration. The late strike In Georgia is
not simply demand that Negroes be dir
placed. but that proved and efficient me-,
be made TO surrender their long followed
means Of livelihood to white competitors
As first and immediate steps toward
remedying these national wrongs. so full
OF peril for the whites as well as the
blacks OF all sections. we demand OF con.
gress and the executive:
First.-Thst the constitution be strictly
enforced and the civil rights guaranteed
under the fourteenth amendment, be Sc
cured inpartialiy to all
Second.-That there be eoual education.
al opportunities for all and In all the
states and that public school expenditure
be the same for the Negro and white
child.
Third.-That. In accordance with the III.
teenth amendment, the right OF the Negro
to the ballot on the same terms as other
citizens be recognized in every part o.,
the country.
The committee on permanent organ.
ization In It's report proposed n reso.
luton providing for the incorporation
OF national committee to be known
as committee for the advancement OF
the Negro race"