Franklin's paper the statesman., 1909-08-14
Open Letter to
President Taft.
The National Independent Political League
h Executive Committee Meeting Says
Presidents Policy Toward the Negro
Is the Most Bdneful Stab Ever
Inflicted by Chief Executive.

The executive committee of the Ma.
ional Independent Political league, Of
which Bishop Alexander Walters il
president, held its first meeting since
the last annual session. which was
held in Columbus. O., in May of this
year, at the residence of the president
20S West One Hundred and Thirty,
fourth street, New York, Aug. 3 and
4. The meeting was largely attended
by members and visitors from both in
and out of town. Like the little pio
neer group of abolitionists of other
years who labored with pen and
tongue, often at the risk of their own
lives, to convince America that slav.
cry was wrong and curse, a black
spot upon the escutcheon of human
liberties, so the men of the National
Independent Political league are labor.
ing, and further alsS to prevent lust
what the act of the Boston tea party
meant-taxation without representa-
ton.
The final work of the committee was
adopted in the form of an open letter
addressed to the president of the
United States. as follows:
National Independent Political League,
Office Of the President
DS West One Hundred and Thrty-fourth
Street
New York City. Aug. 2, 1909.
To His Excellency President William H.
Taft, White House, Washington:
My Dear Sir-It is with deep sense OF
the Importance of your exalted office and
the tremendous influence attached there
to we address you this open letter.
In your inaugural address you say,
1.-THE objects of the thirteenth and four
teenth amendments have been secured"
In view of the clause of the latter re-
Quiring reduction of congressional repre-
sentation in proportion as adult males are
barred from voting and since the dis
franchisement in the south of nine tenths
OF the adult colored males is a notorious
fact, how does the present full congress
sional quota Of the states square with
your statement?
You say that, while the fifteenth
amendment has not been observed In the
south, it ought to be observed" Was 1t
not your duty as president of the United
States. sworn to uphold the federal law,
to say the fifteenth amendment must be
enforced and that you would enforce 1t?
You say 1.-The movement to give the
Negro the suffrage as a protection and
enforce 1t against the prevailing senti-
ment Of the south proved to be a failure"
Would 1t not be more in accord with the
facts to say that the failure was on the
part Of the federal government under
Republican administration to put forth
any effort to enforce the Negro's right
to vote under the constitution?
You say further "the fifteenth amend
ment will never be repealed" II, as you
say. it is not observed, is it not as to
practical effect and protection already
repealed?
In view Of the progress OF the Negro
during the last fifty years. which you
say ''is marvellous" would 1t not have
been more just in you to have demanded
for him that equality before the law and
the right to vote vouchsafed to him by
the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments
rather than, as you did. to encourage
their nullif1ers? Why as the nation
president speak Of the appointment of
colored men to Office as IAN encourage
ment and appreciation of their progress"
rather than the right of citizenship?
You finally say the chief executive In
appointing colored men should consider
whether the hostility Of the white men in
the south will not do the colored people
more harm than the appointment will dc