Franklin's paper the statesman., 1910-02-05
Note of WARNING
In. Leagues Fiat
Executive Committee Of National hdepead
eat Political Organization DeaoWCes
Government Officials Who Nscrin.
hate Against the Neao-ks
Cause INDICATED.

The executive committee Of the Ma
tional Independent Political league, an
organization with members In thirty
states, recently held a two days ses-
sion In New York prior to the de-
parture for Africa Of Bishop Alexan-
der Walters, president of the league
The next annual meeting was fixed
for Atlantic City, n. j.. Aug. 4 and 5,
and committees on program, entertain
ment and finance were appointed. The
resolutions committee, consisting Of
William Monroe Trotter of Boston,
DR.. o. NJ Waller OF Brooklyn and
Rev. L. G. Jordan Of Louisville. KY,
formulated the following declaration
to the country, which was adopted:
The national executive committee Of the
National Independent Political league con-
graduates the nation on its material pros
perity and on peace at home and abroad
In the i've months. however. since our last
meeting tendencies have continued and
events have ranspired injurious and un-
Just TO colored citizens and boding III to
the republic No single incident in the
country's history represents more injus-
tice to colored citizens and a graver re-
pudintion of the fundamental principles
Of Jurisprudence and free institutions than
the Brownsville discharge We regret the
procedure OF the present Brownsville
board. which inspires doubt and suspicion
because the hearings are behind closed
doors- We deprecate the astounding dec
laration Of the head Of the United States
census specifically drawing the color line
~ to the appointment and work OF CEN
sus enumera'ors. which with the inau-
rural OF President Taft for the first time
makes color discrimination a part OF the
country's executive history.
We declare erroneous and mischie-
vous the Official assertions OF President
Taft In his first message to congress that
most OF the lynchinEs are due TO tho
laws delay. The awful record OF eighty
seven lynchings in the past year proves
this. Eighty OF these cases were in the
south and the victims colored. In that
section. where the entire machinery of the
law and courts is in the hands OF white
men. dominated by bitter color prejudice.
there never has been any delay In the
trial and conviction OF colored persons
accused Of crime against white persona
On the other hand. the rapidi;y OF trial
@hA e~VSee''h 10 Ju0sClAi IyDCn-
Ing
We declare we cannot accept the sop
Of celebration Of the fiftieth anniver-
sary Of emancipation for our equal rights
under the national executive In fact. II
President Taft's policies continue we shall
have In 1873 only a return to serfdom to
celebrate.
All patriotic citizens may well take
alarm at the presence In the national cap
itol Of a statue of the commanding gen.
eral OF the war Ct the rebellion to dis
rupt the Union. II is but the concrete
capitalization Of the pandering of Presi-
dent Taft to the unreconstructed south
and Of Its consequent aggressiveness.
We find our league again vindicated in
it, election fight against this Republican
candidate, who as Republican president
has gone TO the furthest extreme In con-
tempt for the feclinxs OF colored citizens.
Republicans. and for their constitutional
rights In making an ex-Confedcrate DEM
ocrat a justice of the supreme court Of
the United States. the dire contingency
which the Republican leaders held up as
q bugpboo should Democratic candidate
Be elected president.
We dcnounce the public expressions OF
army officers at West Point against a
colored man being admitted on examina-
ton to West Point
Finally. we appeal TO all Americans to
save our republic from caste Of class or
color We especially appeal to all COL
ored Americans to ag.tate for equal rights
and TO organize locally and nationally to