Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-05-07
ANOTHER BLOW AT THE
RIGHTS OF OUR PEOPLE

An Effort Being Made TO Have Con
gress Discriminate Against the
Race-Let Every Colored Man
Protest at Once Against This
Injustice.
There is now in force in this coun-
try, law known as The Morrill,
Acts" by which the United States
Government makes large donations
Of money each year to the several
states and territories for education
in Agriculture and the Mechanical
Arts
The Amendment of August 80
1890 TO the Morrill, Acts expressly
provides that when but one institu-
ton in a state receives the whole
appropriation under said Acts, that
institution shall make no distinction
on account of race or color in the
admission of students. II also pro-
vides that il shall be lawful to di.
vide the fund between two fnstitu-
tions-one for white and one for col
ored students-in those states where
the state law requires separate
schools for the races.
The appropriation from the United
States Treasury 20 each state and
territory under the Morrill, Acts was
forty thousand dollars last year and
will be forty-fve thousand dollars
next year. and fifty thousand dollars
each year ever after for the support
OF instruction in Agriculture and the
Mechanical Arts.
Fifty-one states and territories are
now receiving grants OF money un
der the Morrill, Acts. In thirty-fve
OF these states the Morrill, Acts grant
is given TO an institution which makes
no distinction in the admission of
students on account of race and color.
In sixteen states the grant is di.
yided between two schools-one for
the colored people and one for
whites
An Amendment known as Bill II
K. 24316 has been introduced in the
House of Representative by Mr..
Boutell TO extend the benefits of the
Morrill, Acts 10 the District OF Co
lumbia
The Boutell Amendment contains
provision that will be far-reaching
and disastrous in it's effects upon the
rights OF the colored people. for il
seeks 60 amend the Morrill, Acts so
as 70 allow the George WASHINGTON
University Institution which
does not admit colored students-to
receive the entire appropriation for
the District OF Columbia.
II this amendment passes II will
set the seal of approval of Congress
upon discrimination against our peo-
pie by educational institutions on &C.
count Of race and color and Will open
the way for the practice Of this same
evil by the thirty-one institutions re
ceiying aid from the Morrill, Fund
and who now refuse TO discriminate
against the admission OF colored stu
dents, because 20 do so would make
IL unlawful for them to participate
in the benefits of the Morrill, Acts.
In addition 90 the above mention
ed evils. the Boutell Amendment. If
u passes. will result. eventually. IN
taking from our people all OF the
benefits they now receive under the
Morrill, Acts.
While the Boutell Bill processes to
amerc the MCrril Acts only for the
benefit OF IN. District OF Columbia.
IL Is a dangerous precedent, for N
Congress will agree to disregard the
plalh provisions OF the law and His
crimip3te against the COlored people /
Ia tire District OF Columbia, there is
nothing TO prevent that body from do F.
ms The same thing az the request Of /
any OF the thirty-ive white institu- /
tons now admitting colored students
and II the benefits OF the Morrill, Acts /
can be taken from the colored peo- /
pie In the District OF Columbia in
open violation OF the law, why may
not the same 'lius Re done in any
Other state or territory in the Gated /
States?
It is the duty Of our people, every
where 20 resist this encroachment F.
upon their rights at the very begin /
ming. for when once the precedent I
has been established for the dlscrim- I
ination by Congress against coIored /
citizens because OF race ana color.
this work will go on until every
right guaranteed the race under the
constitution has been taken from IL.
The time has come for every col
ored person in the United States and
for every church. society and news
paper among US 20 protest against
the passage OF the Boutell Amend
ment. and TO do so at once. This
iniquitous measure will not pass Con
gress If the voters OF the race in the
North, East and West Will write their
and Senators immedi-
ately asking them to vote against the
Boutell Bill (known as Bill II. r.
24S16 Of the second session of the
sixty-hrst Congress) or against any
other bill which seeks TO extend to
the George Washington University
the entire benefits under the Morrill,
Acts which may come to the District
OF Columbia.
We suggest that each reader OF this
paper copy and send at once the
following protest to his Congressman
and Senator:
THE PROTEST.