Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-19
WOUL D FORBID ALL
MIXED MARRIAGES
RoddenberTy Makes Fiery Speech
in the House.
CALLS JOHNSON A BRUTE"
Predicts That If Union of Whites and
Blacks Are Permitted Nation
viii Be Plunged Into
War.

Washington, Dec. 13-Members of
the house on Wednesday listened to
one of the most fiery speeches deliv-
cred before that body within the past
half century. The recent marriage
of the negro pugilist, Jack Johnson.
to white girl in Chicago, was the
subject.
After introducing a resolution TO
amend the Constitution to forbid the
marriage Of negroes and persons OF
any other color, Representative s A.
Roddenberry of Georgia denounced
such unions as BLACK slavery" char
actertzed the action of the state of
Illinois in permitting the marriage in
question as "damning" and predict
ed that the practice would plunge the
United States into as bloody war as
it has ever passed through.
We have heard a great deal in late
days about the white slave traffic and
its enormity in New York and Chi
cago," said Mr.. Roddenberry. Ter
rlf1c and revolving as it is, il is not
SO revolving as that in Chicago White
G~@A~ ~ NAAAo AOOAAIy al 1uGdO LLC
slaves OF an African brute, sanctioned
by the laws Of the state, and solemn
lied by the form of a marriage cere-
mony.
We see an African with much bru-
tai force, with no moral character,
with no stamina, entering the office Of
a legal officer in that city, and call
ing on him to issue-'to Jack John
sonia marriage license to wed a
young American woman Of our own
blood our own race, our own color.
The young officer is directed to issue
to the brute a legal certificate per-
hitting a white woman in these days
to be bound in the wedlock Of black
slavery.
THE negro question stands out in
the example of Johnson's marriage in
Chicago as presenting to you as grave
a negro question as ever confronted
your brethren in the south
THE records Of Chicago and other
cities show that from time to time ne
groes are binding themselves in
matrimony with women Of the white
race. Gentlemen, that does not hap
pen In the south.
do you propose that in all the
future years the negro man who
can seize upon some weak-mind-
ed woman Of our race. who can tan
taliZe her, who can over-persuade her
and contract her in wedlock-d0 you
propose that these things shall go
sanctioned by laws Of your states?
1T is contrary and averse to every
sentiment Of pure American spirit
1t is contrary and averse to the very
principles OF a pure Saxon govern
ment 1t Is subversive of social
peace. 1t is destructive Of moral SUI
premacy and ultimately it will bring
this county to a conflict as bloody and
as fatal as ever the other days have
produced.
When a black-skinned, thick-lipped,
.brutal-hearted African can walk into
the office Of the law and demand an
edict Of the courts of his state guar
anteeing him legal wedlock to white
woman, / challenge any man to
prophesy that the result will be. for
the good Of this country. 1t is debas-
ing, ultra demoralizing and uD-Ameri-
can.
mo blacker incubus ever fixed it.
self upon the social politics of this
republic than the embryonic cancer
Of negro marriage to white people
that has lately been in evidence. No
more voracious parasite ever sucked
at the heart of pure society and moral
status than the one which welcomes
or recognizes everywhere the sacred
ties OF wedlock between Africa and
America"
Chicago. Dec. 12-Jack Johnson's
negro attorneys, w. G. Anderson and
E H. Wright, went into the United
States court to ask that their names
be taken from the records in connec-
ton with the Johnson case. The ne
gro's marriage to Lucille Cameron,
white girl, is the reason given by the
lawyers for wishing TO withdraw from
his case.