Franklin's paper the statesman., 1912-04-27
UNREST AMONG +; !
RACE LEADERS
Matters Of National Legislation
Arouse Much Interest.
VALUE OF WAR AMENDMENTS.

snip OF Colored Americans Gives rise
to- Nation Wide lnquiry-Nots Of
Warning Against Any Unnecessary
Changes In the Organic Law.
WashingtOn-The often repeated
statements by prominent colored men.
as well as by prominent white men,
that the Negro should eyince more in
terest in. and concern for the many
economic questions that are up for dis
cussion and solution instead Of stick
ing SO close to the race problem ap-
pears to be hardened to If the hun
dreds of letters pouring in to prominent
men Of Washington from colored men
in every section of the country can be
accepted as an interest and concern.
These letters bear on the SO called
Initiative, referendum and recall Of de-
cisions now widely discussed and agi-
tated from coast to coast.
It appears that the colored people of
the country, and especially those in the
south and close northern states. have
suddenly awakened to the fAct> that
such a change might contain sleep
er" that would completely nallify the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments
to the federal constitution as any re
peal Of them by congress.
There is not a single question under
discussion today the finality Of which
does not affect in some measure the
colored people. A small question bear
ing harmless aspects may embody
large issues, the adoption of which
may mean veal or woe for the race.
The referendum is a high sounding
word, and because of this fact many
of our people may be deceived into
the belief that they are beyond its
reach. As citizens we sometimes feel
that we do not always get the same
justice in courts Of law and from juries
that is meted. out to others. But this
fact should not argue against the sta
bility of our institutions, which are
the product of laws that are perma-
nent and organic.
Sentiment Rules Rather Than Law.
If the Negro does not always get
what is due to him in the courts when
the issue is a denial Of his civil rights
it is not because Of the nonexistence
Of the statute in his favor, but rather
because Of the existence Of a local
sentiment which is often substituted
for a verdict in his favor Regardless
Of these iniquities, the law remains
fixed in the statutes, and his psyche
logical moment may eventually come
when he and those rights to which he
is entitled will be on a par with any
other mans rights and justice will be
awarded him.
But not so II the fixed laws are to
be changed by those who have not the
interest of the whole people at heart
Suppose in any community a question
of denial to the Negro of certain rights
was proposed under the recall of deci-
sions. What would happen? A majority
r Of tho people. being white and more or
less infected with race prejudice, would
vote these rights away from him. and
all the Negro votes in the country
would not be able to stem the tide.
Under the Australian ballot system Of
voting, where secrecy is jealously OBJ
served and preserved. this could be
done by white men, regardless of party
affiliations, who publicly profess friend
ship for the colored people.
Again, suppose southern state
should pass a law disfranchising the
Negro, or any northern state. for the
matter of that That disfranchising law
would Immediately get into the courts
and, on appeal to the supreme court.
would be held unconstitutional. Then
If the right to recall decisions existed
the decision of the court would be
taken before the people and by them
reversed and the constitutionality of
the law confirmed, and the Negro
would be out Of politics and out of
every right vouchsafed by the consti-
tuition.
There is hardly a state in the south
where the entire white vote would not
be cast for the disfranchisement of the
Negro. To say that the race is much
alarmed over the possibility of such a
law being enacted is putting it mildly.
Annual Meeting Of Alumni Association.
The Rev. DR.. William Maurice Moss.
corresponding secretary for the Alum
nj Associati ton Of the Virginia Union
university, Richmond, Va, has issued
call for the annual meeting of the
association, which will be held at the
university on Tuesday, May "A. An
effort is being made to reach every
alumnus, as the coming meeting Of the
organization will be one of great i'm
portance to every graduate of the
schools merged into the present insti-
tuition. Those who expect to be pres
ent are requested to communicate with
the corresponding secretary whose ad-
dress is 3s3 Cumberland street, Brook
lyn, N. 7.
Postal cards bearing foreign print
which reproduce In horrible detail
lrrohtpuo In, tho south .ofd - ~