New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-12
Roddenberry, Angered by "Afri-
can Brute" Asks Federal
Barrier to Mixed Unions.
WHITE GIRL "MADE SLAVE"
Southerners Cheer Georgian,
Who Says Marriages of Blacks
and Caucasians May Bring
Nation to Conflict.
from The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE marriage OF
Jack" Johnson, the negro pugillst, to
Lucille Cameron, a white girl. was de-
nounced in a dramatic speech In the
House to-day by Representative Rodden-
berry, of Georgia. who introduced a reso-
luton proposing an amendment to the
Constitution making It unlawful for a
person OF African descent to marry a
Caucasian. IAN African BRUTE" the
champion was called several times by Mr.
Roddenberry.
Mr.. Roddenberry's speech interrupted a
dull debate on routine bills and Incl
dentally the filibuster Of Representative
Goldfogle, of New York, that sent the
Bennett illiteracy test immigration bill
over until probably the middle Of January.
The Georgian was frequently applauded
by his colleagues from the South. Urging
the adoption of his resolution, which pro-
vides that marriage between negro and
a Caucasian, or any person Of African
descent or having any trace Of negro
blood, and a white person shall be for
ever prohibited" Mr.. Roddenberry said:
We have heard great deal about
slavery In the South, but no bru-
tally. no degradation, no infamy In all
the years of Southern slavery possessed
such vicious character and such atroclous
qualities as the permission by law IN TINS
country OF the marriage OF "Jack' John-
son 10 woman or the caucasian sIra, am
Chicago Is not so revolving as that by
which a white girl of this country may
be made the slave OF an African brute
by form of marriage ceremony.
Mr. Roddenberry said that his resolu-
ton 10 prohibit intermarriage between the
Caucasian and the African was one Tor
the special consideration Of the states
OF the North. Legal sanction OF these
marriages might bring the country into
a conflict. he said. In the South. he as
serted, there exists harmony between
the two races, founded on the respect or
colored persons for the white man, tnat
would make It impossible for any negro
10 harbor the thought OF marriage with
Caucasian woman. He continued:
The negro question stands out in the
evaupIe Of Johnson's marriage In chi
cago as presenting as grave a quesuVh
as ever confronted your brethren IN tIlo
South, and | say to you In no oltterness
that we of that section VIII De sldu IN
the shirt OF love and fraternity 10 ana
YOU oT in it's proper and in it's wise ana
worthy solution. The case clted rs no'
an Isolated one. The records or boston'
Chicago and other cities show that ne 70
proes OF less notoriety are from uIne w
fine binding themselves in materimohE
with women Of the white race.
Let us make It impossible hereafter
be shouted. "for a brutal African prize
fighter 10 Join his name with that OF an
A,,o-icon Caucasian woman adding:
1--WE can do no greater injustice or vio-
lence to the negro than TO let our stat
u,es hermit him 10 entertain the hope
that at some future time he or his on
spring may be married to woman Oh
the wi tie race"
Ny Roddenberry denounced the legal
procedure under which "a brown hued'
black skinned, thick Tipped. brutal
hearted African can walk into an ONCE
OF the law and demand an edict guar
anteeing hira legal wedlock TO a white
woman"