The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-22
.COL0REO PEOPLE
OBJEcT, TO PARK
t,.--~r }l-xAl--E4--~-----4---. 40 =r-5stt
WOULD PREFER STREET IMPROVE
MENTs AND BETTER POLICE
PROTECTION.
F AVOR WORkHOU Sc
sHIFTLEss ELEMENT RETARDs
GROWTH OF THE NEGRO RACE.
TO BaNrsH THE GooD-FoR-
NOTHING DARKEY.
F AVOR WORKHOUSE

While a subcommittee Of the coun.
! Gil committee on ordinances is wrest-
{ ling with u proposition tending to
/ create parks for colored people, and
/ n subcommittee of the committee on
utilities is now out looking into the
matter, the better element of colored
people are preparing to hold a mass
meeting for the purpose of protest
| ing against any such move on the
part OF the city council.
The subcommittee on utilities.
named 70 look fully into the matter.
embraces Messrs. Mitchell, Atkinson
and BliieY This committee haa, also,
the proposition of securing place for
tho establishment of workhouse. At
no time has this full committee met.
Some obstacle has always thrown it.
self In the way of one or more MEM
bers of the committee, and hence no
quorum has assembled.
Mr.. Mitchell is particularly strong
on the question Of park for the
coiored people. He has stated that
he thought the people themselves de-
sired it. and he felt certain the white
people would welcome such action on
the part Of council.
At the next meeting of the commit
tee on utilities. 1t is likely the sub
committee may I18ke report ON the
subject.
CoIored Leaders Object4
In the meantime the colored lead
ers, who have studied the condition
of things in their own sections. are
discussing the proposition. They do
not feel that park will help develop
tho race. In the language of one OF
| the leading colored preachers, 1.-The
colored people are but children. They
need development along many lines.
A park would but foster Incidence. A
workhouse would answer the purpose
of developing the race, more than a
| park would.
THE city can better afford to spend
the money which would be required
| in establishing park. in street i'm
! rrovements in our section. We need
! better police protection. We want 10
! get rid of the shiftless. goodfor-noth-
| ing colored people. A park will not
/ help U.S."
VIII Hold Meeting.
! a meeting of the colored people
will be held this week. The mayor
will probably he called upon to make
an address. Preachers and other
| leading colored people will speak te
| the subject, and It Is probable that a
committee will he named to appear
/ before the utilities committee protest
ing against the spending of money
| for park.
Tho pastor Of Thenezer Baptist
! church on Sunday referred to the
situation in hts sermon. and 1t is like
ly that ne win he present at the mas
meeting tn be held later in the week
When Mr. Mitchell first hroachee
tho subject Mt meeting of the com
mittee on utilities, sympathy seemed
to be with him. Members of th'
committee stated that they thought {
park exclusively for colored people
would meet with the approval o.
coiored people. and 1t would tend II
relieve the congestion in other parks
They cited the fact that Libby Hill
and Capitol Square were used extern
sively by co!ored people, while Mon
i roe park was gradually getting II
line This sentiment prevailed, and
MIR. Mitchell was named az chairman
Of subcommittee to look into thu
question.