The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-01

per to.day that certain eminent per-
sons OF color called upon Mayor Ain
slfo and presented him with q petition
In favor OF n park for negroes" In
this same news item 1t is stated that
these gentlemen declared that 'Rov.
w. II. Stokes had misintcrpreted tho
sentiment OF his race on tho. subject
and indorsed the proposition uneQuivo-
caiiy." Since / have been drawn into
this discussion. Permit me to state our
side OF the controversy.
In my communication TO His Honor
Mayor George Ainslie, took the posi-
tion that the better class Of negroes
did not fnd this time to use the parks
which arc already established. Now,
by the better class of negroes i moan
those negroes who are living good, up
right. moral lives. supporting their own
families as best they can, ana who are
honestly striving for the highest and
best Ideal. Thus. you see. l do not
mean only the professional and busi.
those who are In all walks of honest
endeavor--in short, producers. and not
consumers.
All the published communications /
lave read in favor of the park seem
to breathe the Idea that tue negroes
are occupying too much time in certain
parks of the city. and that they should
nave park in order to keep them out
OF the present parks
l also took the position In my letter
10 the Mayor that We need better police
protection in our section. and would
prefer this to park Exclusively for
colored people; for this section is
practically unpollced at the present
time. and to place n public park for
negroes would require added policemen,
and at the present better police pro-
lection would be of far moro value 10
ug than park to be used exclusively
by colored people"
! also stated that we would rather
have one or two Fairgrounds for no
Broes under proper supervision. so rs
TO take the negro children. of the
streets asked that If IL were not
possible for the Council to appropriate
the amount of money needed for the
establishing OF parks to be used Eek
clusiveIy for colored people" to the
already street fund. and give us better
streets In our section many OF the
streets arc In IL bad condition, side
walks unpaved. cutters unpaved and
III some places the cutters are becom-
ing gullics. roadhcd in need of cobble-
stones so as to allay the dust nuisance
winch is menace to good health. We
would rather have a tuberculosis camp
FOR coiored people than a public park
Tor the exclusive use OF colored people
| also asked that public workhouse
be established for tho shiftlcss. am
still Of the opinion that the esta blishing
OF n public park Ia the negro section.
to be used Exclusively by the negroes
would cater TO the shiftlcss and criini-
nal classes. and would hinder the race
In It's best endeavors to rise. Mr. Edi-
tor, did not know untl | read the
recent publications. that any persons
among us desired segregation FOR the
negroes in the public parks OF this
community. The fght,against sepnra-
he Itt s.e &c 80 afi frnv -,
our mind. when some of the people
9doptcd the walking system" rather
than ride In the street cars. then the
recent fight against segregation in
both Clay and Leigh Streets are fresh
in our minds. when some OF these gen
tlemer opposed IT, and yet ! noticed
from the News Leader that n park for
negroes exclusively is desired by
them.
In The Times Dispatch OF to-day It
reported that these gentlemen. some OF
v HON stood against segregation, now
seem to have changed. and now desire
park for the exclusive use OF colored
people
noticed from news item that an
option has been already secured on "A
site in the East End. and that two sites
in the West End are being considered,
wonder IL the Council has secured
this option. or the city. or some real
estate firm in advance OF the. action OF
the Council.
In addition 10 the above propositions.
we would rather have public bath
house in our section. which would
lessen the death rate OF our people.
end, to my mind, would be of far more
benefit for the health OF our people
than Il public park for the exclusive
use of colored people.
In reference 10 the Idea Of better
police protection. and the mere state
ment that the park established among
the negroes for their exclusive use
would receive the same protection as
the other parks in the city is not suiii-
Client. for am Of the opinion that wo
would want even better protection than
is found In some of the other parks.
l remember a park established in this
city once. and ii was a private park at
that. and was said 10 be FOR the better
class OF colored people. but what did
Il turn out TO be? The better class OF
people did not patronize II sufficient TO
maintain II.
Now, AS TO whether have misinter-
preted the sentiment OF my race. beg
leave to say that on Wednesday, night,
July l6. 1913. at the meeting of tho
civic Improvement League OF Rich
mond, with an attendance OF about 200
men, my course and propositions TO His
Honor Mayor George Ainsle were In
dorscd. and these men represented men
from every walk OF life
There will be big mass-meeting
Friday night at the True Reformers'
Hall. which will pass resolutions
against the establishing OF parks ex-
clusively for negroes In this city
Respectfully yours for good govern
ment. WIN. H. STOKES.
Pastor Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Richmond. Va, July 81. 1913.
No Pedestal. brother Cumming.