Evening journal., 1913-02-22
RAISE VOICES
AGAINST "JIM
CROW LAW
COlOTed Men Speak Against
What They Ierm Offensive
LeGlIatlOn
REPRESENTATIVE OWENS
STURED BY PARSON


DOVER, Del, Feb, ss,-some rep
resentative colfed residents o. Kent
county were gwen hearing by the
House of Representatives. yesterday
afternoon IN opposition TO Represen-
tative Ovens Jim Grow" car bill.
requiring separate coaches for white
and colored assengors on all rail-
road trains perated IN Delaware.
Representativ Grantland announced
that a Wilmington delegation OF col
ored men expected to be present had
missed their train.
The Rev. j Albert Sterrett. colored.
pastor of CFalry Baptist Church.
Dover. was 10 principal speaker The
colored men voiced dignihed pro
test against offensive legislation.
This proosed law Is considered
offensive to our colored citizens as
we'll as to q majority OF our white
citizens" sad DR.. Sterrett. Il voice
a public renonstrance against bill
that is directed against our race
alone" ID! Sterrett discussed some
of the reas,ns he had heard advanced
in behalf )f the measure which he
said came from Bridgeville, a com
munity of|products, and by this |
mean no eflection on the man who
introduced the bill"
DR.. Sterett said one reason why
the Jim Crow" bill is urged is be
cause of the disorder down-State on
Saturday nights or other nights.
Whoever knew of a Jim Grow car
law establishing order in a commun-
ity," ashd the Speaker. He said he
went thDugh a Jim Grow" car in
Maryland a few nights ago and in
the smoier saw white men with the
colored men. zone of the colored
men had bottle of strong drink" he
said. laid after he had taken a drink
from ii wet with saliva, he passed
II to a white man with the words,
Have Z drink, boss and to the dis
gust q every man in the car he
drank from that bottle In a short
lime early every man in that car
was al outlaw because of drink, and
the crises and vile language floated
into Die compartment where women
were-ind there we're white women
there 100, by permission because
their car was crowded.
we are opposed to class legisla-
ton. We think recourse to law
would dlre any evils. l was told not
to com here because Of It being a
partisai Legislature. Gentlemen,
have trends in both parties. l think
If ! shalld name some Of the men in
the pary in control here who are my
friendsTit It would surprise you.
I'VE have colored men here in
Dover doing all they can for the en-
fcremnt Of law and order in the COM
muniF We do not want to ride in
coacfs with folks who. do not want
us. We think any consideration
shctfd come from the white men, for
VIC realize that we can get no higher
tlan the white man will help
Il lift us, and If he tears
away from us we will sink.
L invariably happens now on Della
iWare railroad trains that if a white
lady enters and there is no seat, the
colored man will arise, lift his hat
and offer his seat to her. We ask you
to vote down this law and arres. every
man who violates the law on trains so
that justice will be done and no mis-
demeanors will occur on our trains.
Professor J. B. Aiken, colored far
mer of near Dover formerly instruc-
tor in agriculture at the the State
College for colored students, was the
next speaker.
BE patient With us a little longer"
he asked II realize we have been a
little slow in our progress. If you
could be a colored man for awhile and
try to Eve and do right and then be
ostracized, it would make your face
hurt sometimes. / admit some of our
race don't always do right Since the
state literally helps US in lines of
education, if you should pass this law,
It might counteract on the one hand
the good you are doing on the other
hand. don't know that It would af-
feet me seriously to ride in Jim
Grow car, but the Jim Grow car makes
us feel that we are inferior beings. In
some respects we may be. But this
law would certainly not make us any
more self-respecting men and women
AT the conclusion of the speeches
Representatives asked of the colored
delegation:
DO you consider separate cars Of.
fensive to the white or colored racer
YES" replied Dr. Sterrett.
Why" asked Mr. Owens.
Because a majority of either race
do not want it." replied the clergy
man.
do you think separation of the
races as to churches necessary, ask
ed Mr.. Owens
Not necessary any more than there
should be separate heavens" replied
DR.. Sterrett.
do you think separate schools FOL
the white and colored races neces
sary?"
In some communities / think il ad
visable for separation OF the races il
schools. But l don't think the ques
ton of schools is analogous to th'
bill pending"
Speaker Holcomb called on the Rev
w c. Jason, president Of the Stat
College for colored students, to ex
press himself. Dr. Jason said HI
would not take any time except I,
say that he was in hearty accord will
what DR.. Sterrett and Professor
Aiken had said.