The Denver star., 1914-09-26
RACE PRESS SHOWS COURAGE


Menace and Demand Fair Play.
Mnstogee. Okla.-Before adjourninS
Its annual meeting recently held in this
city the National Negro Press associa
tion unanimously adopted the follow
ring resolutions:
Whereas, The members of the National
Negro Press association are in a position
to give to the public such Information as
to what the race is doing along indus
trial. intellectual. moral. political and
spiritual lines, and whereas the clergy are
in position to give great encouragement
to our cause call upon each of them
to give hearty cooperation by instruct
ing their congregations to read race news
papers, magazines and periodicals and
pay for them in order that we may
duct our publications higher busi.
ness standard; and
Whereas There are but few white pa
pers that publish the facts of the progress
of our race. and that the Negro paper
is the only medium through which we
may receive due credit
Be it resolved That we beseech our ed
ucators and fraternal organizations tina,
they insist that Negroes support the jour
nails of their race which are struggling
for advancement and race betterment and
their social and political rights. realizing
that to do so means an outlay Of time.
energy and money: and
Whereas, We find that the accommoda
tions for Negro passengers on the Mis-
souri,, Kansas and Texas railway, in the
state Of Oklahoma. are unequal to those
granted the white race-that the fare for
both races is equal-that the conditions in
the "jimcrow cars as follows: One
toilet for both sexes. poorly ventilated:
badly lighted and insanitary cars: no
smoking accommodations except among
women passengers: their general equip
ment much inferior to those for white
people only" and.
Whereas. Tile officials of the Missouri.
Kansas and Texas railway permit their
employees to violate the laws of the state
and nation in that they allow these ndig
mites to be forced upon us,
Be it resolved. That we. the members of
the National Negro. Press association, re-
sent this treatment on their part as
badge of inferiority placed on our race.
curb to our highest ambitions. an insult
to our womanhood reflection to our
manhood and denial of our human
rights in direct violation of the laws OF
the state of Oklahoma and the constitu
ton of the Cnited States
Be it further resolved That we con
denim the interstate commerce comInis-
sion< and the state railroad commission
Tor allowing :Hch condiliana lD exist: that
1t IB urraIr ~ exact the same fare OF the
Negroes as of the other races and deny
them equal Accommodations, and to force
them by rules of the company. not o.
laws of the state. to be treated much
worse than cattle.
That we especially commend the action
Of Editor Philip H. Brown of Hopkins
Vile, KY. who led a successful fight
against the violation of the separate
coach law by railroad officials who did
arate coaches.
a
olutions be sent to the officials Of the Mis-
souri,, Kansas and Texas railway. the
members of the state railroad commission
and the interstate commerce commission
Be 1t further resolved. That we denounce
all "jlmcrow laws" and class Legislation
segregation of government employees and
Acknowledgement; that we make a special
protest to all railroad officials against the
inhumane treatment OF Negro passengers
In the southern states, and that We do 30
publicly and fearlessly-nOt tacttly and
subserviently- that 1t Is our duty
to do SO regardless of the adverse argu-
ments and policies Of many of our leading
Negroes. realizing that-He who would be
free must himself strike the first blow.
Resolved further, That we extend our
thanks for the publicity given our meet
ing by the Muskogee Daily Phoenix, for
the courtesies shown our delegation, whose
request that the letter IN" be capitalized
in the word Negro" was granted; also
to all other mediums of publicity for val
liable services rendered
Resolved also. That we express our
thanks to the people of Muskogee for
their cordial welcome extended US, also to
the National Negro Business league. the
Oklahoma State Business league and es-
pecially to the Muskogee Business league
for their arrangement and hospitality, un-
der the supervision Of Hon. It. J. Elliott
and his able assistants. who made the
meeting a success.
Be it further resolved. That we invoke
the divine blessings on ach and every
member of our association and on the hI-
man race. returning thanks for all op-
portunities accepted and all privileges
granted.
NICK CHILES, Chairman.
MISS IDA M. BECK.
CHARLES SUMMER SMITH.