The forum., 1916-10-07

flled with information and sound ad-
vice to the race. Messrs. Oliver Ran
dolph. James II. Penn, Samuel H.
Branch. DIR. W. G. Alexander, John A.
Hull and Louis johnson expressed the
views. desires and sentiment of the
federation in the following statement:
We commend the effort of the National
Association For the Advancement Of Col
ored People In its present movement to
raise a ten thousand dollar antl-lynching
fund before the 18th OF this month. We
urge all members of this federation and
all the people of New Jersey to contribute
literally to this worthy cause
AS the new school year approaches we
cali upon our people to take advantage
of the excellent educational opportunities
Of our state. Our slogan should be- "Send
the children to school" The only way to
equip the growing children for the duties
Of tomorrow is to educate them. There
fore, We call upon all colored people to
manifest a greater interest In the schools
this year than ever before. Let every
sacrifice be made to educate the young
Let us do our duty to our posterity by
leaving them prepared to meet the duties
that they will be compelled to confront
In spite of the fact that our laboring
people are unjustly elbowed out of oppor-
tunities to make living, we congratulate
ourselves upon the fact that their record
as industrious workers is clean Their
present Industrial plight is based upon
race prejudice and is a poor reward for
their years of faithfulness and fidelity
and loyalty. We call upon the true friends
OF humanity to reopen the doors Of en-
ployment to colored men and women that
have been closed to them.
The eolored Industrial worker is as a
rule, the typical American workingman.
His Amerieansm alone should commend
him to favor by an American employer.
In addition to that, the Negro working
man has no criminal tendencies His SYM
pathies are all American He is neither
violent nor revolutionary.
We call upon all colored men of the
state of New Jersey to cast their ballots
and exercise their right of suffrage at the
coming election. We call upon the col
cred voters of this state to consider intel
ligently the issues and the principles OF
the coming election and to cast their ball
lots without regard to party ties but for
the candidate best fitted for the office and
who stands square on the race question
The obligations that cucumber the colored
voter of the north are great. Upon his
shoulders rests the double responsibility
Of casting his ballot not only for the best
interests of himself and his state, but
also TO cast his ballot so as to bring po-
litical freedom to the voteless masses Of
his own race IN the south.
We therefore urge all colored men to
soherly consider the heavy obligations
that rest spon them with regard to the
ballot, anu we solemnly urge them TO
cast their ballots in such manner that
win reflect credit upon their citizenship
and will commend them to the other
American citizens in such a way as to
convince them that we are entitled to all
the civil and political rights that belong
to American citizens.
We again bow our heads in shame at
the news OF the murder of two oolored
women and three colored men by mob
Or white people IN Florida. We express
HE hope that the offenders will be pun
shed according to law.