The Denver star., 1916-05-20
WHAT 1T MEANS
TO FIGHT BACK.
Judge Dyer's DecIsIonln Segregation Case


Reproduced by Special Reque. of Poro College, ST. Louis
The segregation ordinances which passed bv al
popular of the people of St LOUIS Mo- Feb 20 last
virtually killed bv decision handed down by Judge D.
P. Dyer in the United States court there.
A large number of Colored people both men and women
present when the decision rendered sigh OF
relief manifested.
The attorneys for the plaintiff made strong appeal "a
ganst ordinance led by Col w. H Bodgett while AS
sociate City Counselor Paul Griffin appeared for the city
Judge Dyer's Decision.
In the eloquent language Judge Dyer handed down
the following decision:
The Court Il have listened with much interest to all
that has been The debate has taken very wide
range Practically there is but legal question before
the decsion and that question the validity of
The two ordinances question: That being is al
counsel has said that the Courts feelings person
ally should nothing do with determining this one
question Judges very much like other people. They
all try right and they administer justice
Nine years ago this bench took oath One of its
provisions that you solemniy that will admin
lister justice the rich and alike have tried hard
live up the obligation of that oath. know have
mistakes and have far short OF what pro-
baby would be counted learned Judge, bu, fhave tried
to do justice between man and man.
Aluson has been made by counsel here to the tact that
have lived in this long time. For more than
enty years have resided within sixty miles of where sit
today My father this state from old Virginia
where was born and in Lincoln county in 1S4r
He the Of Negroes. raised with Negroes
God my Judge have tried always all life to be
81
the e.d.
IL have heard all this talk about ntermarriage and mis-
cegenation all OF that fifty ago. Arguments
then made for the OF ct the
wits by appeal their preiudces These arguments
if be called such made when the question OF
ncpaton the contention then that ulti
matey it would lead inermarriage between the
believed would anything of the kind them and be-
leve Negroes do ask tor equality; whites do
the Negroes only ask have the privi
others have the rights under the law Others
IN
of the St Louis by Of which
they entitled under the constitution to the same legal
rights white. ore born natura1zed
citizen Of the United States would not be doing duty
if hesated deal equal justice every alike.
These ordnancs S | have heretofore considered. AS
a citizen | examined them with care, and citizen cast
my against them and in my Judgment formed par
ticuary today, but formed before exercised right t"
believe that these ordinances void and illegal and
that the police claimed here deprive OF
using the money made by the Of his brow in buying
wherever the will Sell it. and when
he buy it, he has right under the and the
laws OF the United States it long he obeys
the law and as long the not made nuisance
Every body knows all know and regret that not only
mong Negroes but white people there communi
ties which the localities in which they exist,
but know o the reputable that are to be
found in this city among the colored people speak OF
that because OF the mad here about the police
power being sufficient deprive of his de
prve OF hi. and deprive him OF the bread
that he makes have heard that before did not affect
me then and it does affect II shall grant here
raining the enforcement Of these
ordinances and only temporary tor the reason that 1t
has been tha, volvng like question
now before the Supreme Court of the United
i "As SAID in the beginning, knowing this
ing the clerk Of the Supreme Court for copy of