The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-02-11
ENFORCE THE LAW.

ENFORCE THE LAW.
Below we publish criticism of Sem
ator Cummins by the editor of Detroit
Leader:
Republicans We Want a Square Deal.
Senator Cummins will not do our
race any real justice, in his idea OF
cutting down the Southern Delegation.
Evidence shows that the Southern
white politician would be satisfied with
much smaller power if he enjoyed
that power alone. Justice demands
that the black man Of the South should
receive franchise without any re.
strictions.
Why is it that the Northern rspub-
1ican cannot stand for right and JUS
to the southern Negro? No such.
remedy is attempted with any other
big issue in this country. The idea
Of trying to assist one class Of people
at the expense Of another. 1t is not
American, 1t is not good republicans
ism. We want full right of franchise,
we want to be unmolested by the
Southern people in the enjoyment OF
that franchise. If this is country
for, by and Of the people, we want,
republican party to give us legislation
that will bring about the same benefits.
the same privileges that are enjoyed
by any other class of Americans.
Direct primary, tariff, states rights,
foreign policies, an devery other ism
or cism under the sun is dealt with in
no manner like that of the Negro and
His Vote in the South. Is the repub-
lican statesman going backward? Is
this the same party of '65? Is this
he parry Of Lincoln-Gran and Roosevelt
the party of Right? These are ques-
tions that the Northern Colored repub-
lican wants to know.
/ 1--WE Of the North will not be salts
fled until our people are treated free
and equal throughout the entire
Scuth.'
Now Brother Kemp, I am not here
to defend Hon. Albert B. Cummins,
for his past record for square dealing
and fair play to every man is firmly
established. He has been thoroughly
tested and his doctrine is absolutely
sound. eW all in the North states
stand for equal right to every male
citizen. The question Of that Mght Is
violated by certain states as it has
been, and we have law on our
statutes books that prescribes q pun
'shment for any one violating this
statute ought not we to infiict the.
punishment, regardless Of what we
may personally believe to be the best
method? will quote you, Mr.. Editor,
for fear you have not read, else you
have forgotten the 14th amendment to
the United States Constitution, Sec. 1:
~ Article XIV
Section 1. All persons born or natu-
rallied in the United States, and sub
ject to the jurisdiction thereof, are
citizens of the United States and of
the state wherein they reside. No
state shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges or
immunities of citizens of the United
States nor shall any state deprive any
person of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law, nor deny
to any person within it's Jurisdiction
the equal protection of the laws.
Sec. 2. Representatives shall be ap-
portioned among the several states ac-f
cording to their respective numbers,
counting the whole number of persons
In each state excluding Indians not
taxed. But when the right to vote at
any election for the choice of electors
for president and vice-president of the
United States, representatives in con-
gress, the executive and judicial off.
| GERS of state, or the members Of the
legislature thereof, is denied to any Of
the male inhabitants of such state, be-
Ing twenty-one years of age and citi-
zens of the United States or in any
way abridged, except for participation
1 Nr 20 cic
| OF representation therein shall bear to
the whole number of male citizens
| twenty-One years of age in such state.
Now, Mr.. Editor, the duty of every
| law abiding citizen and every officer
| OF our country is to enforce the laws
and inflict the punishment for its vio-
lation that is upon our statute books,
If it is bad law repeal it and make
better law. believe that the South
would protest if we would cut their
| representation down one-half as it
should be.
HONOR LINCOLN AND DOUGLASS.
At the meeting of the executive
| committee of the Des Moines branch
of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People Mor-
uay evening arrangements were COM
pleted for the celebration in honor
| of tn birthdays of Abraham Lincoln
and Frederic Douglass to be held at
the Union Congregational Church to-
morrow Saturday evening. Febru-
ary 18th, at which also a full report
will be made on the fight that the
association is waging to prevent the
production in Des Moines of the photo
play, "The Birth of the Nation" A
number of those whose mem bership
in the branch had expired during the
month of January had their member
ship renewed for another year and
the following new members were also
voted in: Messrs. e. Tracy Biagburn
and F. P. johnson, and Mesdames r.
p. johnson and Camantha Ganett' y =.
For That Terrible Itching 14