Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04

destroyed, and six thousand refugees
crossed the bridge into st. Louis.
The st. Lcuis Branch Of the N. A. a.
G. p. immediately began relief work
Our membera, prominent in profess
sions and in business, for nearly ten
days gave almost their entire time to
the succor OF the victims. A mass
meeting was called and a special
finance committee appointed. Con-
tributions came from as Tar as Kansas
City and Chicago and some $500 or
$500 was Immediately collected. The
Association worked in conjunction with
the white Red Gross and with other
colored individuals In the city. The
Municipal Lodging House was open
ed and hundreds Of Individuals
homes.
Immediate steps were taken to pre-
pare legal cases against the city and
county. Tho Legal Committee of
the Association held open doors and
hundreds of declarations Of losses
were received by Attorney Phillips.
Dr.. w. p. Curtis and others gave
much time to the wounds Of the vic
Tins. From the National ONCE, DR..
Du Bots was sent ITO make q thorough
study Of the situation, and Miss
Martha Gruening to inquire into the at
titude Of tho employers and labor
unions.
DR.. Du Bots organized a force of
twenty-five volunteer workers and
five paid workers. Chancellor Lloyd
Of the Knights Of Pythias kindly do
mated the parlors Of the Pythian Hall,
and DR.. Curtis donated an Office on
Market Street. Clerks were installed
and the stories of nearly two hundred
victims carefully taken down. De-
tailed statistics covering flftenn hun
dreu Of the refugees were also COM
piled. Visits were made ITO the va
rious sections of East st. Louis and
to the oolored settlements Oh Brooklyn
and National City. Several meetings
of the executive committee of the
were held and one mass meet
ing Of citizens which overlooked the
beautiful Presbyterian Church on Pine
Street. every effort was made to CO.
operate with churches and other or
CARNATIONS with notable success. We
also got in touch with leading white
citizens like EX-Secretary Nagel and
Mr.. G. NJ. Hubbard and Miss Pulliam
OF the Red Cross.
The Chicago Branch contributed
5000 to the relief funds and also, un-
der Judge Brown, Is preparing to give
legal cid to the prosecution Of tho
county and city. It will be remembered
that Illinois has two statutes which
bear upon this riot first an "Act to
indemnify the owners Of property for
damages caused by mobs and riot"
passed In 1887, and the other, an "Act
to suppress mob Violence" approved
In 1906. The Association, through its
National Office and through tho Chi
cago and ST. Louis Branches, proposes
to leave no stone unturned to bring
to Justice the guilty perpetrators of
the East st. Louis outrage. The st.
Louis Branch In still active, the in.
vestigations Of the National Office are
proceeding, and the Washington Branch
is pushing the resolutions Cor ..investi-
CATION introduced by congressman
Dyer and Dallinger and Senator Sher-
man. All members and friends of tho
race are urged to write to their Con-
gressmen demanding passage Of these
resolutions which are II. J. Res. 118,
II. j. Res. 124, and s. Con. Res. 10.
Detailed stories of the truth about
East st. Louis will appear shortly in
various magazines and In the Crisis.
Persons who are convinced by our ex-
perience In East st. Louis and else
Where that q national lighting body.
CT. this sort Is absolutely Indispensable
are urged to Join the Association and
TO contribute to our Anticipating
and Observation-Disclosures Fund A check
for 500 has been received from the
knig gifts Of Pythias of the Grand
OF Illinois and other
contributions have been sent by va.
r1ous organizations and individuals.
Literature and information may be
had by writing to James w. Johnson.
Acting Secretary, Room SIS, 70 Fifth
Avenue, New York.