The Denver star., 1917-08-18
WORKING AMONG
VICTIMS Of Mob
National Association Pushes
Case Against Lynchers.
MANY VOLUNTEER SERVICES

MANY Volunteer SERVICES
Representatives Of Legal and Publicity
Departments Of Militant Organization
Mako Personal Investigation Of the
East st. Louis Horror-knishts Of
Pythias centributs 500.
When the first troubles in East St
Louis became public late in May the
National Association For the Advance
ment of Colored People recognized that
this was something of the utmost i'm
portance. East ST. Louis is one of the
great centers whittier the migration of
at least quarter of a Elillion Negroes
has set. 1t was therefore of great i'm
portance to understand any troubles
that might arise and to ward them of
II possible. The statement of the asso-
citation on the East st. Louis riot says:
Before, however, our representative
could get to East st. Louis the terri
BILE riot of July had taken place. A
hundred or more Negroes were killed.
scores Of homes and property destroy
ed and 5000 refugees crossed the
bridge into st. Louis The st. Louis
branch OF the N. A. A. c. p. immedi-
ately began relief work Our members,
prominent in professions and In busi-
ness. for nearly ten days gave almost
their entire time to the succor of the
victims. A mass meeting was called
and snopial finance cnrpmftfoo on
pointed. Contributions came from as
far as Kansas City and Chicago, and
some $4OO or $500 was Immediately col
lected. The association also worked In
conjunction with the white Red Cross.
Immediate steps were taken to pre-
pare legal cases against the city and
county. The legal committee of the
association held open doors, and hum
dreds OF declarations of losses were
received by Attorney Phillips. DR.. W.
p. Curtis and others gave much time
to the wounds Of the victims. From
the national Office DR.. Du Bois was
sent to make thorough study of the
situation and Miss Martha Gruening
to inquire into the attitude Of the en-
ployers and labor unions.
"Dr. Du Bois organized a force Of
twenty-five volunteers workers and FIVE
paid workers. Chancellor Lloyd of the
Knights of Pythias kindly donated the
parlors Of the Pythian hall, and DR..
Curtis donated an Office on Market
street. Clerks were installed and the
stories Of nearly 200 victims carefully
taken down. Detailed statistics COW
ering 1,5OO of the refugees were also
compiled. Visits were made to the va
rious. sections Of East St. Louis and
to the colored settlements near by.
Several meetings of the executive
committee of the branch were held and
one mass meeting of citizens which
! overfowed the beautiful Presbyterian
church on Pine street. Every effort
was made to cooperate with churches
and other organizations, with notable
success. We also got in touch with
leading white citizens like ex-Secretary
Nagel and c. NJ. Hubbard and Miss
Pulliam Of the Red Cross.
The Chicago branch contributed 500
to the relief funds and also, under
Judge Brown. Is preparing to give le-
gal aid to the prosecution of the coun-
ty and city. 1t will be remembered
that Illinois has two statutes which
bear upon this dot-hrst an "act to
indemnify the owners Of property for
damages caused by mobs and RIOTS"
passed in 1887, and the other an act to
suppress mob Violence" approved in
1905. The association. through its ma
tional Office. the Chicago and ST. Louis
branches, proposes to leave no stone
unturned to bring to justice the guilty
DerpefratOra Of the Fast ST T.OuiS ont
rage.
The st. Louis branch is still active.
the investigations Of the national Office
are proceeding. and the Washington
branch is pushing the resolutions for
investigation Introduced by Congress-
men Dyer and Dallinger and Senator
Sherman. All members and friends Of
the race are urged to write to their
congressman demanding passage Of
these resolutions. which are II. ]. Res.
lis, II. ]. 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 a nationa! fighting body Uf
this sort Is absolutely Indispensable
are urged to join the association and
to contribute to cur aati-lynvhin- and
anti-mob violence fund. a check for
500 has been received from the
knights of Pythias OF the Jurisdiction
Of Illinois. and other contributions have
been sent by various organiz:,t 'ons ,ni.l
individuals. Literature and Internal
tion may be had by writing To .Iaus~s