Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-07
.F0URTEENPO|NTS
URGED FOR RACE
John R. Hawkins Outlines
Reforms to AIIay Unrest
Among American Negroes.

Following a meeting in New York
of the committee on the welfare of
negro troops, created by the general
wartime commission of the federal
council of churches, John r. Hawkins
of 1541 14th street, Washington, has
| formulated fourteen specific articles
as basis of democracy at home"
This formulation was made, Mr..
Hawkins states, in response to a
statement made at the meeting by a
white man, whose name was with
held, representative of one of the i'm
portant agencies in connection with
the war activities, who pointed out
certain conditions in some sections
which seem to indicate friction be-
tween whites and colored men.
This gentleman pointed out that
there is manifest feeling of unrest
among both white and colored per-
sons in his district; that there seemed
to be a growing feeling of distrust
was a seeming disposition on the
I'm the asEk as 70 to Ne What H they ARE are
thinking, about. and that negro
. preachers and speakers are encour-
aging their people to expect new
adjustment of things on the princi-
pies of democracy.
Fourteen Principles.
sAIr. Hawkins states that it was gem
orally admitted that this particular
statement was fair summary of the
situation or condition existing very
generally throughout the south, and
the matter assumed definite shape in
the form of the question, "What does
the negro want Or expect:' He
frames his answer as follows:
Il cannot and do not claim the au-
thority to speak for the 1900, 900, or
more. negroes in America, but, as one
of them, beg to submit the following
in answer to the above question: For
the sake of convenience and direct
ness let US follow the style of Presi-
dent Wilson and reduce our reasoning
to what may be termed fourteen G4)
specific articles as a basis of de-
mOcracy at home.
Suffrage.
81. Universal Suffrage.-The negro
wants the right to vote and the priv
ilege of Exercising this right in cast
ing his ballot, because he knows this
to be one of the fundamental rights
of the citizens of a republic and that
any set of people who are denied the
privilege of exercising this right will
be rendered powerless in helping to
shape civic affairs in the community.
state or country of which they are a
part.
Let the south be fair and apply the
standard of elective franchise to
white and colored alike and the first
step Will be taken toward removing
the Negroes feeling of mistrust.
Education.
III. Better Educational Facilities in
the South for NeGroes.-The negro
wants this because he recognizes edu-
ca tion as the lever by which peo-
pie are lifted up. He is capable of re-
ceiving it, is anxious for it and needs
it to help make him better citizen.
He meets every requirement in the
way of taxation for the establishment
and maintenance of all classes of in
situations. To give to the white
youths the privileges and advantages
of these institutions and deny them
TO coIored youths naturally makes the
negro dissatisfied.
when the south provides the same
class of technical. high school. col
leee. university and. too, military
training out of state funds for colored
youths. as is done for the whites. then
another barrier to our progress and
mutual feeling of helpfulness will be
removed.
"Jim Crow" Cars.
gill. The Adjustment of the So
called jim, Crow system.-Nothin!g
has served to estranae the races in
the south and create feelings of Bit
terness so much as the Ubiquitous
Jim Crow cars. Even though the
statutes of the southern states call
for separate but equal accommoda-
tions for white and colored passen-
gers there is not a road in the south
that lives up to the law. No differ
ence whatever is made in the price of
tickets, but all kinds of unjust and
unfair differences are made as to ac-
commodations and treatment. Negro
passengers are often subjected to the
most degrading 2 and humiliating
treatment imaginable.
1.-The privileges of sleeping cars and
dining cars are thrown open to white
passengers. but persistently denied to
colored passengers. Under the system
of first and second class fares, a bet
ter distinction could be made and less
friction and bad feeling engendered
Segregation.
CIV. DiscOntinuance Of Unjust Dis.
crimin1tOry Regulations and Segre-
cation in the Various Departments OF
the GOvernment.-In a republic like
ours. premium should be placed on
efficiency and faithfulness to duty.