The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1918-03-08

~" tVnh h-Frolueut wilson on
the 18Th. received . delegation OF four
u,embers of the New York branch OF the
National As~oristiou tor the Advance
nent for Oolored People 10y special ap-
poinsnent. The dsss'gation PLACED br-
for~ the Prrsiient . petition signed 10y
twelve thousand citizens OF New York in
which tho President was askee to extend
executive elemency Co the five Negro
soldiers Of she Twenty-fourth Infantry
now under sentence Of death by verd G.
III the court martial which tried the
Houston riot c.s~. and rssiuesting the
President 10 cause 10 be laid before him
review OF the cases Of the forty-one
soldiers of the same regiment who were
sentenced Ia lite imprisonment 10y the
hrst court martial. The delegation con
sisted of James Weldon johnson. field
secretary of the association, Rev. ,.-o
Frazier Miller. Rector OF ~ Augustine
church. brooklyn. Rev. Frank .nyier,
pastor Of St. James Presbyterian church,
New York branch.
Mr.. Johnson. who acted A. -y.ok -.nan
oi the delegation. said
We come - n Delegation from the
New Work branch OF the National A-.o-
ciation Tor the Advancent of Color-.i
People. representing the twelve thousand
signers Of the petition which We have the
nonor to lay h~fore you. And We come
not only ~ the representative Of tho.e
Who slgned this petition. but We come
rePresen ting the sentiments and Aspira
tions and sorrows. 400. of the great mass
Of the Negro publication Of the Unlt~d
Stairs.
We fesi that the history of this quest
and urge that you extend executive elem
sncy TO the i've Negro soidiers Of tile
Twenty -sourth Infantry r,w under sen-
tence of dsath- Aud understanding that
tile cases ot the men OF the same reri-
ment who we're sentenced 10 life impris-
onment are To be reviewed, We aIso re-
quest and urge that executive clemency
u shown also 70 them.
We feel that the history OF this par
Eicular regiment and the splendid record
'or bravery and loyalty Of our Negro
'oldiery in every crisis OF the nation give
~ the right to make this request. And
~e make Il not only In the same name
II their loyalty. but also I'm the name 81
lie unquestioned loyalty t. tile nation oi
welos million Negroes. . loyalty which
oday puts them side by side with IA.
original American stocks that landed at
? ymouth and Jamestown.
The hanging Of thirteen men without
he opportunity Of appeal 10 the com
the President OF the
United Stats, was . punishment 20 dras
&c and 90 unusual in the history OF the
istion tfst the execution Of additional
nembsrs Of the Twenty fourth Infantry
would 70 the ooIored people OF the coun-
~ SAVIOR OF vengenes rather than Justice.
We desire slso respectfully " call
Tour attention To the fact that there were
circumstances for the sction
II the>e men Of the ssnty fourth Infan-
y. Not by any premeditated design
md without cause did these men do what
hey did at Houston, but by long 49,
'ies OF humility eliminating in the brutal |
ssssnlt on Corporal Baltimore, they were
rOsded o. sudden and faenxied action.
This 10 borre out by the long .ecord for
orderly and soldierly conduct on the part
'f the regiment throughout IL whole his
tory up 70 that time
Apd % the eDd that you ertend the
-lemency which ~e ask. we lay before
yon this petitlon signed by white - we'll
20 col"r~d citizens Of New York; one of
lie signer. being . white man, president
II New York bank. IL years Of age and
. native Of Lexington. Ky.
And now, Mr.. President. We would
not let this opportunity pass without
the terrible outrages against
our people that have taken place in the
sst three quarters Of . year, outrsgr-
that srs not only unspesksble wrong
against them, but blot- upon the fair
name ~ our common country Wemen-
ton the riOts st East - Louis, in which
tie colOred people bore the brunt II botn
the cruelty Of the mob and the PROGRESSES
Of the ls-. And we especially mention
TIE savage burnings that have taken