Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-03-23
PRESIDENT RECEIVES a. NJ. H..
DELEGATION
Made Strong Protest Against Lynch
ing and jim Crowism.

Made Strong Protest Against Lynch
ing and Jim Crowism.
Washington. ID. y, March II. 1918.
-"Words urging Patriotic Duties up
on 1.-The Negroes while they arc lynch
ed and jim crowcd has the appearance
OF lnSinccrity' was Il sentiment cX-
pressed to President Woodrow Wilson
by Commission appointed by The
Bishops Council of the African Meth
odist Episcopal Church to make repre-
scn'ation against Discrimination
against the Negroes OF this country.
The appointment with the President
was arranged by Prof. John r. Haw
k:ns. Financial Secretary of the A.
NJ. E. Church.
The Commission was headed by
Bishop W. ID. Chappelle of South Car
DINA. The other members Of the com
mittce were Prof. John II. Hawkins,
OF Washington, ID. G.. Dr.. w. II. Yer
non Of Tenn, DR.. w. ii. II. Butler of
Pennsylvania; DR.. j. G. Robinson
of Tenn, DR.. A. II. Hill OF Ark, and
Dr.. A. l.. Gaines OF Baltimore.
Bishop Chappc.lc made the represen
tations to the President and left with
him Il written document setting forth
the views of the commission. The re
Sponsc of the President, though guard
cd, Was very gratifying.
The sentiment Of the commission
follows:
Washington. ID. c. March ii, 1918.
Hon. Woodrow Wilson.
! President OF thc United States,
Mr.. President, Strive the under
signed citizens of the U. S. and
representatives Of the African Meth
odist Episcopal church, appointed by
the Bishops Council Of said church,
which met at Louisville, Ky, Febru-
airy ii, 1918 beg to submit to you the
following memorial or prayer.
With due sense Of appreciation
Of uhc great struggle in which we are
now engaged and the arduous task
laid upon YOU as Chief Magistrate of
our country, pledge TO YOU our fido.i
~ rs loyal citizens or our RCpublic.'
These are trying times and we are
pass ,ng through ordealS That try mems
sou,S. and now more than ever before
our people need hope and encourage
ment.
We believe you have read wish deep
regret OF the inhunMn and unlawful
frcatmen of our people in many sec
tons of the country; and we come
praying you for relief from mob Vio-
lence and other determinations which
are SO prevalent.
We do not condOne crime cOmmiti
cd by any people; nor are we asking
that you wink at crime committed
by any people; that each and every
individual be given fair impartial
trial by jury Of twelve men of their
fellow citizens.
Since Congress- has given you, as
President, power to conscript citizens
from and within all the states of the
Union, to fight for the common cause
OF human liberty, and for protection
Of this country; we believe that it is
equally within the power Of Congress
to authorize you to enter any state in
this Onion with said power, to protect
the life and liberty of the citizens
therein.
Believing this as we do, We ask,
first. That lynching be made a FEEDER
al offenSe; second, we ask that in all
cases Of lynching and mob violence
where citizens are guilty of partici
pating in the same they shall be pun
isbGd by law and declared Ineligible
to hold office in our government eth
er federal Or state; third, we ask that
any Sheriff, allowing his prisoner to
be lynched or MANNED while in his
custody he declared unfit for that high
office and at once removed by the Gov
ernor.
Mr.. President we make this appeal
to you because your people have al
ways been loyal to this government
and are still loyal and faithful in this
the most trying time Of its history.
We are in the midst Of a great
world wide war which will take as we
see it, the. united efforts of all the
people to gain victory, and to secure
This, we must find way to suppress
mob violence and lynching.
TO tell us that we are fighting for
world democracy and that this is l
form Of that democracy for which we
arc 10 fight and for which many Of
oul boys e; G already on the t,"li 1T
battle, is not to say the least very on
couraging.
The Negroes Of this country have
rallied TO your call in this crisis and
are doing their bit according to thoir
ability from every view point.
No people have followed so uncom
plainingly as have our people and we
are beginning 10 realize now that we
are q part of this government which
we have served so faithfully both in
war and in peace. Thus we come ask
ing our government through its exc
cutive to protect us in tho pursuits
Of life, liberty and happiness.
Mr.. President our treatment upon
the railroads Of this country is unfair
unjust, degrading and unchristian and
we ask that something be done to
change such conditions and make them
olIch 90 will fao - ,>oa n