Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-07-27
TIE NATIONAL. COLORE|::|D!|
LIBERTY CONGRESS-
CONvENES
\ COLOHED AMERICAN EVENT IN
STRUGGLE FOR WORLD
DEMOCRACY
HISTORIC CObORED LIBERTY
CONGRESS,

CONGRESS
July 21st to goth, 1918, arc now
historic dates in CulOrcd American
history. They mark tho approach OF
ColOred Americans to their federal
government in behalf OF Justice and
liberty for their racial group. These
eight days with Il Sabbath dav in
between, witnessed tho gathering to-
Scthcr in the nations capital Of dele
gates from all sections OF the cOun-
try in the midst of Il worlds war to
formulate ana present to the federal
Congress n statement of the grievous
wrongs visited upon their race and a
demand for redress.
Two days wCro spent in mapping
out the plans and arranging for the
sessions Of this National Colorcd Iii
bcrty Congress, which lasted six days
and five nights. At it's height one
qualified from about thirty States.
They had como from rs far North as
Massachusetts ,as far South rs Flor
ida as far West as Arkansas. The
lynching States were we'll represent
cd save Texas. The States Of Tillman,
Williams and Nardaman wcr repre-
Scnted, ana Tillman was .trick an
with his hnal laralytic vii )tk before
this Liberty Congress closed.
Meeting under purpoScful QueS-
ti0ninGa Of loyalty and IN spite Of "A
lowish-Amcrican ajor's attempt
Through tho War Department to
thwart this race convention, yet there
was no waVcring among these dele
gates. They como for Il share for
their race of the world democracy
which their country's president pro-
claimed as the flower OF their race
VAS sent into battle in another hcmiS-
nhcrc, and they never faltered. Day
after day the delegates met in two
executive sessions without Il dissent
'rCm the announced purpose Of the
Call Firm in the conviction that
they were true - the zeal patriotism
in seeking to wipe ont the inconSis-
tency or thor country at home AID
were race loyoi in scizin% this world
opportunity to seek for their race re-
lief from scnSclcss and undcmOcratic
prescription, they notified the Chief
Executive by sending Il written re-
quest to him to convene both houses
Ia Cogrc&s to hear them and sending
delegation to get his answer. Then
th"y notified the heads OF both hous.
cs of Congress; BY sending delegations
to the speaker Of one and the Prcsi-
deaf ,f the other to ask for il joint
session. And in Speaker Clark thoy
found responsive nearer though the
cAtraordinaiy opportunity could not
be secured. They further sought the
Amusement of tho government by in
yiting two congressman to address
this Liberty Congress.
These crusaders in war time for
Liberty and redress Of race wrongs
notified. the white public Of the Dis
tict Of Columbia by these moves of
their patriotic purpose. The daily
press chronicled somewhat Of them.
Colorcd Washington was not left in
the dark. On the first Monday night
there came into the spacious John
Wesley Zion A. M. E church, Rev.
w. G. Brown, pastor, a great, intelli-
gent audience. They heard frank ut
terances and positive demands for
liberation from Maurice Spencer, 10!
cal chairman: DR.. $. r. Harrison, of
Oklahoma II. H. Harrison, OF New
York; the brainy> chairman Of the
Congress; VIM. Monroe Trotter, the
executive secretary, and the eloquent
j. w. Bell, Of Kentucky. At first
that audience sat around the big flags
still and in suspense. Then as speak
ers boldly demanded the democracy
for their race which was proclaimed
for the world they relaxed and then
waXed enthusiastic.
FIVE IGREAT MASS MEETINGS.
TWO CONGRESSMAN
APPROVED
Then the "ice was brokon.' Tues
day night, despite the rain, another
great audience listened to manly and
able addresses by Rev. M. T.. Sydes,
r. l.; Atty w. A. Hawkins, Md; c.
S. Morris, N. Y, and applauded. We'd
nesday night mammoth audience.
overlooking the big church heard
Rep. Martin B. Madden, Of Illinois,
as he approved the holding Of tho
congress as patriotic; Prof. A. w.
Whaloy, Of Boston; Rev. M. A. N.
Shaw, of Boston, whose ovation as he
closed at midnight was greater than
that to Cong. Madden and again, Fl.
II. Harrison, who was applauded till
12:45 a. m. Thursd night another
mammoth audience heard WI ii.
Irvine Of Oklahoma, Rev. G.. II. Step
teau Of Baltimore, and greatest Of all
congressman l.. c. Dyer, Of Missouri,
author Of the anti-lynching bill, who
declared all true Americans at homo
should be bringing about democracy