Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-01-12

OF the Country--Jim Crow, Lynch
ing, and other Atrocities heapcd
upon the Negro Conference.-The
negro and the War takes
Prominence at the Confer
ence-Oswald G. Willard, More
field Storey, Col. Charles Young,
DR.. w. e. B. Dubois, Mary White
Ovington, Col. ]. A. Moss, and w.
Asbie Hawkins among those who
speak before Conferencc-Some of
tho prominent delegates.
Aliens National News Bureau,
2 West 131 St., New York City,
January l, 1918.
Tho National Association for tho
Advancement Of Colored People, or
ganiZed seven years ago to fight
American prejudice, brought to
close last Sunday its Seventh Annual
mid-year conference, and during the
four days that the association was
In session 1t took high ground and
went down on record as being oppos
cd TO every form OF discrimination to
which the Negro suffers in this coun
sAS' A1'SAs VI lHlS SSSlIB cues
ton was discussed and when the con
ference adjourned It resolved to be-
gin It's fight anew for tho restoration
OF those rights that properly belong
to the Negro. The delegates came
from every section OF tho country and
told thrilling stories Of how tho as
ISOLATION was fighting prejudice, and
how ground Is being gained through
out the nation. These delegates all
are earnest men and women fired on
ny common cause made their blood
Doll Mt times as they would relate stori
es or discrimination against the
race and how thru this organization
these VeXing things were being beat
en- down. East st. Louis still fresh In
minds OF the nation came in for n
.arge share Of condemnation. The sub
Jects that were discussed rs they 70
late to the Negro were: Tho Draft The
Colored Soldiers in tho Army. Tho
Y M. G. A. work among tho Negro
Tho Negro Migration and tho in
famous lynch law as worked In this
country.
me session was cailfd to order on
thursday by Miss Mary White Owing
ton, tho we'll known New York phil
anthrop,who made n brief review of
me years work Of tho association.
Neports were made by tho various
heads or departments. Hon. James w.
Johnson lied secretary of the organ1-
Zation said that during the past year
ne had organized branches in four.
teen cities as far South as South Car
olina. FLORIDA, and spoken in tho
Mldale- west and other section of the
country: lie told how that he had call
Gu on southern editors and discuss
ed with them various phases Of the
Work and that many Of them were co
operating with the association. Ono
OF the most remarkable rcnorts Voc
maze Dy Dr. w. e. B. Dubois. the
editor Of tho Crisis, and Tho director
OF Publications and Research, who
told OF the amazing growth Of Tho
Crisis. He told how tho Crisis had
begun In 1910 with 1000 circulation.
until today It reached 10000. 75o
copies OF the publication he said 20
TO Foreign lands, and that the maya
emo was handled by 500 agents who
are increasing it's circulation. Hs
said that the magazine was self sup.
porting and that It's staff of workers
were paid not less than sixty dollars
per month. The Crisis Is fast becom.
ing one or the most remarkable mag.
a21nes in the world and much Of Ia
success Is due to the peculirr genius
OF Dr. Dubois. The opening discussion
conferred around lynchins ana mob
violence and was opened by George
Vashon one Of tho directors of tho
ASSOCIATION In St. Louis, Mo.
Mr: VashOn gave direct information
relative to the riot of East st. Louis
ana threw many side1ights on tho mat
ter. He said that the riots of East
st. Louis was one of the worst afro.
cities ever committed here He relat
cyl how Innocent men and women
were shot down in many cases by the
militia and police. Tie sale that senti
ment had always been against tho
negro and told how rs far back as
sixteen years ago a colored school
teacher was hanged in the public
square Of Rellevil!e with tho Mayor
or the city looking on. That Same
man he said had been reelected to
office for ct least five times by the
Will of the people and said that gave
some idea Of tho rotten political con
dit1on Of that section. Rev. George
FRAZIER Miller Of Brooklyn, whose re
cent address bearing On the hanging
OF the thirteen soldiers at Houston
AANS' fAofoNN' NSGlI ulSCuSSlUIl WAS tho
second speaker and spoke in condem
nation Of lynching and Its causes
The evening session was held at the
Ethical Culture hall, where the first
spingarn medal was presented by
Gov. Whitman II 1915. Hon. Morefield
Storey, the president Of the associa.
ton presided. He was given a warm
ovation when he rose to speak and
praised for hic brilliant aPSort a., ex,I
ting decision from the Supreme
court against segregation. He said in
his opening address that there was
no conscience in the South and that
the South was too much Of a coward.
Col. James A. Moss who Is in com
mand OF the 307th Isfantry composed
of colored soldiers at Camp Upton,
praised the Negro soldiers and that
this war was giving them fine op.
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