The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1918-06-28
Gen. PERSHING PRAISES C0L0RED SOLDIERS
Lynclling Is
Menace to
The Nation
National Association
rotests Again

The National Association for the
advancement of Colored Peoples
makes public kilograms of protest to
Governor R. G. Pleasant of Louisiana
SEVEN -Foruml3p June II
and to the Chambers of Commerce
Of Monroe, Baton Rogue, Shreveport
and New Orleans, La, against the
lynching last week of John Clayton,
Negro. charged with having shot
and wounded Ben Brooks, . white
farmer, near Mangham, La. The As
sociation's telegram to the Governor
directs his. attention to the fact that
this last lynching brings Loulsiana's
total number of lynchings since the
United States entered the war up to
twelve. The telegram further points
out that the lynched Negro, accord
ing to Louisiana press reports, had
been wounded several times in bat
tie between himself and the mob
which pursued him, and so was prac-
tically helpless. The Association tells
the Governor that lynching must stop
and ssks him whether Louisiana pur-
noses3 to do her part TO put down
tins menace to national well-being
The kilograms follow:
"June 25, 1918.
Hon. r. G. Pleasant, Governor,
Baton Rogue, Louisiana.
'sThe National Association for the
Advancement Of Colored People di-
reets Your attention to the lynching
Of John Clayton, q Negro, near Mang.
ham, La, on Tuesday, June 18th
Press story in Shreveport Times oi
18th states that Clayton was lynehec
after battle with posse in which the
/ Negro had been several times
wounded and therefore helpless. You
are well aware that the crime oi
Which Clayton was accused, that Of
shooting and wounding his white EN-
ployer, was punishable in the ordi-
nary courts of your state. Louisiana
by her continued disregard OF lawful
procedure, her permitting mobs tc
fiout her courts and lynch Negroes
is placing the nation in an unfavor-
able light before the peoples of the
world. America, for the sake Of the
great cause in which she is engaged
and to which upwards of one hundred
fifty thousand Negro soldiers have
pledged their lives, is challenged BY
every consideration Of national honor
to do Justice at home. In the name
Of the one hundred and seventeen &C
tive branches Of the thirty-five thou,
sand members Of this Association ane
in that of the larger law-abiding citi.
zenship Of the United States, we say
TO you lynching must stop, and ask
whether Louisiana proposes to do hei
part to put down this menace to ma
tional Well-being.
John r. Shillady, Secretary Ma
tional Association for Advancement
OF Coiored People"
Telegram to Chambers Of Com
merce of Monroe, Batan Rogue
Shreveport and New Orleans, La.)
June 25, 1918.
'.Once more Louisiana spring intt
a kind of infamy of fame by lynehinl
another Negro. John Clayton, on Jun'
18th, near Mangham, La, making
twelve Negroes that have beer
lynched in your state since the Unite,
States entered the war. We have ad
dressed a telegram Of protest to Gov
eTnar Pleasant. Previous indication
are that Governor will take no action
We ask your Chamber to conside
what Louisiana owes to the nation a
this time. Lynching is foul bio
upon our national honor and permit
foreign peoples to point the finger o
scorn at America at time when GU
prestige abroad and national moral
at home demand that our citizen
abide by the laws and uphold ou
courts. All classes of our citizen
are needed in food conservation, fo
efficient labor and in loyal supper
Of the government White men ar,
not lynched in Louisiana. The DANCE
Of lynehing Negroes at this tim,
THght to be obvious.
aJ6Aa n. shiilady, Secretary Ma
sionaa Association for Advancement
af Cnzoped People