Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-03-23
PRESIDENT RECEIVES \. NJ. Il.
DELIBERATIONS
Made Strong Protest Against Lynch.
ing and Jim CrowiSm.

DEIEtAfloN
Made Strong PROTEST Against Lynch.
Jag and Jim CrowSm.
Washington. ID. c., March ii. 1918.
-"Words urging Patriotic Duties up
on the Negroes while they are lynch
cd and jim crowcd has the appearance
Of inSinccrity" was sentiment on
pressed to President Woodrow Wilson
by II Commission appointed by The
bishops Council of the African Meth
odiSl Episcopal Church 10 make repre-
scn'ation against discriminate on
against the Negroes Of this country.
The appo.n mcnt with the President
was arranged by Prof. John II. Haw
k.ns. Financial Secretary of the a.
NJ. e. Church.
The Commission was headed by
Bishop w. ID. Chappellc of South Car
DINA. The other members Of the com
mittce were Prof. John II. Hawkins.
OF Washington. ID. c., Dr. w. T. Yer
non Of Tenn, DR.. w. IL. II. Butler of
Pennsylvania; Dr.. j. G.. Robinson
of Tenn, Dr.. \. II. Hill of Ark, az:
DR.. ~. l.. Gaines of Baltimore
Bishop Chappc.lc made The rcprcscn
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. u. c. March ii, 1918.
Hon. Woodrow Wilson.
!, President NJ ,nr Uni.rl States.
MIR. President Strive the under
signed citizens of the U. S. and
rcprc8en .ativcs OF the African Meth
odisk Episcopal church, appointed hy
the Bishops Council OF said church.
which met nj Louisville. Ky. Fchru-
airy II. 1918 beg to submit to you the
following memorial or prayer.
With Il due sense Of appreciation
Of uhc great struggle in which we are
now engaged and the arduous task
laid upon you as Cnicf Magistrate Of
our country, pledge TO YOU our fido.i
ty us loyal citiZrnS or our Republic.
These are trying times and we are
pass ng through nrdca!s that try mems
Sou% and now more than ever before
our pcop'c need hope and encourage
mcnt.
We believe You have read with deep
regret Of the inhuman and unlawful
treatment of our people in many see
tons Of the country; and We come
praying YOU for relief from mob VIC
lcncc and ether determinations VIII. cn
are SO prevalent.
We do nor cOndOnc crime commits
cd by any people; nor are we asking
that you wink at crime committed
by any people; that each and every
Individual be given Il fair impartial
trial by Il 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; VIZ believe THAI it is
equally within the power of Congress
to authorize you 10 enter any state in
this Union with said power, to protcc;
the life and liberty Of the citizens
therein.
Believing this rs we do, We ask,
first. That lynching be made FEEDER
al offensc; second. VIC ask that in all
cases OF lynching and mob violence
where citizens are guilty of partici
pating in the same they shall be pun
iskGd by law and declared Ineligible
to hold office i'm our government eth
CT federal Or state; third, we ask that
any Sheriff allowing his prisoner to
he lynched or MANNED while in his
custody be 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
WA fn on
and are still loyal and faithful in this
the most trying time of it's history.
We are in the midst of 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 a 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 . already on the f,"lI II
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 thcir
ability from every view point.
No people have followed 50 uncom
plainingly as have our people and we
are beginning TO realize now that we
are part of this government which
we have served so faithfully both in
war and in peace. Thus we come ask
ing our government through it's exc
cutive to protect us in the 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
such as Will pllara nice 10 1.s nnacn