The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-09-05
Statement by John r.
Shilady, Secretary
N. A. A. c. P.

Ave = - 4 AO ~o 4 .
Unless Texas repudiates the state.
ment of her governor expressing salts
faction with a brutal and unprovoked
| attack upon an unoffending United
States citizen she will have confessed
herself a lawless state.
l went to the capital Of Texas, Aus
tin, having telegraphed the attorney
general and Justice Of the peace, Of
fering any information concerning the
National Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People which they de-
sired My first call after meeting with
a committee of the local branch of our
| organization was at the Office of the
governor. That being closed l proceed
ed to the attorney generals Office and
conferred with Acting Attorney Gen
eral w. A. Keeling.
I offered him the fullest information
| concerning the purposes, methods and
work of the association, handing him
a copy of our most important publica-
tions. After this interview, which last
ed some time, proceeded to the adju-
tent generals Office where / had an ex-
tended interview with Acting Adjutcnt
| General Colonel w. d. Cope. informed
both Of these officials Of my intention
to see the governor and the comanler
of the Texas Rangers.
The object of my journey to Austin
was to ascertain why The books and pa
pers and other property of the local
branch of the association had been sub
poenaed by a local justice Of the peace
and examined by state officials and to
offer to these officials much fuller rec
lord that could be obtained from an ex-
animation of the association s national
reports and publications, copies of which
brought for that purpose.
In the light Of these facts it IS sheer
and deliberate Justification for Texas
! mobbists to charge me with being an
.agitator' and melting Negroes
against white men.
The assault upon me, by group of
men, including county judge and a
constable occurred after l had been
hailed before secret session of q So
called 'court of inquiry in which iii
addition to legitimate questions, / was
asked insulting personal questions by
the county attorney, such as:
"If you re such nigger lover why
don't you go and stay in a niger lo-
tel?'' and personal references as to
how I'd like to have my wife in close
personal association with "niggers?', ,,
The county judge who took part in
the assault in broad daylight On one Of
the main streets Of the capital of Texas
was present at that secret session Of
the court and had full opportunity to
hear all of my testimony. Had there
been the slightest question as to the
Legality Of my intentions and acts it is
perfectly certain that I would have been
arrested in so hostile an environment.
After the hearing the presiding judge
invited me to come to his Office to con
fer with him that night. This invita-
tion I declined although at that time
I did not think as I do now that it
would have meant an assault if not a
killing in the seclusion of an unkept
second story Office, as my assailants the
next morning were the same group that
lloitred about the building in which the
court was held.
While directly opposite the Hotel
Driskill, was approached from behind
Iby group of men in an automobile.
One Of them the constable who had sum
moned me to the secret session the day
before, took hold of my arm while the
rest gathered round. Anticipating an
other subpoena, waited expectantly.
Instead of a subpoena | was showered
with blows from all sides. No assist
ance was offered me on the street or
! when went into the hotel.
The association will not allow tins
dastardly attack to pass unchallenged.
What happened to me personally is OF
little consequence. The law has been de-
famed. Mob violenceswhich the assolia,
tion is pledged to fight has relieved the
sanction Of the governor Of Texas The
association will therefore act as follows:
7 /. Congress will be asked to investi-
gate this specific assault on the ground
that the governor Of Texas approved
criminal assault made by public Off
cials upon a citizen Of another state.
2. Following the precedent OF the
Mooney and the Bisbee deportation
cases the president will be asked to ap-
point without delay, q responsible IN
vestigating commission. y.
8. Governor Smith Of New York will
be called upon to demand protection for
citizens Of New York visiting Texas.
4. IA legal committee has been ap-
pointed to initiate proceedings against
the mobbists. The committee is COM
posed Of Moorfeld Storey and Butler
Wilson Of Boston, Charles II. Studin
A4hr- Sn;n worn ne New York and