The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-11-08
THE "POWERS THAT BE" JUMP
PARS0N DICKSON.
To T,he paIIas Express:

10 Inc Dallas Express;
Dallas, Texas, Nov 6.-Several days
ago there appeared In the press OF
the city statement to the effect that
Rev w. L. Dickson Of Gilmer, Texas,
president OF the Colored Orphanage
at that place, had appeared before
the commissioners q Dallas county
TO make arrangements for confer
ence between leading Negroes and
white citizens of Dallas to discuss
and adjust race relations here. With
reference TO this matter we, the un-
dersigned Negroes of Dallas, beg
leave TO make the following state
ment:
We believe that such conference
is untimely and unnecessary and will
tend to defeat the very purpose for
which II is to be called. We take the
position that while the relations be-
tween the races In Dallas may not
be in all respects as pleasing as every
body desires, they are quite good;
and II useless and uncalled for agi-
tation is not encouraged, we have
every reason to believe that they win
daily grow better. We admit that
there is considerable unrest among
our people almost everywhere, but
this unrest exists to greater or
less extent with all people, is almost
universal and Is result, we believe
OF the war. There may have been a
time in the recent past when a con-
ference between the races here might
have done some good, but we feel
sure II viii not do so now.
The good and fair-minded white
people, together with the intelligent
and loyal Negroes OF Dallas, are
daily working to better the condition
OF our race In this city. Just re-
Gently the city purchased park for
our people In south Dallas az a cost
OF $4,000, and we are informed that
plans are now being perfected to en-
large and improve two other parks
for us already owned by the NUM-
cipality. The city employs regularly
Colored trained nurse to look after
the INDECENT sick of the race and to
improve health condition. II also
employs regularly Colored welfare
amount of good along moral lines
where needed. The city and county
at several thousand dollars expense
are now making provisions at Wood
lawn Hospital 10 take care Of Negro
tuberculous patients. We are adj
vised that Col0red nurses will be en-
ployed to care for these patients.
The school board is planning to build
for us modern and well equipped
high school at cost of 100000.
The Federated Charities keeps en-
ployed an educated Colored woman
to work exclusively among the poor
and needy OF our race in Dallas A
netitl0n has been presented to the
library association asking that our
people be given library facilities, and
we are encouraged to believe that
this petition will in some way be
granted. The War Camp Community
Service maintains in East Dallas a
community house for the benefit OF
our race, without cost thus far
of one penny TO us. The Y. M. c. A.
of Dallas, without any request from
us. has kept employed for several
months q trained young Colored man
to work among the boys in their
teens Of our race teaching them
clean sports, right living and giving
them correct insight into life. This
work was started as an experiment
and 50 well pleased are the directors
Of the white Y. M. c. A., with the
results obtained that they yoluntari-
" made proposition to us to give
5000 70 continue this work for an
entire year. conditioned upon our
raising like amount, which we have
already done.
Conditions On the street cars be-
tween the races have hcen materially
improved by new regulations put into
effect and what Is now needed TO
make them quite satisfactory Is the
strict observance OF the law by both
reces and an impartial enforcement
~ same BY those IN authority. Fur
fhefInore. there exists Colored Well
fare Beard. appointed by the Mayor.
III take all questions affecting the I'M
fereats Of our race In tbs city. All