The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-05-03

A Lynching in Washington as
VeUed by a White Woman

my hlnt sStdy AudteS, my ualty companion
on my walks to and from school was
a dark skinned, kinky headed little girl
| dimly remember kindly" disposed
neig who dropped In to enlighten
my mother l clearly see my abolition
ist mother put on her bonnet. cross the
lot to make a social call upon the child
mother. Evidently she came away sat
isied. for my companionship with this
little dark skinned friend was undis-
turbed. | was born without race preiu-
dice, | was brought up without race
prejuo zee, l have lived for nearly four
years in Washington. southern in its
sentiment, without race prejudice. But
God forgive me, during these past few
weeks | have come perilously near
knowing the meaning of those words
And why? What is it | have seen
that has come so near TO upsetting the
traditions OF IA life time?
| have attended two mass meetings
of the Parents League recently or
ganized in Washington with the
avowed and ostensible purpose of rid
ding the schools of all the immoral
teachers" Large sums of money, hun
dreds of dollars have been collected to
pay lawyers fees and to hire detectives
for the work.
These meetings have been held In the
church OF God-~opened with prayer and
under the very eyes of God, | have seen
lynching take place. Men and women
of the colored race. 1 tell you it was a
hideous sight The victim was no
dark skinned man torn to pieces by the
hands of white mob, but a white
souled. dark skinned woman torn to
pieces by the tongues OF her own race.
And when, unable to endure it, | went
upon the platform facing those thou
f.fI I.,, yl.,I 20. .
chairman, a minister's wife, my calling
card together with my husbands
washington correspondent for the
New York Nation) and begged to be
allowed to speak five minutes from
that platform, my request was fatty
refused.
And in that great audience others
rose to speak in her defense. but they
were not allowed. One man had def
mite communication from the board of
education stating that only one teacher
in the schools of Washington had had
any connection with the Moens' case,
and she had been called in only as a
witness. These zealots after righteous
ness would not permit this commUnica-
ton to be read!
Righteousness q Certainly not yea T.
lots after truth, for one of the leaders
openly declared that while they meant
side of the question should be heard!
Let the others Mre hall"
Lies we're told@Nsds-saona~liaS.- and no
one was permitted to rise In his place
to deny them. An old man dribbled
obscenities and the chairman did not
stop him. An editor of one of the col
ored papers, at each weekly meeting.
made the sane promises. what he could
and would publish. tickling the lmagi
loving of his audience. but up to
= 3 present hour his promises remain
unfulfilled.
But the meetings continue; the
money pours in; and all for what? To
get rid of teachers that are not there
To so twist this calamity which has
fallen upon the colored community of
Washington. through the perfidy of one
white man, as TO make 1T the occasion
for a political campaign against the
assistant superintendent of schools To
so blacken the character of a blamelcSs
woman. the innocent victim of a per
fidious wretch, that nowhere. through
out the country, shall she be able to
earn her bread--if their avowed pur
poses are successful!
They will not be. Charlotte Hunter
walks the streets of Washington her
head unbowed, for she knows her own
innocence. And furthermore, she knows
there Is no man or woman, white or
black. who has ever known her who
credits for one moment one scintllla
of the lies that have been told.
Signed Josephine Redfield Hallinan.
cake was served in the mess hall
Chaplain Heilman has also been con-
ducting classes in reading, writing,
arithmetic and shorthand. In his
shorthand course (Paragon. he says
some Of the more Industrious colored
men learn to write any word legibly
in seven one-hour lessons. They re
anxious TO learn IN all the branches
taught, and are. for the most part, apt
pupils.
A group of pa tr.otic young women
a dozen or more in number-salled for
France a few days ago to do canteen
work in the camps where colored sol
diers are stationed. They went under
the direction Of the War Work Council
of the Y. NJ. G. A.
In the recent United War Work
drive the Negroes of Tennessee were
asked 10 raise $3.50, 900. They succeed
ed in raising over 100000. Telling
speeches in advocacy of this movement
were made by Dr. y. u. Shamborger
pastor of the NJ. T.. Church at Chatta-
no0ga; Henry Allen Boyd and J. G. Ma
pier, of Nashville, and many others Of
AXE prominence.
Assurance has been given the War
Department by the National Y. W G.
A. that the coiored Hostess House at
Camp Pike VIII be continued thruout
the period OF rehabilitation This Is
regarded as a very fitting recognition
OF the energetic service 0f the colored
people In the vicinity Of Little Rock
Araknsas. who have shown the largest
measure OF loyalty in the matter Of
men furnished 10 the army, in sub
scriptions to Liberty Bonds and in the
purchase Of War Savings Stamps and