Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-08-02


has been reorganized fn Richmond
and intends 10 drive out the Negro
eS.
Neither Of these rumors has ths
slightest Foundation in fact
! Every Negro who has purchased OF
rented house III Clay street. has 6
right i'll which he will be protected
Tue white people ofHRicmond VIII NJ
more permit Negroes she ousted III
lawfully from their homes than they
would allow themselves to be elected
without law. The whole idea is sc
oDsurd as scarcely to deserve ment-
ion.
AS for the reported revival OF the
l<u kluN Khan The News Leader be
gan an investigation of this rumol
the day after it was printed in the
c0lored paper the Richmond Planet
Our Investigation shows that the or
gant2ation which is popularity sup
posd to be the Khan is an assccia
ton, the avowcd objects of which are
very wide. The order stands for
Americanism and does not represent
the slightest threat to any lawabid
ing Negro or to any other citizen. This
is our conviction. But if at any FL
ture time the order should get under
the control Of men VINO would start
an improper agitation Of any sort we
should certainly call upon the cor
poration commission TO rcNthb it's
charter. We regard such contingen
cy, however, as remote in the OK.
trcme because the membership Of the
order as anyone can ascertain is
made up Of men whom. every rcpu-.
table citizen would be willing to
trust.
The News Leader does not cherish
the dclusion that the exposure OF
these rumors will put an end to
them. A lie always outruns the truth
We know OF Richmond Negroes, wor
thy OF al trust, who believe these
absurd stories to be founded on fact
and who, in consequence are talking
of leaving Richmond. We know or
cases where Richmond Negroes who
arc honest workmcn arc afraid to
come home because. they have heard
these wild reports. Every night, as
the police and the white. citizens
know perfectly well from intelligent
sources, groups gather in tic colored
districts and discuss these, rumors.
The result is that while decent color
ed people are urging the unruly to
keep their heads, the Ignorant are
excited and the vicious arg threaten
ing Among the Negroes, us among
the Whites there are thus two class
cs--tIiose' who seek to prevent and
those who seek to fomcnt race trou
bles: IN
Determined that the good sense
and good will Of the better classes
shall prevail, Richmond people have
agreed upon very definite policy.
The precise details Of this we shall
not Of course, disclose; the main
facts should be set down here and
now that every many may understand
Richmond, is to do, strict Justice, but
is to impress with the utmost seyeriay
every disturbance. If white rowdfes
pick n: quarrel with Negroes, they
are to, be punished instantly. IT Me-
Croess should: start trouble, precisely
the same punishment will he metcd
out to- them. The News Leader OK
poets Colonel Myers to instruct his
men to shoot without hesitation IN
to the ranks of any mob that may
start. We expect him to use all the
reserve forces az his command ana
to continue ms long ms may be noe
essary the prudent arrangements
made in recent days. We expect. HIM
further, to keen tho machine guns
supplied with abundant ammunition
and in perfect order rs at present,
so that If trouble starts in any street
the machine guns may be -br0ught up
instnatry in the waiting motor trucks
and after warning has been given
can be used to sweep the street from
end to end. We endorse all tho dircc
tor has done in preparing to use IRE
apparatus but we are frank to say
We do not expect him to stop With
water. IL any mob opens fire. Fortu
nntcly we need not call upon him TO
avoid the mistake made in Washing
ton Of placing a singlclOIficcr or a
single sentry son n street cor ncr: we
have enough forces ut hand to throw
n Gordon around any district wherc
disorder may start and then to sconr
every, street and every alley.
But above all else, Richmond peo
pic insist that precisely the same
treatment be measured out TO all
that may attempt trouble. The Ne
groes should understand that If their
undesirable elements start riotng'
tho ample forces at hand will put
them down instantly and. without
mercy. But the Negroes should like
wise understand that If they should
be the objects Of an unproVoked al
tack, the men who assail them will
be handled with equal severity The
equal. protection of the law can De
afforded every man, whit or colored
The News Leader has gone into
this subject fully and frankly, not
because we expect trouble-that can
easily he handled-but because we
do not wish the thousands Of self re
specting Negro citizens who have
done their duty to labor under tho
fear that Richmond people WILL al
low them to be mfstreated. Self dc
Tense will be no excuse for rowdyisn'
til law in Richmond is strong enough
to he every mans defense.
Richmond, Va. News Leader.
FULTON NOTES.