The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-01
SEGREGATION ANSWER
c. c. Crockett of Topeka Takes En-
ception to Sparks Bill
Editor State Journal:

Editor State Journal:
1 have been requested to publicly |
express my opinion of the Segregation |
bill, presented in the senate by MI |
Sparks and in the house by Mr.. |
Yount. 1 am not quite certain ,hat
L can find words in the English IAN
guage that will adequately express my
utter disa pproval of any law founded
on principles of injustice, purposing 10
deprive part of its citizens OF the
public rights which it should guar
antee unto all. Any law or custom
which segregates infringes upon the
public rights of any American citizen
is unjust, un-American. undem ocratic
and entirely out of harmony with the
spirit of unanimity in which al classes.
races and nationalities of American
citizens responded to the voice OF their
chosen leader, who on the sixth day
of April in 1917 signed a declaration
of war on nation that practiced
ruthless and unjustiiable destruction
of human life.
American citizens of all classes and
professions, rich and poor. rightly rec
ognizing their interest in common,
with quickened conscience of human
ity, and the undying declaration, that
the world must be made safe for de-
mocracy, stood unanim ously behind
their president, upon the principles OF
the hopes and aspirations of all who
stand against tyranny. despotism. seq
regation and oppression. At this no
mefltous hour of reconstruction, let no
one of the ITO millions who go to
| make up our population strive to in
duce any legislative body to pass any
| law which is foreign to the principles
upon which this nation stands. A
principle of justice TO all. The broth
erhood of man upon the fatherhood of
God.
| 1t is important that a unanimous
/ stand be taken in the work of recon-
! struction, as it was during those dark
and desperate days before our boys
had stemmed the tide, which threaten
| ed to send civilization into the abyss,
our soldiers and the soldier of our
allies, had fought on and on with the
passion in their souls that glowed with
the light of crusaders, that when vic
| tory had been won, the peace that
| God intended men should enjoy would
| be vouchsafed to them for the future:
and that this would be made certain
| on the desperate and bloody battle
| fields of France. The sublime vision
was not alone the desire and pas
! sionate hope of determined souls who
! wore the uniforms of our country and
| those of our allies; but it was Just as,
deep rooted and intense in the heart
| of every loving mother, whose boy
was over there or going there and of
every father and brother and sister
and wife and sweetheart. In the
| hearts of countless millions was the
passionate longing that this war must
J be the end of wars.
| Let every American citizen stand
| firmly upon this humane principle and
safeguard it by giving unto others
| every right that belongs to them and
by learning the art of living with
others. There are different races and
| nationalities comprising our citizen
ship and there always will be, and
/ their public rights before the law. can
not justly be other than one. Then,
underlying all other attainments and
| accomplishments, the art of living
| with others, is the most important of
| all achievements.
1t was a noble tribute which
mother paid to her daughter on her
wedding night when she said to the
young husband, IT think you will find
Mary easy to live with" May this be
| true of American citizens. The late
Colonel Roosevelt said: There should
be no hyphenated citizenship" This
is right, all should just be American
citizens. Neither should there be any
hyphenated laws passed, but just laws
for all American citizens.
It is not segregation that is needed
in Galena, or elsewhere. 1t is a right
disposition toward others. Let the
citizens of Galena, both white and
black, that they may live together in
| peace, READ Peter S.S-1b, Matt. 1:12.
Put yourself in his place read Gal
6:1-2. When Abraham and Lott were
journeying together and differences
arose, Abraham said: Let there be
no strife, I pray there, between me
and thee" This should be the cry of
all American citizens
1 am firm in the belief that our
present broad and aggressive Cover
nor Allen, our present senate and
house of representatives will. as did
our own illustrious Senator Capper,
countenance nothing less than this
pure principle of harmony. equal
rights and justice to all This prin-
ciple of harmony and proper regard
for the rights of others should be
taught IN the homes. in the churches,
in the schools and by the press. And
should be upheld and backed by this
great government of ours, who have
| power to command our sons to cross
the ocean. and with the bayonet teach
, right and justice, cut down the op-
l pressor, and put an end 10 his oppres-
: sion.
. Surely this great government can
protect its citizens at home from the
heel of the oppressor. A democracy