Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-12-20
SATURDAY DECEMBER 30. 1919
NEGRO ORGANIZATION SOCIETY
AND THE SYAIIG TIGACHlSltS
ASSOCIATION.

sound doctrine TO an audience OF both
races al the close OF tho Negro Organl-
zation Society and tho State Teachers
Association. Fully 1000 people fill
ed tho city audi orium. Major Allen
Washington, presided and music WAS
furnished by the Community Chorus
under tho direction Of Prof, ii. A. M.
Johns.
The first speaker was DR.. James
e. Gregg, prime pal of Hampton lnsti-
tute whose address was inspiration
and helpful information % tho race.
1t was message OF good cheer com
ing from n man whose life had been
largely spent in Mass, and who had
but recently taken up work in the
South. In his introductory remarks
lie showed that every great war had
heen followed by unrest and discon-
tent and after tracing such unrest ana
discomfort down % tho present. lie
condemned lawlessness. crime and
,criminulity.
"Thc lawless man, whether white
or black" said DIR. Gregg. "is the enc
my to socie'y and must be restrained
and pushed for tho sake Of the whole
community.
If tho cure for such evils-lynch-
ing In particular can be accomplished
through local agencies. by all means
let 1t 10 dono 60. But II not tho
time SEEMS ripe for the adoption OF
the course suggested by tho Atlanta
CONSTITUTION and tho Houston Post.
The first named paper declares. Sun
day In he face Of the recent assaults
upon the Law and tho courts, from
the East ST. Louis riot down to the
shedding blood in Omaha. Tho time
has como when 1t is incubent on the
Federal government % assume jurts-
diction and set its hand to the task of
stamping out the spirit Of outlawry
in which the STAG aud local authori
ties have manifested their inability
to contend.
The Post believes that the half cen
tury old lynching problem Ia about
Ia paes from the Jurisdiction OF state
authority into the domain of Federal
action. Surely in the light Of n half
century Of lynchings in which tho
victims have ,heen numbered by the
thousands. the failure OF the STATE
must be confessed.
II believe that the time Is swiftly
approaching when We all. white and
black alike shall freely and gladly
help one another, serve one another
in making this ancient commonwealth
and this whole broad land Of ours
part Of the worldwide Divine domin
ion OF brotherhood and freedom OF
mercy. Justice of peace and good will
Dr. Motion was given an ovation by
the large audience when he was in
.troduced by ono OF the leading educa
tors Of Virginia, MI. Davis. He said
in part:
Our great country Is passing
through the most trying situation
that it has been called upon to meet
misunderstanding. bitterness and
strife among men, races and classes
in our country than has faced it for
many years. We are In the midst Of
\ period which requires greatest sani
ty and good judgment: period which
calls for men Of fai h and men or
courage-faith in themselves, faith
IN other classes end races. faith in
the ultimate triumph Of righteous
ness.
Here in the south the question that
IS uppcrmost in our minds is one Of
race relation: whether black and
white people can live in peace and
harmony and in mutual helpfulness
toward each other. whether there is
nat'enre enough. unsclfshness enough,
democracy and christianity enough TO
accomplish this great end OF helpful
human relationship.
like the Negro Organization So
c.ety because through it colored peo-
PIE have been able to Talk directly
ana frankly to white people and
through it they can say things that are
nearest their hearts to the people
who have mos to do with tho maxi
ing and the execution OF the laws.
The time has come when we as race
leaders In the south must cease talk
ing about each other and must endeav
or moro and moro to talk to each
her; and the time has como. also
when We must be willing to listen to
each other. There neyor was \ time
when white peor'e and colored PEG
pie were more Hing to talk and to
listen to zach other more dispassion
ately han today.
The Negro is as loyal to his coun
try and to the south AZ any group In
tho country and Re is as loyal to the
Southern people as any one in the
south and the large majori Of them
reed the south End the south needs
them and cannot get along without
them. No group OF people in Amert-
ca as separate and as dstinc. rs Is
true OF my people made 90 little trou
nj" and have submitted, Themselves to
the laws and custom. oven when
many or them were considered I'm.
h'h than have tho twelve million Ne
groes in America. II there were as
many foreign laborers In tho south
today AZ there are Negro I.hnrers, n
thew had to force conditions az Is
SO frequently true in tho case Of Ne