Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-01-03
COMMERCIAL CLUB PROMOTES
lNTEK-KACIaL GOOD WILL.

Nashville, Tcnn.--A committee on
Race Relationships, appointed by Nash
FlilcS Commerce al Club, has work cd
out 4 simple, practicable plan as ro
markablc Ill its way as that of the
McmphlS Chamber of Commerce
which promises to reduce racial fric
'l"h III ms city to Il minimum. 1t is
well worth the attention of other cit
les.
INC commit &C composed If fifteen
prominent white men, conferred with
number Of leading Negroes who
were asked as III Memphis to forum
iaic definite program of dcsirohlc
local procedure. At later mcnt;ny
'h'S was presented and adopted unan
lmousiy by the white committee. II
covers six poin.s:
humane treatment by the police
when arrests are made, with fair ana
impartial trial at the petty city
court and the deputy magistratc's
'our'' correction Of unfair discrimi-
nation on street cars whereby color
Cd passengers do not receive tho
same treatment as is given white pas
ScnEorS; equal salaries in schools and
equal wages for equal work: imnroyo
mcnt and development of parks and
Fairgrounds for colorcd people: cour
'couS treatment at railway Ticket Off
ces, tax receivers Office and all pub-
lie Offices where Negroes msi 90 in
attending to routine business affairs
u correction OF unkind statements I'm
the rrcsS, with suppression of unsub
st;ntI&tr" stories OF Negro crimes
y 81 committee Of three was ap
pointed Oh each of these points. Mon
cy MS provided for the cinN1ovmont
OF white counsel for one wear. who
VIII G''c his entire time to petty court
t proceedings and who will with tho
sub, committee on that sccti,n ;r,o,.,;
/" treatment of l<terccs by police
an Sh"riHS assessments of fines and
3 hiilS OF costs, and garrishment law
les.
/ a series of meetings will be hold
at the Commercial Club. bcyiunrnr
WIN the city officials including Nv,
chlel OF police, the city Judge and :,
h"il'ocr OF policemen who will be
inc guests of the white committees
Later The strcctCar officials and no
many motormcn and conductors rs
possible will be invited. There will
also be meeting with city rcpor;ors
and editors. At each Of these moor
i'sS inc entire program Of the Club
committee will be outlined.
probably the chief thing of i'm
poftancc that has yet been accom-.
pllshed,' says the chairman, isl that
fifteen busy men are greatly intcr-.
ested as we'll rs deeply concerned in
'hese matters, and are willing to
make an open fight for fair dealing
with the colorcd people. There is a
genuine desire on the part of every
tmber of this committee of white
men to bring about a speedy corrcc
ton of these matters that have here
tofore rarely If ever been Thought q,
as existing"
rms last sentence adds point &c
, thc urgency Of the Federal Council
CT Churches the u. S. Department
OF Labor; the Y. M. c. A. and otbe,
civic and religious agencies for tbc
formation of committees of both rae
es IN cities; towns; and counties
which may meet toge her from time
TO time and learn more about loca1
needs and tho often simple things
FOR lack of which bitterness between
the races grows. Black and white as
we'll as rich and poor each half needs
to know in democracy how tho 9th
Ter half lives.