The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-06-11
NEW SOUTH GREAT CHANGE in ATTITUDE TOWARD NEGRO AC
- CORDlNN TO DES MONIES MAN

For the first time, as far as is known,
white men from the northern and south
EN- states and colored men from the
northern and southern states sat down
at Ground table, to discuss frankly y
methods of interracial cooperation and
to devine methods of more effectual and
closer relations,' said Elbert r. Hall,
president of the Des Moines Branch of
the ~ AZ. A. G.. p. who returned Satur-
day from Atlanta, Ga, where the
eleventh annual conference Of the Ma
tional Association for the Advancement
o. Colered People was held.
This history making symposium, ac-
cording to Mr.. Hall, was held on the
afternoon of the closing day of the
conference and was attended only by
the committee representing the "At-
lanta Plan Of Interracial Cooperation -
and a committee from the national as
sociation composed of Bishop John
Burst Of Baltimore, DR.. Ernest M. Gould
of Denver, Rev. Mordecai W. Johnson
of Charleston, w. ", Prof. Geo. N.
Towns of Atlanta, Elbert R. Hall of
Bagnali of Detroit, Mrs. G. Allen of
St. Louis, Hon. Harry H. Davis of
Cleveland, Hon. n. NJ! Hershaw of
Washington, d. c.. and Captain Arthur
B Spingarn, Mary White Ovington,
James Weldon Johnson, Walter F.
White, Rev. Byrne Gunner, Mrs. Flor
ence Kelley, DR.. w. E. B. Dubois and
Major Joel E. Spingarn of New York.
The "Atlanta Plan,' termed by the
colored speakers a step forward in
brin ging about closer and more helpful
relation between the races, was gener-
ally approved by the N. A. A. G. P.
committee land the hope was expressed
that other and bigger steps woAld be
taken to redeem the country From the
sins heaped upon it's colored citizens.
The following findings were adopted
by the "Atlanta Plan Interracial com
mittee:
"When we turn from the general to
the particular items Of our great task,
it is with the consciousness that the
supreme test of Christian democracy
will be found in the attitude of the
strong toward the weak. Therefore,
here in this southern portion of our re-
public, where the Negro, child race,
more than ten million strong dwell side
by side with the maturer civilization OF
the whites, the Christian church must
first Of all accept high and holy re
sponsibility for the future Of the weak
er race. It is with grateful hearts that
we look back upon the past years OF
our history and read an unmistakable
record of the expression Of the spirit OF
Christ written in the relationship of the
two races. Our white people have not
been wholly recreant to their obliga-
tion to the weaker race. Under politi-
cal and social conditions acutely uD.
favorable to mutual confidence and
fraternal comfy, southern whites have
maintained such social conditions as to
enable the Negro to make q record OF
advancement unmatched in the story OF
social progress. On the other hand,'-lt
must ever be remembered that nothing
but the influence of the Christ religion
has enabled the Negro race, IN the race
Of countless difficulties inevitable to the
upward struggle Of the weaker people,
to come thus far in their progress. But
we, of the white race, today frankly
face the fact that we have only made
a beginning of our task. Loyalty to our
lofty ideal of democracy, and to our
Master, who died that all might live,
demands that we shall not pause until
the Negro in America shall have JUS
tice equal to that of the white, and an
orportunitv for the full Development OF
the highest possibilities of his person
alitv. TO that end, we would acknowl-
edge and accept frankly and gladly
some specific obligations.
~. We would hereby pledge our
selves to use the full force Of our IN,
fuenee to see that in our courts, ana
throughout the entire legal procedure
full Justice shall be done the Negro: we
unqualifedly condemn lynchlng where
ever committed, as treason against our
democratic government, and as a GRIM
inal violation Of the rights OF citizens,
whether black or white. AS American
sitizens, we hereby commit ourselves
to use our unreserved influence TO nu'
stop tothis inexcusable crime, when
part of our nation.
s'2. That we recognize that in far
700 many communities and nclghbor-
hoods, the living conditions or the
Negro race-housing and sanitary pro,
visions-are far, below the standard
necessary for wholesome life. And we
here declare that it is an obligation up
or the conscience of the churches not TO
wait for. political or social movements
to rieht this wrong, but that the Chris
tian ORGANIZATIONS must lead the way
for an immediate radical change TOR
the better.
"Wc would also cali the definite
SYMPATHETIC attention of our people to
the unfair treatment which Negros re,
ceive in the provisions made Tor puo'le
travel. By every law of fairness and
every impulse of Christian chivalry' we
are in duty bound to see that they re-
ceive as courteous treatment ana as
safe and comfortable provisions as that
accorded the whites. -.
"a. Fundamental to all democratic
progress and Christian development, Is
the task of education. And while much
has been done out Of the past poverty
OF the south for the education OF the
Negro, we are still very far short or OF tne
full measure Of our obligatino. Chrls.
tian democracy does not ask now mucn
group or a class of its people haeu
been able to contribute to the common
r..4;.,.l ~, poro Column