The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-03-19
PROMOTION OF RACIAL PEACE.
Committees Being Organized Through
=. out the South, ..

out SOuln'
Fifty counties in Tennessee have
been completely organized by the
state interracial committee by which
Nashville has secured enforcement OF
street car rules, park recreational ia
yer to represent Negroes in the coun-
ty Memphis has adopted a special
program to suppress lawlessness and
raised 100000 to back it, and Gov.
Roberts instituted his famous law
and order campaign. Inter-racial
work in the state is led by such men
as Edwin Minis, professor vanderbilt
Biscuit company; w. d. Weatherford,
president Southern Association coll
lege; O. L. Goddard, secretary home
mission board; eX-Mayor T. G. Thomp-
son, of Chattanooga; Col. Roam War
ring, OF Memphis, and A. b. Rich
ardson, state secretary of the Y. M
c. A.
Compact organization of interraciall
commissions, under the auspices of
an interstate interracial commission,
with headquarters in Atlanta. has
been effected in Hamilton county,
with eX-Mayor T. c. Thompson in
Charge. according to a report sent
out by John J. Reagon, manufactur-
err and philanthropist Of Atlanta, who
is chairman of the southern interra-
cial committee. The purpose of this
organization is to advance the cause
of Justice for the Negroes, to mini
Lmize the dangers Of racial troubles
and to promote peace between the two
races throughout the south; B9th
white and Negro leaders are included
in the local organizations and my
of the ninety-six counties of the state
have been organized to date.
The report of organization in Ten
nessee, as furnished by Mr.. Reagon,
contains the following regarding the
larger counties:
Davidson County (Nashville)-
ed. Definite action in the matter of
better enforcement of street car rules,
promise of commission on city parks
to provide better recreational facih-
ties, steps taken for appointment of
regular lawyer to obtain justice in
the courts, especially in the police
courts. Several frank discussions by
members of the point committee of
other aspects of the question took
! place. Universal observance by
| week."
Hamilton County Chattanooga
Strong committee at work with T. G..
Thompson. leading business man and
racial situation commanding his ut
most attention
Knox County NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ly supported committees hold fire.
quent joint meetings. DR.. Edwin Minis
and r. h. Clay (col) both have visit
ed Knoxville frequently and have been
| impressed with the noteworthy i'm
provement since the trouble in Sept.
| 1919. The chairman of the two COM
mittees are men of strong power and
leadership and are in entire sympathy
with the program of the interracial
committee. The resolutions adopted
by the faculty and students of the
University of Tennessee were strong
in their utterances on interracial rel
| ationships and had a fine influence
throughout the state.
| Shelby County (Memphis)
tees are made up of strong men in
the city, Special Secretary ]. X.
Morrison employed to give his en-
tire time to the program 100000
raised for the work next year. Def
mite organization under Col. Roam
Warning for suppression of lawless-
ness. Entire program of inter-racial
committee adopted.
/" The interracial committee has at
tempted to discover the real desires
of the Negro and has tabulated its
conclusions as follows:
(a) The ballot.
) (b) The abolition of the Jim Grow
(c) Justice before the law. includ-
ing the prevention of lynching and
race. riots and other denials of lega'
~(d) ADEQUATE educational facilities
| (el Sanitary housing and living
conditions.
Cf) Fair treatment in the way OF
pubic improvements.
CD Recreational facilities.
CHI Economic justice.
In short, the same opportunity &c
grow and develop along lines enjoy,
ed by his white brother. He does not
want social equality. However, or
the minds of all Negroes the war has
had disturbing effect. More than one
hundred thousand Negroes, eX-servict
men, who formerly lived in the south
have become dissatisfied and for q
while moved to the great cities OF
the north.
Mr.. Reagon states that with these
findings before the committee there
was but one course to follow, that
of formulating a program on which
the best whites and Negroes coulc
be brought to cooperate, and work
ing earnestly and wisely toward it,
fulfillment
The program adopted is as follows
l. Justice before the law, to in
clude prevention of lynching and 9th
err denials of legal justice to the Ne
gro.
2. Adequate educational facilities
3. Sanitary housing and living con-
I. Recreational facilities.
/. Economic justice.
6. Equality of travelling facilities