The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-07-16
TAKE FIRM STAND ON RACIAL
AMuTY.
Council of Colored Churches MeetL
ing i'm Houston Officially Discour-
ages Foolish Talk Among Their
People.

Austin, Texas, July 14.-"The
dominant race, the white people.
have been our friends and are still
our friends. We wisk to put our
selves on record as discourasing any
foolish talk, speech or propaganda
on the part of our people who in
iluence or tend to array our peo-
pie against the white people"
SO states a resolution adopted by
the ministers of the inter-denomi-
national council of Colored church
es which has just concluded its
monthly meeting in Houston at the
Fourth Missionary Baptist Church
Watts Chapel at Bowling Street
and Lamar Avenue. The resolution
unanimously adopted, is a ringing
plea for amity between the races.
1t is signed by Revs. ]. H. Douglas.
president of the council; Robert w.
Wells, secretary; S. w. Johnson and
&. b. Young. 1t is as follows:
We, the ministers of the inter
denominational council, wish to ex-
press ourselves to the public, know
ing the conditions that have lately
obtained between the two races.
Authorized to Speak.
LAS leaders of the people, we take
this method of stating that we rep
resent 10000 Negro citizens of
Houston. AS the spiritual advisors,
counselors and leaders of our people,
we feel that we do not over step
the mark when we act as spokes-
men for the Negroes of this city
when mischief is afoot, and the
good feeling, peace and happiness
of both races of this city are I'M
periled.
1--WE are jealous of the fame and
reputation off Houston, at home and
abroad.
1--WE are proud of the imperial
City of Houston, where Is railroads
meet the sea whose port furnishes
tonnage to the shops of all nations, a
mighty commercial mart, rr'ogres-
sive, forward-looking and law-abid-
ing with her proud educational in
situations and church spires pointing
heavenwRrd-we are proud of the
fact that this mighty city of the
Southwest can boast of the fact thai
it has never had lynching to maj
its good name, nor sully its fame
For law and Order.
Eve rejoice in the fact that this
is city has stood unreseveredly fol
law and order, for good government
as opposed to lynch law and moi
law.
I'VE rejoice that the community
has stood for the Christian Sabbath
the reign of righteousness and spirit
ual enlightenment and development
as the mute witnesses of her church
spires will testify.
eve rejoice that Houston has
stood for the public school, college
and university-in fine, for all those
influences that enlighten, uplift, ele-
vate and ennoble a people.
I'VE rejoice in the fact that the
feeling between the races has been
one of mutual kindness and SYM
patty, that the dominant race, the
white people, have been our friends
and are still our friends.
"As Christian ministers and
spokesman of our people, we wish
TO say that we stand solidly for har-
mony and good will between the
races; that we shall use our influ-
ence to the utmost to promote this
good will and kindly feeling be-
tween our racial group and white
peopIe.
Foolish Talk Discouraged.
1--WE wish to nut ourselves on record
as discouraging any foolish talk
speech or propaganda on the part OF
our people, who influence or tend
to AIRY our people against the
white people.
1--WE wish here and now to re-
cord our conviction that the good
will of the white people of this
community is an asset to our peole
therefore we shall encourage it by
every legitimate means at our dis
posal; that. the ill-will of the white
people to our race would be a liza
bility and a calamity which we shall
discourage in public and private by
our good conduct, and our cultiva-
ton Of the goodwill and friend
ship of our good friends the white
people.
"If the good white people of our
city will accept the olive branch
which we extend to them we would
humbly suggest that Houston follow
the example of some other Southern
communities and form an inter-
racial committee to promote har-
mony and goodwill between the
races, thrash out any mieunderstand-
ings that may arise, and squelch
the troble-makers and breeders OF
racial strife, thereby furnishing the
ounce of prevention and forestalline
the pound of cure.
What Has Been Accomplished.
"These inter-racial committees
have promoted fine and splendid ra-
cial fellowship and goodwill
throughout the state - Tennessee
while the white men of light and
leading of Atlanta are meeting with
law abiding and intelligent Negroes
in inter-racial committees that are
paving the way for a mutual I'M
Outstanding between both groups.
1.-The great trouble between us ts
the better classes of white people
and the better classes Of CoIored
people are really and in truth al
most strangers to each other It is
our desire and prayer to God that
We may become better acquainted
1--WE beg to assure our good white
friends that we are willing to meet
them more than half way in any
progress they may suggest to pro-
mote goodwill and harmony be-
tween the races. We have every