Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-09-30
KNOCKING RICHMOND
MIR. WHITES LETTER.

MIR. WHITES LETTER.
The following Is copy Of the letter
gent out to members Of the B. P. o. OF
Elks and which is said to have defeat.
ed the efforts OF the local lodges II,
have the Grand Lodge meet here next
year.
Richmond. Va, Aug. IA, 1922.
Dear Brother:
"You are aware Of tho fact, no
doubt, that am one OF the commit
tee on extending an invitation to the
HGrand Lodge. I. b. p. o. 10. OF w. !,
converting at Newark, N. J. August
22nd to 25th, 1922, to come to
Richmond, Va, August 1923. I beg
to say that after realizing the oath
of my office taken at Boston, Mass
1921, l cannot deceive the trust
placed upon mo by tho Grand Lodge
via (promoFng the welfare and In
terest OF our Order.) cannot con-
scientiously invite you to my home
town without frat enlightentng you
with the privileges Of my people
extended by the whites.
"1. The capital OF the Southern
Confederacy. .....
"2. No place Of interest in the city
but for white people only.
"3. We can entertain from 1 to
1000 of our people at any time, but
what would We do with $4,000 or
more?
81. Must you come here simply
to spend your money with no security
from assaults and insults?
"5. Ono of our Heading citizens,
Hon. John Mitchell, Jr., Editor Of
Richmond Planet and President Of
Mechanics Savings Bank, was placed
in the police patrol and carried over
the city for simply standing on the
corner, asking the cause Of an excite
ment.
&c. The Honorable Monroe Trot-
ter spoke here recently at the City
Auditorium and was told what he
must say and what he could not say
to our people in Richmond,
az. Since the n. a. A. c. p. and
other Leagues are fighting the UNI
just causes, how can we Envite the
Grand Lodge and these people to
share the treatments heaped upon us
that wo, ourselves dislike as citizens
and tax payers.
IS. Some Of the b. p. o. e. here
say invite you here, while others
think that It might divide peace and
harmony.
80. Ex-Governor II. 9. Stuart said
the white people here will continue
to Ike the colorod people as long
as they know and, stay in their places
Please define this.
40. Our Brothers Of the Mystic
Shrine here have discontinued wear
ing emDlems, urged so to do recent
ly.
al. All previous cities accepted
by the Grand Lodge as meeting place
even Norfolk, Va, had tho balancing
power (thc Negro vote) which we
are deprived Of since we lost our
political influence Gold, Jackson
Wardl by some Of them who are
inviting the Grand Lodge here.
"12. Arc you to sacrifice and fold
your manhood rights, privileges, n
berries, customs and opinions and
leave them at the National Capital
until you return from here?
"13s Recpntly hundreds OF our
people We're made homeless by the
city opening boulevard to reach
the white suburb easily without any
provisions by tho city; some COM
PEELED, to return to the country after
many years living here, while others
found places in Clay Street, which
was opened to our people by real
estate agents at a rate Of SO to rs
per cent. increased rent Or sale.
GA. II you select Richmond, Va.
for 1922 then don't complain ts-
pesinlly when you soc some OF OIL.
leading mon with their hats off
scratching their heads, while talking
to the white man.
"Respectfully yours in G. J. B. l.
JOHN 2. WHITE,
"Grand Esteemed Leading Knight
@'Elks' Home,
r1Oo2 N Second ST -