The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1922-04-29
DR.. C. Y. ROMAN
DELIVERS ANNUAL ADDRESS
OF THE N. A. A. c. p. TAKING FOR
HIS SUBJECT "BACK TO TAW,"
By Chas. M. Tucker.

The National Association for the
Advancement Of Colored People
yearly presented, DR.. C.. V. Roman,
physician, writer, and philosopher,
who spoke to a large and apprecia-
tive audience at the Peoples church
Sunday evening, April %, on the SUBJ
ject, "Back to Taw." Previous to the
explanation Of his subject by DR.. Ro-
man, there had been some conjecture
as to it's meaning. So pronounced
had this been that the president Of
the local branch voiced his inability
Of comprehension during his welcome
remarks. However, all conjectures
were entirely wiped away after the
speaker had concluded his address.
DR.. Roman, however, defined his sub
iect as meaning the line or mark
from which players Of marbles had
to shoot. In case they shot wrong,
they had to go "back to taw."
DR.. Roman informed his hearers
that he was not a doctor of divinity,
but a physician; and, while he was
only layman in the church, he felt
manity will have to be solved by re-
that man, being inferior to animals in
physical composition and endurance,
has only reached the stage Of his su-
premacy by his ability to reason and
his power to think
Turning to the Bible, the passage
was read: "And We shall know the
truth and the truth shall make you
Free" Centering his address around
that text, DR.. Roman vigorously be-
gan pointing out the limitations of
our government and commented upon
the grounds on which this country
has entered all wars. "We preach
one thing" he said, "and practice an
other. When you draw up docu-
ment or a contract and leave out
something you want to put in, you
make what is called Supplement- "
In the mind Of the speaker, the war
of 1863 was a supplement" to the
war Of 1776. Continuing, DR.. Roman
said that the grounds on which
America entered the war of 1776,
and supplemented by the war Of 1863,
in so far as it affected the black man,
was later declared unconstitutional
by the Supreme Court. eve make
laws" it was stated, Ito ease our con-
sciences and break them to satisfy
our appetites." Men was also made
of the treatment accorded the colored
after the recent world war; how
America went in as the 'heralds Of
freedom and justice, self-determina-
ton and to make the world safe for
democracy, and, as soon as the war
was over, soldiers were mobbed with
their uniforms on" ..-. .-.-. E..
DR.. Roman made a strong plea for
the economic privileges of the colored
man, especially those pertaining to a
right for livelihood and the essential
accommodations irt ftraveling. Con-
corning the right to earn decent liv-
ing, the. speaker said: every man
that is born on earth has the same
right to live as any other man has.
Every man has the same right to life.
liberty and the pursuit Of happiness
The vicissitudes through which our
government has come, it was thought,
from one war to another, as they in
t1uence the life Of the colored man,
keep America "going back to taw''
rather than according him the rights
and privileges that are due all citi-
Zens. Or. Roman felt that the chief
trouble with the American form Of
government was that it has too many
reservations toward the right. ssThe
world at large" the speaker said, els
short on freedom, Justice and fair
play"
In closing his address, DIR. Roman
recommended to his hearers his pro.
gram which newspaper men have
come to call his eight Word Philo.
sophv Of Life" s.Enow myself;
control myself; deny myself and re.
spect thyself."
Comment is still heard relative tt
the timeliness of DR.. Romans adj
dress. Many of the things touched
upon in the course of his address.
were of Importance and the manner
in which they were presented no
only indicated that the speaker j.
rightly recognized as writer and !:
philosopher. but that he has a com
prehensive knowledge Of the economi,
and political situation throughout tn,
country.
Before the meeting began. musi