The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-12-30
TELLS G. 0. p. LYNCHING COMMIS-
SION is NOT NECESSARY.
New York, n y.


Proposal by Republican Senator
to institute commission for the
purpose of investigating lynching in
the United States has elected sharp
letter to senator FTrelinghuysen,
author Of the resolution. from James
Weldon Johnson, Secretary of the
National Association for the Advance
ment OF Coiored People. In which
notice Is served that a substitute for
the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill win not
be acceptable to colored people.
Mr.. Johnson's letter asserts that
the essential facts concerning lynch
ing in America are known throughout
the world, that a commission TO "in-
vestigate" viii be interpreted only as
plan to delay action and to "lull
the nation and the Negro with false
hopes The letter in full Is as fol-
lows
December 81. 1922.
Hon Joseph S. Frelinghuysen.
United States Senate,
Washington. ID. G.
My Dear Senator Frelinghuysen:
wish to confirm my telegram OF
today as follows:
Your letter with enclosure received.
Have given the matter careful study.
| Am writing you giving reasons why
We do not consider proposed mea-
sure adequate request that you
delay action until you receive my
letter
have carefully examined your pro-
/ posed Joint Resolution establishing
commission for the purpose OF con-
Quoting general inquiry into the
subject OF lynchings In the United
States, including the number occur
ring and the causes thereof.
| We would interpose no active op-
position TO any steps leading towards
the adjustment Of the crime OF
llynehing, but the Natiopl Ass0cia-
ton for the Advancement Of CoIored
People in this case SIS IN half dozen
similar proposals in the past Is un-
able to see any necessity whatso-
ever for a such commission. nor
can we endorse the proposed mea-
sure as a substitute for the Dyer Anti
| Lynching Bill Such commission
as you propose could gather only
statistics and facts such as have
already been presented by this AS
scciation and other agencies and
which have been repeatedly and at
great length read into the Congress
sionai Record, where they are avail
abe to the United States Senate as
well as to other citizens,
The essential facts in regard TO
lynching are well known and undis-
puted. The gathering of such facts
for an additional year would have
no appreciable effect upon the ques-
ton. We would, therefore. view this
commission plan, with its year OF
Investigation. only as a further delay
to the one thing we believe to be
essential in the circumstances, and
that is Legislation giving the Federal
Government jurisdiction where states
fail. as they have failed in the past
thirty-flve years. to secure to persons
accused OF crime trial by due pro
cess OF law, or to prosecute and
punish members OF mobs.
This commission plan, therefore.
seems calculated only to delay action
or lull the nation and the Negro
with false hopes.
4 The National Association for the
Advancement OF Colored People will
not be actively interested in a COM
mission TO investigate lynching.
Rather. we insist upon a revision OF
the Senate rules Of procedure and
the passage OF the Dyer Anti-I4yneh-
ing Bill
Yours very truly,
4 JAMES WELDON JOHNSON
Secretary.