Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-04-28
LOUISIANA WOMEN DECLARE LYNCH|NG IS
MEXCUSAbLE AND WILL WORK FOR JUSTICE
THROUGH STATE RELATIONS COMMITTEE

IAN important Slep III the
ern movement for better race rela-
lions was taken in New Orleans March
21-23, when more than forty of Louist
anas prominent women-leaders in
religious and civic organiZations-met
to study the situation formulated a
vigorous statement in behalf of good
will and justice between the races, and
accepted membership in the Louisiana
Race Relations Committee. DECLARING
their belief that Christian principles
offer the only solution of race problems
and that the South is today the cru
cial testing ground" of these prince
pies, they pledged their support TO the
effort to secure for Negroes as well as
for whites the protection of law and
1.-The privileges and conditions to
which they are entitled as citizens.
such as sanitation lighting and grad
ing of streets, better housing condi
tions," and other civic advantages.
One OF the strongest paragraphs in
the paper is that relative to lynchine
which is as follows: I've register
herewith our protest against the bar
baric custom of lynching, which arous
es violent and unchristian passions,
brings law into disrepute is inhuman
and brutal and unknown outside OF
our own land OF America. We hold
that no circum stances can ever justify
such violent disregard for law and
that in no instance is 1t an exhibition
of chiyalric consideration and honor
of wUmanlroOd.'
The statement lays strong and re
peated emphasis on the responsibility
OF white people as the more advan,
fn 10
example, protect him from vicious in
alnences and encourage and help him
to rise in the scale Of character and
conduct. The editors of newspapers are
appealed to in behalf of more generous
publicity for the Negroes worthy
achievements. and less for stories Of
crime and unworthiness.
Recognizing the wisdom of confer
ence and cooperation as a means Of ad
justing racial differences and promo;
ing the general welfare, the group
pledged it's support to the plans devel
soped by the Commission on Interrac
ial Cooperation, a southern oragniZn
lion which has 500 state and county
committees throughout the South In
Louisiana the state committee Of
which the women's group becomes a
part. is headed by Prof Leo M. Favrot
.of Baton Rouge.
The women constituting the grouL
es,nd signing the statement are: Mrs.
Fired F'oxley, Mrs. w. F. Weisaupt
Mrs. S. A. Montgomery. Mrs. Belle o
Pry Mrs. ]. Ii. Morton. Miss Mary Cas-
on; Mrs. Lewis Clark, Mrs. Jos
Friend; Miss Vernon Nunnery; Mrs
w. Marvin Brown; Mrs. w. r. Mill
saps: Miss Grace Thompson; Mrs. c..
F.. Niebergall; Mrs. ]. G.. Smelling
Mrs. VIM. A. Davis; Mrs. T. j. Fergu
son; Mrs. H. F.. Baldwin; Mrs. H. w.
Gla3er. Miss Ida M. Stevens; Mrs. L..
Heimke.
Mrs. j. A. Afford; Mrs. J. L. Many.
and Mrs. VIM. Lamb of New Orleans:
Mrs. r. II. Wynn, Mrs. William Steen
Mrs H. B. Sperry Mrs. Abel Bliss and
Mrs o. c. Cathey Of Shreveport; Mrs.
j. o. Carson; Lake Charles; Mrs. o.
w. Gladden., Alexandria; Mrs. r. E.
Stearns Mrs. J. w. Darby; Mrs. A. G..
Reed Baton Rouge; Mrs. H. G. Owen
LeCompte; Mrs. r. F.. Harrell. Tallu
lah; Mrs. L. w. Mcclellan. Elizabeth:
Mrs. j. w. Wynn, Rayne; Mrs. B. 3.
Purser, Amite; Mrs. j. f. Giles
Springfield; Mrs a. F. Storm Morgan
City.
FINDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE OF
LOUISIANA WOMEN.
Tin Session in New Orleans March 81
.23)
Realizing that the entire world is
facing as it's most threatening and
pressing issue the solution of the
problem of race relations the under
signed women of Louisiana, declare
our belief in the efficacy Of the chris
tian principles as the only means TO
insure peace ard rs"mony and :urn
;sh Il method for the final solution.
THE SOUTH is THE TESTING
GROUND
We recognize the fact that in the
order Of Providence. the South has be
come the crucial testing-ground Of
these relations.
Inasmuch, as the white and colored
races must continue to live together
in The South, we are convinced thai
the relations between them should be
based on Brotherhood. Both are tho
children of one God and Father of us
all. We should accept this truth and
frankly face all it's implications.
We purpose to use our influence to
secure law-enforcement in order that
all people both black and white may
have its protection. We wish to ey
press our conviction that it is the high
duty Of the more advantaged race 60
set an example of good morals and
high ideals in private life. Our colored
fellOw-countrymen are struggling UP
the steps of civilization. Both races
are deeply injured when any member
of the race that has so long preceded
them on their road, stoops to weaken
their morals by his own and bad moral
conduct. Common descency. as well as
christian consideration, requires us tC
remember the ancient motto Of our
race. "nobleness oblige" The Negro
VII he in an infinitely better condi
ton if day shall come WREN white
men cease to lead him into the viola
ton Of the laws Of both God and man
In behalf Of better observance OF
law Of the attainment of higher stand