The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-01-09
NEGROES ARE UP IN
ARMS AGAINST BILL
OPPOSED TO MEMORIAL TO
OLD NEGRO NANNY. SAY
1T is AN AFFRONT.


Harding's attention has been called to
what seems to the leaders of the ne
gro race to be an unwarranted move
ment to reflect on the educated negro
of today by drawing contrast be-
tween him and the faithful negro
slaves of the pre-war era.
If bill introduced by Senator John
Sharp Williams, of Mississippi, should
pass congress the president will be
asked by the spokesman of the blacks
to kill it with veto, even though 1t
appears on its face to be intended as
a compliment to the negro race.
This bill. introduced on December
8 last, grants to the Jefferson Davis
Chapter No. 100, United Daughters of
the Confederacy, permission to erect
on public grounds in the city OF
Washington, "as a gift to the people
of the United States, monument III
memory of the faithful colored mann
mics OF the south" 1t is provided III
the bill that the United States shall
be put to no expense whatever by the
erection of the proposed monument.
This bill, instead of being accepted
by colored leaders as a good-taith
tribute to the negro is interpreted as
an effort to convey contrast be-
tween the pre-war negroes and the
negroes of today, to the advantage of
the former and the disparagement of
tbs latter,
Mad at 1t.
s..e..e.f, q Ohio for |
mer president of Wilberforce Unlver- |
sity and an outstanding exponent, OF
the negro race, is one OF the most bit
ter opponents OF Senator Williams
bill Scarborough is an educated ne
GRO who speaks several languages. A
few DAYS ago Scarborough had con-
ference with President Harding, and
it is believed the Williams bill was
discussed. 1t is surnised that he ask
ed the president. to veto the bill II 1t
should reach him for executive action.
II Is believed that ii the vote were
taken now a great many republican
members of congress would support
The Williams bill under the impression
that by~ so doing they would pay a
compliment to the negro.
DR.. Scarborough's views on the
Williams bill are set forth in a letter
to Senator Frank B. Willis, OF Ohio,
as follows:
q am writing to say that / am OPP |
posed to the bill offered by Senator
Williams. OF Mississippi, to erect a |
monument to the Mammies of the
South
There is more sentiment III this |
than common sense, and it is intend |
ed to reflect upon the educated negro |
of today. 1t can have but one mean
ing and that is to show the southern |
preference for the negro of years ago |
while in slavery, as compared with the
educated negro of the present. 1t is
thrust at negro education. To pass
such resolution would be disgrace
to the country, as well as to those
who voted for it.
In Support.
The newspapers of the south are
taking up the subject and are printing
editorials in support OF the Williams
bill. The Savannah Press, OF which
Pleasant A. Stovall, former minister
to Switzerland is the owner, recalls
interestingly that there already is one
local monument OF this character III
the south. 1t was erected by a prom
inent and wealthy southern person
named John White, and stands in the
town square OF a South Carolina city.
1t is in honor OF his former slaves,
whose devotion and loyalty he re-
membered with gratitude to the day
OF his death. The editorial in the Press
continues:
"The city OF Washington is filled
with monuments and shafts commem-
Grating the war between the states.
Nearly every union general-Scott,
Grant, Sheridan Sherman, Thomas
and the northern leaders in that strug-
gle-are perpetuated in effigies more
or less heroic and artistic. It remains
TO be seen whether the commissioners
OF the District OF Columbia will al
low the Daughters of the Confedera-
cy to put up memorial in that beau
tiful city. Every one remembers what
happened when the suggestion was
FIRST made that General Lee should
be remembered in the Hall OF Fame"