The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-10-27
North Carolina Woman Tells of Work
of Inter-Racial Committee in Speech
Makes Stirring Address at the
Race Relations Conference
Held by the<N A. A. c. p, at
Kansas City, Mo. = =

KANSAS City, han., Oct. Z5.-Mrs
Thomas W. Beckett, widow of Gov
ernor Beckett of North Carolina
speaking at the sessions Of the race
relations conference held here by the
National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People, told of
the history and work of the inter
racial committees throughout the
South, in stamping out mobism and
lynching and bringing about better
relations between colored and white
people. Mrs. Beckett appeared at the
race relations conference as q repre-
sentative of the inter-racial commit
tees of whose woman's committee she
is chairman. Her address was as fol-
lows:
"As a member of the Commission
on Inter-racial Cooperation and as
chairman of the woman's committee
If the commission it gives me pleas
ure to present to the National Or
eanization for the Advancement Of
Colored People a short history of the
formation and work of this commits
sion.
Mob Violence Broke Out
"Shortly after the armistice dis
trust and suspicion famed by propo-
ganda OF various sorts seemed abroad
in our land and mob violence, which
had greatly decreased during the war,
broke out afresh. It was in this
crisis that the Commission on Inter-
racial Cooperation came into exist
ence. At the center of this group
were John j. Eagan, manufacturer
and churchman; Rev. w. w. Alexan-
der, Y. M. c. A., war representative,
and DR.. N. Ashby Jones, noted min
itser of Atlanta. Out Of the thought
and prayer of such men and others
equally consecrated the commission
was born. It's membership was made
up of leading educators, ministers,
professional and business men from
every state in the South, including
many prominent colored men. State
committees were organized, especial
Iy where the situation was acute and
with the cooperation Of the Y. M. c.
A. machinery and financed by the
War Work Council. Better feeling
became noticeable and
having proved it's efficacy in this cri-
sis the commission determined to en-
large it's sphere and seek to perma-
nently improve race conditions and
put them upon a Christian basis
Lynchings Prevented
"To this end committees have been
set up in every state and 800 coun-
ties. Threatened lynchings and riots
have been prevented, injustices have
been corrected, cooperation for mu-
tual welfare has been brought about
and more friendly relations estab-
lished especially in communities
where conditions were critical.
can interesting recent development
is the enlisting of leading women OF
the South to cooperate with the varl-
GUS state committees and t6 promote
the study of this question: in their
civic and religious organizations. In
every case the women have made
strong pronouncements against mob
violence and in favor of justice to the
colored race, especially the colored
women and children. The personnel
of the committee has increased from
40 men to over $50 men and women,
a large number of these belonging to
the colored race and who contribute
largely to the councils of the COM
mission.
Cooperation Solution of Problem
eve are long, long way from
solving the race problem in the South
but we have made hopeful begin
ming. As interested, thoughtful,
white men and women we are seek
ing through our civic and religious
organizations to meet in spirit OF
cooperation the leading men and
women of the colored race in the
community in which we live. We are
cooperating in a study of colored
community life, in housing and sani-
tation, better neighborhood condi-
tions, educational opportunities and
the needs of colored women and chill
dren especially. We are becoming
increasingly conscious of the fact that
as those in authority, our response
bility towards the colored people
cannot be evaded and many of our
people are going forward with de-
termination that no unfair advantage
SHALL be taken of them, but that they
shall receive justice and fair treat
ment which is his due, and which we
cannot withhold if we wish to retain
our self-respect. ..
"Above all, through this commits
sion we are seeking to bring about a
better understanding and a greater
helpfulness of the races, one to the
other, and as individuals and a com.
mission to put into practice the words
of Him who said, Whatsoever ye
would that men should do unto you
do We even so to them.'"
"Hard" and "Soft" Maple.
Manle In hofh sshardn and 0s0ff . The