Arkansas survey., 1924-09-20
RESIDENTIAL SEGREGA-
TION IN AMERICA
DEPENDS ON N. A. A. C. P.
CASE IN SUPREME COURT
Similar Cases in 5 States Await
ing Outcome of Washington
Fight. Says Cobb

ed people ana other groups IN A
merica, depend upon the case
now being carried on appeal be-
fore the Supreme Court of the
United States, by the National
Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People, SO Fifth
Avenue, it was announced to-
day. James A. Cobb, of Wash
ington, who is conducting the
case for the Advancement Asso-
citation, who visited the New
York office of the N. A. A. C. P.
today said that similar cases
were pending in St. Louis, Balti-
more, and in California, Michi-
gan and Louisiana.
"The key case" said Mr.. Cobb
''is that of Mrs. Helen Curtis
who, because of her color was en-
Joined from aking title to prop
erty which she had purchased
from white property owner,
on the ground that the sails vio-
lated a white property owners
agreement not to sell to Me-
groes. Adverse decision having
been rendered by a lower court
the case has been taken on ap-
peal to the Supreme Court of
the United States, where it will
probably be advanced on the
calendar.
"This case has aroused enor-
nous interest thruout the Unit
ed States. Practically every
Southern Congressman in Wash
ingtion has applied for copy of
the record of the case and SINH
lar cases in other parts of the
country are being held to await
decision this case.
"What is involved is the ques-
tion of residential segregation,
not only against colored people
in America, but against Catho-
lies, Jews and any other groups
property owners may care to
bar out by agreement amongst
themselves. The present case,
as the N. A. A. C. p. has already
warned the colored people of A
merica is fully as important, as
--ia-frct it is more important than
the Louisville Segregation case,
on which decision was rendered
by the Supreme Court of the
United States in 1917. By the
terms of that decision, no NUM-
cipality may enact residential
segregation into law. But prop
erty owners are now seeking to
evade that decision by writing
their own segregation law into
agreements among themselves,
not to sell to colored people. If
this color bar against colored
people is sustained it would have
the practical effect of nullify-
ing the victory won in the Louis
vile case.
"Colored people thruout the
United States, therefore, have
every reason to be vitally inter-
ested in this matter. Every col
ored property owner of potential
property and home owner in A
merica will be affected by this
decision, whether he is a man of
wealth or a man of modest
means. For if this segregation
should be permitted, it would
mean more crowding in colored
residential districts, more ex-
ploitations Of colored tenants,
greater disregard and neglect of
colored districts, besides legal
sanction for a slur upon colored
Americans.
ut is not alone the colored
people who may be affected. If
this bar is sustained against
them, there is no reason why
similar bars should not be invok-
ed against other minority groups
in America, such as Catholics,
Jews, Japanese, etc. 1t behooves
all right minded citizens to real
ize the Importance of this fight
being conducted in their behalf
and to render assistance in it,
if they are able to do So"
Associated with Mr.. Cobb in
the conduct of the case are VIM.
H. Lewis of Boston, former As
sistant U. s. Attorney General;
James p. Schick, and Henry +.
Davis, of Washington, former
U. s. Attorney and former Cor
poration Counsel for the District
of Columbia. Associate Coun-
sci, are Arthur B. Spingarn and
Herbert X. Stockton, respective
ly Chairman and member Of the
N. A "A. C. p. National Le0al