Phoenix tribune., 1924-10-25
JOHN ". DAVIS ASKED
TO STATE HIS Stand
ON negro QUESTION

OAS AtAAAO zulu AOAN
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Oct. 25-The
Baptist Ministers conference of this
city and vicinity have written John
w. Davis, Democratic candidate for
President, inquiring whether or not
his broad expressions in regard to
equal rights to all men" include
colored citizens in view of the hos
tile attitude of his party toward them.
The open letter addressed to him
calls his attention to conditions op-
tanning in the South where the Ne
gro is disfranchised by means of the
Democratic primaries restricted to
white voters only. If the Negro is
included in his statements, they ask
unequivocally whether or not the
Democratic party will subscribe to his
views inasmuch as it is dominated
by Southerners who advocate dis
franchisement.
Text
The full text of their letter is as
follows
The undersigned representing the
Baptist Ministers conference of Phil
adelphia and vicinity take the liberty
of addressing you with reference to
certain repeated statements during
your recent trip in the West, parti-
cularly in your speech at Gary, Ind,
IN which you made certain declara-
itons as to the unchallenged demo-
cracy of the Democratic party. to-wit:
The Democrats believe in gov
ernment OF the people, for the people.
with equal rights to all men. and
special privileges to none.' And fur
ther, That if elected to power in
November, the Democratic party will
put an end to unwarranted search
seizure, will uphold under all con-
ditions the inaleniable right of free
speech, free press and free assembl-
age.
You are the acknowledged stand
ard bearer of your party. If such
sentiments represent your policy or
administration should you be elected
President, then we cannot but hail
with joy the new spirit of fairness
with which you and your party have
become possessed, and all the more
SO in view of the past record of the
Democratic party with reference ro
the colored citizen.
Southern Conditions
But candor compels us to remind
you of certain undemocratic condi-
tions now existing in the South.
The Democratic party has openly
violated the Constitution, which you
quote, in that it has established a
one party government, which sys-
TEN of government could not obtain
In real democracy.
I'm the Democratic primaries of
the South, for example, colored Demo-
Gratis by statutory law are prohibited
from voting. And this is used as
pretext by your party to enslave
the Negro forever politically, So
cially and economically.
While it is not the intention of
this body to go to the grave yards
and exhume the purifying bones of
Democratic leaders of the past. still
may we call your attention to state
and states, where Negroes are de.
MED the privilege of the franchise
on the ground that he will become
the equal of the Anglo Saxon in the
body polite. And such conditions
are antagonistic to your declara-
tons in your speech at Gary. Indiana
on September 10Th, when you pledg-
ed the Democratic party to uphold
the Constitution.
Questions
And now in view of this oman
communication to you we are TAX.
ing the liberty of propounding to you
tne following questions with the
nope that the answer to them may
De OF such character that in living
reality we may be made to feel
that you believe in a Government
OF the people and for the people
with equal rights to all men and speci-
al privileges to none