The broad ax., 1927-02-26


Lincoln-D Douglass petition, asking abo-
Iition by executive order Of segrega-
ton, that the president send to Con-
gress a special message for the Dyer
Anticipating Bill and have the at
torney-general investigate suffrage
conditions in the south.
President Miller then introduced
Rev. Thomas S. Harten, national or
ganizer and soldier pardon drive di-
rector of the Equal Rights League, the
soldier spokesman, who presented
petition with 10000 signatures from 80
states for the parole of the remaining
20 soldier prisoners Of the Houston
riot. He made a most eloquent plea
for the soldiers, citing the valor of col
ored soldiers ever Among other
things he said: I'VE are the only
group ever sent 5000 miles to fight for
democracy and then to be denied it
on returning home" He said, 1--WE
were told to get education, property,
money, character. We did this and
had the patience even of Job, only to
see the handouts Of prejudice the
more tightly fastened upon US"
President Asks Questions
When the president had asked the
number of prisoners at present and
said he would take up the matter with
the secretary of war, Rev. Miller re-
sumed against segregation. The presi-
dent asked about the number of col
ored employees, named a big figure
and was told only one-tenth were in
Washington and then asked how many
complained. President Miller told him
in classic language they do so in
wardly but not outwardly for fear of
losing their jobs. Then T. III. r.
Clarke, the president of the Lincoln
Douglass Conference; James T. Neill,
recording secretary Of the Equal
Rights Leagues; Neval Thomas, presi-
dent of the Washington branch of the
N. A. "A. c. p; Rev. w. H. Jernagin,
president of the National Race Con-
gress, and Mrs. Mary Church Terrell,
presented facts regarding segregation,
also w. M. Trotter, of ten clerks in
even the Department of Justice. All
spoke in the names of their organiza-
tons, incidentally showing union of
the race.
The House
Then the delegates divided in two
groups and visited congress. William
Monroe Trotter, the chairman, and
Rev. J. v. King, the secretary, led the
delegation which presented the petit
ton to Congressman George Holden
Tinkham of the House of Representa-
tives.
The Senate
Rev. W. H. Jernagin, the president
Of the National Race Congress; Mrs.
Mary Church Terrell and Prof. George
A. Parker, the secretary, led the dele
cation, which presented the petition to
Senator Frederick Huntington Gillett
and interviewed Vice President Dawes
in his private Office.
The Petition
The petition to the House Of Rep
resentatives and the Senate closed as
follows:
To those ends and in honor to the
memories Of Abraham Lincoln and
Frederick Douglass at the natal ami
versaries of these noble servants of
the republic, we do petition Congress
for legislation.
(a) To reduce state representation
in the Federal House in proportion to
adult disfranchisement.
(b) To forbid denial of accommo-
dation or segregation, by or for race
or color, in interstate carriers and in
all public places and facilities in fed
eral property or in other federal do
mains.
(c) To more quickly detect and
more adequately punish the crime Of
peonage.
(0 To make mob murder and
lynchings federal crime and, finally
(e) To refuse to seat those elected
under conditions Of disfranchishment
because of race and color
A splendid meeting was held at the
Metropolitan Baptist Church on the
evening of February 18th, under the
auspices of the National Lincoln
Douglass Conference, as a part Of the
program staged in the observance of
the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and
Frederick Douglass
Federal Petition Commission
motion of Mr.. Trotter, resolving
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