The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1938-05-13
WALTER WHITE THREATENED
BY XXX WHILE IN DALLAS :.
Two Daily Papers Encourage Riot
Action to Prevent Speech by NAACP
Secretary; Volunteer Committee
Guards Him During 4-Hour Stay

WiSAG AG N0Ok q pidilG 1oi xAsAeAAesAs
Ga, all according to his schedule.
In his report to the national office
Mr.. W hite stated that despite the
riot-inciting stories in the Dallas
dailies the colored people of Dallas
were absolutely unatfraid and the
white persons who came to hear the
speech were also unafraid.
News of the Khan threats against
Mr.. White reached New York the
day after his speech, but were with
held by the national Office Of the
NAACP because Mr.. White had
scheduled speeches in Atlanta, Birrl--
ingham, New Orleans, Baton Rouge,
and Mobile and it was felt that IN
the interest Of his safety report
of the Dallas incident should be
delayed.
Texas 2nd Highest in Lynching.
Texas is the home state OF Sena-
tor Tom Connally who led the fill.
buster against the federal anti lynch
ing bill. In sense, the contest IN
the Senate was between Walter
White and Tom Conally and the IN
cident in Dallas April 20 indicates
lust what was contended during
the anti lynching bill fight, namely,
that the threat of lynching is used
in the South to intimidate Negroes
and prevent them from exercising
their ordinary rights as citizens. In
the Dallas case it was the right q
free speech. Texas has the second
largest number Of lynchings Of any
state in the Union, being surpassed
only by Mississippi.
Mr.. White concluded his South
ern tour with a speech May at the
Virginia State conference OF
branches Of the NAACP in Rich
mond. He reports that the enthusi--
asm of colored people in the South
to fight for their rights was never
at higher pitch than today. me
long filibuster against the anti
Iynching bill which showed up the
| old Southern leaders and their ideas
{ has encouraged rather than dis
| couraged Negroes, Mr.. White said
Many Threats Against White.
| The threat Of injury to the NAA
| Cp secretary April 20 recalled the
beating up Of John shillady, white,
who was secretary of the NAACP
in the early years of its organlza-
ton. Mr.. Shillady was beaten UNI
mercifully as he got off a train IN
| Austin, Texas, August %, 1919. lie
was not permitted to go to nos
! pital for medical attention, but had
/ 10 take d train out of town imnle--
diately. The Dallas incident recalls,
also. that Walter Whites life has
been threatened many times during
his services with the NAACP, par
| ticularlv during the years 1915
1880, when he investigated AZ
! Iynchings and eight race riots 1oi
| the association. Since 1880, the
| board of directors Of the NAACf
| has forbidden Mr.. White to make
| dangerous Investigations in thee
South, holding that he was too val
liable to risk injury or death
! When his present Southern tour
was organized, the board Of direc-
| tors objected strenuously to MS
going into the South SO soon alter
| the anti lynching bill fight IN th'
! Senate, but Mr.. White insisted or
going, stating that he could no
ask the colored people in the South
who live there, to fight for tnei
rights if he were unwilling to go o.
q brief speaking tour.