The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1938-05-13
EDITORIAL

Up until this week the committee charge of the Berry
worked for the good of the
Valuable information that has caused the to be brought
to the bar of Justice was assembled Too much praise for
the splendid work rendered and the untrng efforts of the
chairman Mr. S. Jackson cannot be given Regardless OF
the outcome and not another move was made to augment
the prosecution the Negro Citizens of Seattle will always
be indebted this valiant group of and women and
their fearless chairman
Berry Lawson his untmely death while in custody
of three Seattle police Two of whom have repeatedly been
brought up for brutality especially towards Negroes To
day stand charged with murder and evidence
of damnabe nature has been gathered against them
Evidence for various that cannot be made public
Now the chairman of the committee has been in pos
session of much and maybe evidence in the
any member of the press Having that knowledge and
facing organized opposition of any consequence it is
hard to see logic in agitation.
At committee meeting held Wednesday evening where
block of well known persons holding EXTREME political
views predomnaed obviously assisted by the chairman
tain methods for publicity passed rather reafmed
1t agreed large number of circular letters be sent
the key citizens of the city of Seattle also to the general
public stating the facts in this
Investigation proved that the defense would give
anything for delay until the fall term, change of
One mighty good way for them to get it will be
for the committee in charge to make circus of the
let it be used vehicle to further the aims of any
individual organization.
Mr. Henry Clay Agnew Deputy Prosecutor in charge
mad the following say when asked for the opinion of
prosecution the subject of sending letters of any
Mr.. Agnew sad This office strongly opposes any
publicity the whether be in newspapers
letters other forms that will trend to influence people
before the trial."
The following few that the Enterprise
deems it a tragedy if this form letter is sent
One The daily papers have not attempted to color their
relative to the have they injected the color
question.
The prosecutors office has not been slack in the
in which they handled the They have
ed evidence and preferred charges at the proper time
Three That the group who passed the ACCESSIBILITY
of sending not sending form letter. did not represent
section of Negro Opinion but influenced
by unit of known extremists encouraged by the chair
For example, there not minister professional
present Those who dominated in many instances
members of the white who have definite and
set mind on procedure
To prove the point that extreme political elements
present the Communist party represented by desig
mated delegate to the general committee
We would advocate pckets, handbIs, sound trucks
other of ballyhoo if the daily press prose-
cutor bias in any
That those who designed and put the program for
form letter. sincere and conscientious not be
doubted In fact the rank and file of extreme
political thinkers the conscientious and arusc
minded persons Our only criticism of this group that
they not practical That statement and that alone
Things similar to this incident bring home the mpera-
tive necessity for vigilance the part of leaders, else
be used tool to drive wedge with, promugate
doctrine