The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1939-04-28


have to teach; the Negro preachers
viii be preaching to empty benches.
Oh yes, they'll follow, all right. All
we've got to do is start it off.
This work would take some 25
years, Mr.. Bilbo believed, but the
cost would be equal to only one
half of the cost of giving relief to
the Negroes Of the United States,
who now, according Senator Bill
bo, outnumber the whites and get
most Of the relief funds.
No Equality Of Races
At no time did the senator let his
hearers lose sight of the fact that
he did not believe in the equality
of the races, whether here or in
Africa. Quoting from Abraham
Lincoln and other sources. Mr.. Bill
bo called upon history, Bible and
every other source to prove the diff
ference between white and black. He
continuously hammered at the fact
that discrimination was practiced
against Negroes, even here in Wash
ing, which he called "Nigger Para
disc. He didn't explain why he
called the city by this name, but he
did declare that right here in Wash
ington there were white women
working in the various government
tai departments, married to Negro
men.
He blamed the cities Of the North
for the many mulattoes in the coun-
try and also blamed the North for
many of the economic problems of
the Negro. He found fault with
everything except the actual condi-
tions of the Negro in his own state,
quoting reports and history to prove
thai the Negres best possible chance
was in Africa.
Outlines History Of Colonization
Thoroughly familiar with the his
tory of the founding of Liberia as
a republic, Mr. Bilho dwelt at great
length on the Intentions of Ahra-
ham Lincoln, reading several speech
es made by Lincoln in which he AYERS
that Lincoln sought to repatriate the
Negroes after they were freed.
He traced the course of the
founding Of Liberia and mentioned
the fact that the American Colonir
zations society was still in existence
and had been contacted in reference
to this hegira.
Mr.. Bilbo waxed enthusiastic over
the plan and when questioned by
Senator James P. Davis (Rep.) Pa,
he stated that the plan was not for
the forcible migration of Negroes,
but a purely voluntary movement,
accepted only when Negroes them
selves indicated willingness to
evacuate the United States for Lii
IBERIA or such other countries as
might be purchased and converted
into Greater Liberian Republic
Letters from the president of the
Liberian republic were read, or
rather excerpts were read, giving the
conditions under which American
Negroes would be acceptable.
Senator Biibo seemed to think
that the Liberian government was at
present holding in trust, millions
Of acres Of land rightfully waiting
colonization by American Negroes.
His bill is so phrased that only Ne
groes may accept the offers of the
Liberian government inasmuch as
the constitution Of Liberia, accord
ing to Mr. Bilbo, prohibits the own
ing of land there BY whites.
a portion Of letter addressed TO
Congressman Mitchell by Kelly Mil,
Ter deploring the fate Of the Negro
in the United States was also read
by the senator and inserted in the
record.
To Be Widely Published
The volumnious document read by
the senator, which had the galleries
squirming and wondering when he
Was going to stop, will be widely
published and distributed, Mr. Rilbo
said.
His solution to the Negro problem.
separation, is the only hope and win
eliminate all future troubles, where's
as he warned other senators that
unless they paid some attention to
the problem on their hands. thev
would find out that when the 8,O00,-
600 Negroes were organized, it
would be dynamite.
That the organization sponsoring
this movement is largely composed
of former followers of Marcus Gary
ey was evident when letters and tele-
grams from various U.NT.A. units
throughout the country were read
into the record. Several times, Car
vey's name was mentioned during
the course Of the peroration showing
9 close tie-up with the present re-
gime and the old regime.
Mr.. Bilbo declared that Walter
White and his organization had lit-