The Dallas Express (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 3, Ed. 1 Saturday, October 25, 1919 Page: 4 of 16
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THE DALLAS EXPRESS DALLAS TEXAS. SATURDAY. OCTOBER 25 1919.
PAGE FOUK
THE DALLAS IXPBESS
MEMBER
NATIONAL NEGRO PRESS
ASSOCIATION.
Published ery Saturday morla;
tM Uit year at 2600 Swlas Arenue.
by
0HM 11 ALL. A I KXPRKSS PUBLISHING
COMPANY.
(Incorporated)
Dalian. Teiaa.
tew Yerk Olltce Krot . Froat
It N. Uth Street
Cbieaica Otter Froat A Froat Boy-
Fxilldtnr.
Atlanta (IBrr Froat Froat. Can-
ller Uulidlna. '
Xaaavllle Offlre Front Froat. In
dependent uire numiing.
Entered at Poat OlUca at Dallaa.
iae aa eecond-claaa ""' under
A.tt or tonrw jriai w
OUR CREED.
I hold that Christian Grace abounds
Where Charity is seen: that when
We climb to Heaven tis on the rounds
Of love to men.
I hold all else named piety
A selfish scheme a vain pretense:
Where Center is not can there be
Circumference?
Alice Cary.
tt
IMI-ORTAHT.
Xi auborlptlon mailed tor a leae
.rtod than three montha. Payment
for tame iui o ou wow.
-mm uip-rioms IN
O.io rear w
ft -x -Montha..
OS
XOTICB TO TUB PUBLIC
the
of
Any erroneoua reflection upon
character atanomtj Dr "huh
trr iDoi-r tn the column of The
ralWTprM. will be .ladly cor-
."ted upon lta bein brought to the
iha mibllahera.
V1QUUUU - "
SATUBDAT OCTOBER 8V 19"-
aro understand that the I. W. W
or a niannlne to launch a campaign
among . Negroes. We feel that Terr
iiti nf tha doctrine of these "worn
r" is to be trusted as a solution
of our problem! for It must be re
membered by all who have Kepi up
in nt extent with their activities
that they are and have been made
famous for their organized system
f destruction as a means of gaining
their ends. If they can help Negro
labor to organize with sound com-
mon tense Ideals as their aim we
welcome their lieterature and their
activity but we feel mat Deiore u-
. wn in consideration of their
plans and projects we should make
them as wen as uie euw
sure of the fact that we desire no
Bolshevistic propaganda nor projects
which will endanger the welfare of
any individual or group ourBeivea
i..aa Wo Btrivlne to gain
only that which the Constitution of
America guarantees to ewa u -citizens
which because of mal-admin-istratlon
of laws and a combination
of prejudice of our enemies and si-
lence of our friends has been de-
. wo want neaceful settle-
ment of each of our difficulties. We
do not under any conaiuon ieei iui
one evil turn deserves another but
rather that the evil doer by public
disapproval shall learn that society Is
not governed by selfish desires but
that mutual agreement and co-operation
are essential to the mainten-
ance and upbuilding of any social
structure.
There was a time when It was said
'that neither the memory of the past
nor the hope of the future is es-
sential to the bouyant spirit of the
Negro. He lives neither In the past
nor the future. The present is his
world. Neither his ancestry nor his
progeny concerns him greatly. He
can not honor his ancestors nor pro-
tect his progeny. This has all been
changed in the New Negro. He has
parents of whom he is Justly proud
and children he does protect He
laments not over the tragedy of the
past but la deeply concerned as to
his prospects of the future.
Come let us reason together: a
people who can not enjoy the pro-
tection of the law can not be among
Us most stanch defenders.
There are three courses for
people to take when grouped to-
gether. One course Is a hostle course
that results in friction riots and
war; another course is a neutral one
In which the relation Is commercial;
the other Is sympathetic which shows
ltsolf in an enterchange of ideas and
co-operation for mutual help.
Dr. Charles Sumner Williams.
It pays to stop talking when the
truth gives out
Pay your poll tax and get it off
your mind.
The Plain E Aler says: The recent
trouble at Helena Ark.. Is causing
thousands of Negroes to leave the
state. Bach out-golag train is car-
rying Negroes to ail sections of the
North. If this continues ine crops
In Arkansas will be left to rot Thou-
sands of the Negroes have gone and
thousands more are going. It is
charged that there Is propaganda be-
ing spread In the state to whip Ne-
groes as If In the days of slavery.
This propaganda along with lynch-
ing and mob violence is running the
Negroes out of the State and the far-
mers are sure to entail heavy loe.
Northern manufacturers are making
provisions for the southern Negroes
who are coming North In the Exodus.
The farm lands are being entirely
stripped by the exodus.
0UB KEW PABK.
Another play park for Negroes in Dallas is just one more way of
saying that the voters who caused Mayor Wozencraft and his staff to be-
come the administrators of Its affairs knew their business. More and more
each day we are seeing that the Mayor is steadily and surely bringing to
pass in our city a program of development of and for the citizens.
We realize that the machinery of even a city government is necessarily
slow but we In this present administration are led to believe that those
who now are in office- have in mind the welfare of Dallas In its fullest
sense because in their administration the needs of every class and kind of
its citizens is ttf Ing considered and bettered.
We are glad to share thus in the benefits provided for the betterment
and advancement of Dallas citizens. Our children need play parks and re-
creational centers of such sorts.
.There is no doubt that if mass citizenship is to be made higher If
men generally are to be raised to a greater realization of their duties as
citizens there must be definite concrete everyday evidences of what good
citizens have done and are doing for their mutual well being.
We hope to see our two parks Improved and beautiful flower beds laid out
We hope in time to have the play of our children directed in educative and
culture-tending ways. I say we hope we really expect in time that this
shall be done. For we know that all men realize that the welfare and Well
being of any community Is measured by the benefits derived from its main-
tenance by all of Its citizens. It is common knowledge that a cess pool
which breeds mosquitoes in South Dallas will in some way wreak evil
in East or north Dallas. A lack of sewerage or disease breading filth in
the the poorest Negro section will affect some family in an exclusive resi-
dence section for as long as communities are men must mingle and so
leave some mark however small on each Individual involved.
And then too it is worth while for every parent and every teacher to
be able in teaching and attempting to direct those children under their care
along the lines of citizenship and uprightness to point to results of co-
operation and civic responsibility. It ii made easy to develop a law abiding
citizen of a child who during its upbringing has enjoyed public benefits.
The spirit of vandalism is more easily counteracted and his sense of re-
sponsibility and proprietorship awakened by such living evidences of the
good will and co-operation of every member of his community.
Such investments as the City of Dallas has just made In the purchase
of this park site and its subsequent though gradual Improvement will bear
greater interest than many are able to realize. Men think and appreciate
.keenly. No man is insensible to justice fair play and kindness. There is
no man however low in the scale he may be who doesn't know when he Is
sharing in the benefits derived from his existence In a general commonwealth
and conduct himself accordingly. We do appreciate and we do respond. The
proof is never lacking to one who sees and studies. Dallas will be better
for having thus provided for this class of her citizens and countless black
children will be taught Jto become better citizens because of this concrete
proof of their share in this city prosperity. Men who may have begun to
lose faith almost in the practicability of investing and paying taxes where
they seemed to share very little If any in the benefits derived therefrom
will begin to re-consider and take fresh heart and new courage and thus
Dallas as a whole will become to Its entire citizenry a city Beautiful the
real Garden Spot of Texas because of their faith In its love of justice and
sense of fair dealing.
THE MIRROR OF
PUBLIC OPINION
SOME MEIT ABE SFEAKHG OCT.
(Continued from last week).
The following Press Symposium Is reproduced here In order that we
may receive from it added strength and determination to continue the fight
against the acknowledged disgrace of Christian civilization lynching. As
these men are thinking and gaining the courage to speak out In defense of
Civilization and Justice others will be constrained to speak and do if we con-
tinue as we are doing to make public the need of Publio Opinion which
stands for strict Justice. We are Indebted for some of these clippings to
William A. Aery of Hampton Institute.
NEGBOES AJTD ASSAULT.
It has been given wide publicity that assaults and attempted assault
by Negroes upon white women and girls had so inflamed the public mind
that summary vengeance was inevitable. It is true that there have been
many reports In the press of such crimes. Some of which when run to
earth were found to be groundless or unsubstantiated. The report of County
Attorney Shotwell on the status of assault cases which was given to the
press last Saturday throws a rather startling and unexpected light upon
the situation which should have a sobering effect upon those who are dis-
posed to believe that Negroes are chief offenders in the commission of this hien-
ous chime. It is a matter of record that there are now awaiting trial in dis-
trict court seventeen persons held for this crime. Of this number FOUR
are Negroes and THIRTEEN are WHITE MEN! One a white man Alfred
J. Ramsey who was accused of attempted assault upon a sixteen-year-old
Colored girl was found not. guilty by a jury and Jerry Dennis a Negro
is serving a term in the penitentiary for attempted assault upon a young
white woman. No Negro accused of this crime has been admitted to bail
and only three white men accused of attempted assault have been released
under heavy bonds. Monitor Omaha. Neb.
The lynchlngs in 1918 according to the records made up at Tuskegee
were for murder; for alleged complicity in murder; for threats to kill; for
assault; for attempted assault; for alleged participation in a fight over an
alleged hog-stealing; for killing an officer of the law; for assisting a man
charged with murder to escape; for robbing a house and frightening women;
for killing a man in a dispute about automobile repairs; for killing a land-
lord in a dispute over a farm contract; for -assault with intent to murder;
for wounding another; for robbery and resisting arrest Only sixteen of
the lnchlngs were for assault or attempted assault on women. Many
of the crimes charged against the victims of the mobs were not punishable
with death under the law while some of them were only punishable with
Jail sentences or fines. .
It was a disgraceful record that Judge Lynch was permitted to make
in 1918 and there is no assurance that he will not be permittecd to make
a still more disgraceful record during the present year. Fifty-seven men
four of them white men and five women sixty-two people in all were de-
nied their day in court and put to death by mobs.
Many of these people had not commltteed capital crimes whiles some
of them were Innocent of any crime. If possible every member of every
one of these mobs should have been brought to judgment In the courts
they defied but so far as is known no effort has been made to apprehend
any of the lynchers. It may be that the Federal Government realizing
that State authorities will not uphold the law against the mob will even-
tually take steps to enforce the clause of the Federal Constitution which
provides that no person shall be deprived of life or liberty without due
process of law. Courier Bristol Va.
COUTDfUE TO SPEAK OUT.
The following news Item from the Associated Negro Press gives us to
feel anew that more pressure must be brought to bear upon Southern Public
Opinion before the public conscience is awakened thoroughly enough to be
sensitive to the ordinary claims of plain justice.
I Montgomery Ala.' Oct 16. The special Grand Jury lnvestigat-
ing the lynching of three Negroes here last Monday reported today it
was not able to obtain any information as to the identity of any
member of either mob. The jury was discharged.
The last sentence means much to one who thinks. "The jury was dis
charged" because it had as far as Public Sentiment in that particular
place was concerned done its duty. We believe that Just as in all cases the
reverse of this one results have been obtained so in cases of this sort they
may be obtained. Public Sentiment ' must be aroused to such an extent
that Information as to those guilty will be obtained before the Courts of
Justice and the law will consent to be satisfied.
There must ie an increase of the demand for investigation and in-
quiry into all mob activities and men of all classes and kinds must be made
to know that civilized and enlightened society can not much longer continue
to exist as such if lawlessness is allowed to take the place of Law set
up for the public service. Let us speak out and cease to sin by silence for
"To sin by silence when we should protest makes cow-
ards out of men. The human race has climbed on pro-
test Had no voice been raised against injustice Ignorance
and lust; the inquisition yet would serve the law and guillo-
tines ' decide our least disputes. The few who Care must
speak and speak again to right the wrongs of many."
Many years ago Booker T. Washington undertook to keep a list of
1 l. I 1 1L. TT-ll - J n.x . 1 . 1 . . .
I lyuuuiiigB iu inn uuiira Duties snowing me color ana sex oi victims ana
j the provocation of the crimes. Tuskegee Iinstltute has continued the rceor.
n buuvvb wax. uunus uie urnv nix iiionins oi ine year lata mere were tnirty-
flve lynchlngs against fourteen for the corresponding period in 1917. Only
one victim was white; three were women; and only eight of the thirty-
five persons murdered by mobs were charged with rape.
The record is highly educative; it has shown every year that lynching
is a crime of violence Indulged in by mobs and that it can not be classified
as Irregular punishment of assaulters because the victims are in many cases
not charged with assault Lee than one-fourth of them during the last
six months were lynched upon that charge. It should be borne In mind
that lynchers do not wait for proof bufoftimes they kill aictim against
wheom evidence to support the charge Is slight f
As proof that common defense of lynching is fatuous the Tuskegee
record showing how often the victim of mob violence is charged with a
crime other than assault is worth the effort Its making involves. It serves
admirably as unassailable "publicity" controverting the often-made state-
ment that "lynching is due to the passionate resentment of respectable citi-
zens when crimes against women have been committed."
Courier-Journal Louisville Ky.
A joke is hardly appropriate at a funeral neither is It good form to
discuss literature and art at a brick masons ball. Some of our friends have
not learned this. We are often made to feel ashamed because some of
them let good Intentions and excess teal run away with sound judgment
Our pastors are studying how to interest us. Lets not make their Jobs
any more difficult by failing to let them know what we want Go to
church It will Improve you.
It is alright to pray that God give you what you want but it is some-
times good judgment to go out and help Him bring It In.
The day . of miracles Is past Tou must work for what you get and
keep part of that for the day when you wont be able to work.
We believe In keeping our heads In the stars alright but we also feel
that it doesn't hurt to look down at Mother Earth every once in a while.
We know that God la merciful because we are yet able to live and
work.
As to tha ratiaam whan l.mnli!nn .
. .. ..v.. j.uwuiug ii i hi i:mue iuio vogue rape was ine
principal factor that brought on lynching; but later on it comprised any
kind of offense from rape to hog-stealing and resisting an officer..
There are a handful of lawless men In each community who are at
time ready to tear down the temples of justice and bring shame and dis-
credit upon the community and state. They care little about the guilt of
the accused and with them accusation is evidence of guilt.
I cite a case in point which happened in this country a few years ago
when several Negroes were accused of poisoning horses which was a very
dastardly deed. They were arrested tried and acquitted for want of evi-
dence. Some time later they were taken from their homes under cover
of night and put to death.
Will those who participate in lynchlngs ever realize that each person
who takes an active part in such proceeding has taken a 'human life
without sanction of law and is a murderer a
Uiem by their approval or silence cannot be classed as good citizens.
v v ' y u u contlnue to help create a public sentiment
which will cause our grand and petit juries to convict those law-breakers
wherever tho evidence is warranted.
Let it be said in honor of the
theyhave put forth thelf best efforts to reduce and put .down this terrible
evil. . o i7ji. j ...
. mural u eraser Montgomery Aia.
Let us through submissive Minn h m t it...... ii
the lecher with the duelist and the political corruption as being an ene-
my to the Commonwealth whom It would . t.i ...... i
Izing. and degrading to admit to the rights of voter and publio officer.
Express San Antonio Texas.
.0fA8 X So"thern whlte man- 1. not only thus publicly protest
hfin l !.a. vevf C0Urt8 ln theIr atUtud0 to e Negro.
fhL . h6 be glVWl 8QUare dea1' 1 blu with shame to
SSfiU ! T6 raC WbCh Produce8 men h P their
1 Z WealpoeBe88e8 men who would tear the bandage
IT 2T? to flm R8certan tbe " fte man wh
aaks only Justice." MILTON H. FIES. Slpsey. Ala.
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The Dallas Express (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 3, Ed. 1 Saturday, October 25, 1919, newspaper, October 25, 1919; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth278283/m1/4/: accessed May 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .