Petition Presented
to Congress
Extension of Remarks of Hon. Fred
erick H. Gillett, of Massachusetts,
in the House of Representatives,
Saturday, June 29, 1918.
(Congressional Record, June 29, 1918)
Mr. Gillett. Mr. Speaker, under the
leave granted to me to extend my re
marks in the Record I include a peti
tion lO the house of the National Lib
erty Congress Colored Americans that
''■s has been sitting here this week.
The petition is as follows:
PETITION.
To the House of Representatives of
the United States of America:
Honorable Speaker ami Representa
tives, hear and receive, we pray, the
petition of the National Liberty Con
gress, composed of delegates from all
sections of the country in behalf of
all Colored Americans, those of Afri
can extraction, 12,000,000 strong,
loyal citizens desiring liberty and the
rights of democracy, \vc petition you
to hear our grievances, to wit, that—
First. We are the victims of civil
proscription, solely because of race
and color, in three-fourths of the
states and in the national capital
(federal territory), barred from places
of public accommodation, recreation,
and resort; yes, from such places
within government buildings.
Second. We are the victims of clasp
distinction, based solely on our race
and color, in public carriers in one
third of the states, segregated even
when passengers in interstate travr
and with the railroads under the con
trol of the federal government.
Third. We are the victims of caste
and race prejudice in government
military and naval schools and in of
ficer schools with other citizens soiel;
j on the basis of race and color, and
j in the navy' itself, except as to service
J below deck.
Fourth. We are the victims 01
[ proscriptive discrimination, based on
our race and color, in the executive
departments of the federal govern
ment, refused employment in many
I after appointment through the civil
| service, segregated at work, in the
appointments of health and comfort.
Fifth. We are the victims of po
litical proscription in one-third of the
states, even in the election of federal
officials, in violation of the federal
constitution, both indirectly by con
! gressional representation roased on
j disfranchisement and directly through
intimidation, trickery, or state
statutes and constitutions.
Sixth. We are the victims in many'
states, as a consequence of the fore
going civil and political prescriptions
of imposition, robbery, ravishing, mob
violence, murder, and massacre, be
cause of our race and color, denied
protection by police, of sheriffs; de
nied trial by court or jury, rendered
impotent, to protect our daughters,
j wives or mothers from violation by
white men or murder by the mob.
Inasmuch as our country is now
engaged in the most gigantic war in
recorded history, going to Europe to
fight, our President, Woodrow Wil
son, now the moral leader and spokes
man of the allied nations which are
resisting Germanic aggression having
officially declared that our country
has entered the fight for the pur
pose of democratizing the nations of
the world and liberating the free peo
ple everywhere, that we are embarked
upon “an enterprise which is to re
[ lease the spirits of the world from
bondage,” that we are “fighting for
j the rights of those who submit to au
thority' to have a voice in their own
government," to “make the world at
last free” for “security for life and
liberty,” to make the world safe for
democracy” which, meaning rule of
all people, necessarily carries the pre
sumption of the same pi/nlic rights
for all without difference or distinc
tion because of the accidents or race
or creed, thereby not creating class
privilege, which means autocracy.
Inasmuch as American citizens ir
respective of race or color are sub
ject to draft, or are drafted into fight
ing, while all citizens regardless of
race are expected to aid the govern
ment by moral support, by propa
ganda, by sacrifice at home to help
the government, all of which our ra
cial element is now doing with a
loyalty unsurpassed by citizens of any
race or color in every war, and, even
now, under present treatment, moral
ly greater than that of others because
the only vicarious loyalty;
In order that our country may not
be weakened in moral position, pres
tige and powrer by violations here of
the noble pronouncements of its presi- j
dent;
In order that the morale and esprit
de corps in this war, both of the sol
dier and of the civilian part of an
element of the American nearly one
eighth, may not be weakened by the
consciousness of the present denials
to it at home of those conditions and
ideals which they are sacrificing or
are risking life to secure for others,
with their soldiers witnessing the con
| tinuance of indignities, oppressions,
and killing of their kin ere they leave
for the battle front abroad, and with
out assurance of protection to their
j family, their sisters, wives, mothers
; from the lynching mob;
In order that when this awful world
war is over and victory comes to the
entente allies, the condition of life of '
12,000,000 human beings in the United
States of America may not prevent
the awful sacrifice from accomplish
ing the war’s moral purpose—democ-'
ratizing of the nations of the world—
and that our own republic may not
be a part of the world not safe for
democracy;
We do now petition you, the con
gress of the United States of Ameri
ca, as an act of justice, of moral con
sistency, and to help win the war for '
world democracy; 1
First. To abolish and forbid alf
distinctions, segregations, and dis- 1
criminations based upon race or color '
in places of public accommodation,
j recreation, and resort in federal build
j ings and in federal territory.
Second. To abolish and forbid all 1
distinctions, segregations, and dis- 1
criminations based upon our race and
color or upon prejudice of race or
color in the emoluments, the rating,
the promotions, the placement of em
ployees in the facilities provided by
the government for eating, rest, rec
i renting, health for government em
j ployees, or for others in federal gov
ernment buildings or in federal hos
; pitals.
Third. To abolish and forbid any
distinction, separation, or discrimina
tion based on race or colrtr in any
coach of any public carrier operated
| by the federal government.
Fourth. To open the doors of all
| schools of ft he federal government
J and all branches of the army and
j navy to citizens on the same basis,
without distinction or discrimination
based on race or color,
j Fifth. To exercise the mandatory
powers of the thirteenth, fourteenth’
j and fifteenth articles of the federal
constitution, to the end that there
shall be no involuntarily servitude,
no denial of the equal protection of
law, no denial of the exercise of suf
frage because of race, color, or pre
vious condition.
Sixth. To pass legislation extend
' ing the protection of the federal gov
j eminent to all citizens of the United
I States of America at home by' enact
ing that mob murders shall be a crime
against the federal government,’ sub
ject to the jurisdiction of the federal
courts, for in the words of Presi- ;
dent Wilson, “Democracy means, first
of all, that we can govern ourselves.”
Herewith endeth the petition of the
Colored Americans asking that the
words of the president of the United i
States of America be applied to all
at home:
“As July 4, 1776, was the dawn of
demociacy for this nation, let us on
July 4, 1918, celebrate the birth of
a new and greater spirit" of democ
racy, by whose influence we hope and
believe that what the signers of the
Declaration of Independence dreamed
of for themselves and their fellow
countrymen shall be fulfilled to all
mankind.”
NEBRASKA HOUSEHOLDERS
MUST EAT THIRD LESS SUGAR
Gurdon W. Wattles, Administrator
Nebraska’s allotment of sugar for
the month of August is 4,153,000
pounds, one-third less than the amount
we received in July. This cut of one
third means that Nebraska consumers
must reduce their consumption one
third if everybody is to have sugar
throughout the month. The new reg
ulations are:
Householders may buy two pounds
this month for each person in their
household. In cities and towns they
can buy only two pounds at a time,
no matter how large the family. Cus
tomers living on farms may buy five
pounds at one time.
Public eating places may buy two
pounds for each ninety meals served.
Less essential manufacturers may
have one-half the amount they used
in the corresponding period last year.
For canning and preserving pur
poses housewives may have what they
actually need. To get this sugar for
canning they must secure a certifi
cate from the county food adminis
trator or his representative after
complying with the requirements of
the administrator.
"There are no exceptions to these
rules,” says A. C. Lau, deputy food
administrator, “and any report to the
contrary must be given no considera
tion.”
i UNIFORM
: TAXI
CO.
T Calls Answered Day or Night.
j Rates $2.00 Per Hour. New 5
* Passenger Car.
'
Office For
FIRST CLASS CLEANING
AND PRESSING.
Neatly Done. Work Guaranteed.
FEE AVERETT
2111 North 21th St.
j Tel. Office Web. .'>220.
Res. Web. 2219.
4~»
x x x x xrx/x^xjtfx/x x x x x x x x x x x x,x x x x
j; 1888 1918 «
:: St. Paul Normal & jj
I! Industrial School 1
y ” LAWRENCEVILLE, VA.
r " H
Thirty-first Session
Opens September 24, 1918
COURSES
jj Primary, Grammar School, ■jj
Normal, Industrial
•< Graduates receive State High »
>< School Certificate, which will 8
jj admit to Standard Normal jj
■j Schools and Colleges. x
j; ©j
n Summer School for Teachers «
Extensive Trade Courses
jj Enrollment 1917-1918, 496. jj
x Athletic Training, Football, x
Baseball, Tennis, etc.
it lull Course in Military Training n
it , T §
x For Catalogue and further In- x
;; formation address—
x REV. JAS. S. RUSSELL, I). I)., x
Principal,
Lawrenceville, Va.
8 5
■.! X x x x X X x x x X X X X x x XiXjM;X MS'X>HI8»SH
The Kashmir
Beauty Shop
FOR LADIES
We Also Make a Specialty of
I RF.ATING MEN’S SCALPS
220 S. 13th St., Upstairs
13th and Farnam.
j JfSSE HALE, MOSS, Manager
Dougias 7150.
. .......
Invest In
i Michigan j
Orchards I
fortunes in It. Easy Terms, j
$10 Down; $7.50 a Month
SEE JESSE HALE MOSS,
13th and Farnam. Douglas 7150' I
HOLSUM
AND
KLEEN MAID
Why Buy Inferior When
The Best
COSTS NO ""RET
JAY BURNS BAKING CO.
Liberty Drug Co.
EVERYBODY’S DRUG STORE
B. Robinson, Manager
1904 No. 24th St.
Webster 386 Omaha, Neb.
*•*'•**•* v*t,****I*****I**»##***!**!**!**!*»I,*!*,t'*t,*!»*!**!*»!»*J»»!*»J«*!**!»*t*4I**t*,!**!**!*#!**t**!**!**i*,!*#!**!**!**!*»I**!»#!**i**!#*!**!»*!»*I»
£ $
.;. ;»:
El torn Day* of Rookletss and Ruth lens Price Slaughter in Wen's,
Women’s and Children's Wearing Apparel and All Kinds of Shoes. •{•
2 I
X x
Quick Action Prices |
X TO CLEAN. Cl* ALL STOCK AT ONCE
V
I
X ■' Few Items From an All Star Bargain last: •{•
| $L00 Value Ladies’ Sport Hats in white, blue and Fancy, for 25c X
•j. $2.00 Value Hoys’ Wash Suits 08c
;j; $20.00 Value Men’s Wash Suits .$*.>.1)5 V
I*! $1.50 Value Shirts on sale !)8c !j!
•!• $4.00 Value Men’s Oxfords and Shoes $1.08 •{•
•j* $6.00 Value Hoys’ Suits $3.05 *!'
X X
$4.00 Value Ladies’ Oxfords, Black and Tan $1.08
jf Special Men’s Work Pants $1.08 •{•
X $3.00 Wash Skirts $1.65 !•'.
.j. 25c Value Men’s Sox .14c .j.
v V
X $3.00 Hats in Black, Brown and Pearl Gray $1.08 V
!j! $2.50 Value Ladies Slippers $1.00 !j!
!j. helphand!
I CLOTHING CO.
I i
314-316 North 16th Street
%
Smell Sweet
Anything in the line of Toilet
Articles, Perfumes, Soaps, Face
Powder; also Household Ar
ticles, Olive Oil, Extract:, etc.
Mrs. E. Britton
AGENT
2til Ersktne St. Webster 2927
.IllllillimillMllllllllllllllllllllMIIIIMIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIiloillllltnMMIIIIIIIIIMIKIir I
The Business
World
Business Enterprises Conducted
by Colored People—Help Them
to Grow by Your Patronage.
TERRELL'S DRUG STORE
Graduate Pharmacist
Prompt Delivery Excellent Service
Webster 4443 24th am? Grant
DR. CRAIG MORRIS
DENTIST
2107 Lake St. Phone Web. 402«
PATTOH HOTEL AND CAFE)
N. A. Patton, Proprietor j
1014-1016-1018 South 11th St. {
Telephone Douglas 4445 ,
62 MODERN AND NEATLY t
FURNISHED ROOMS 1
i Automobile and Open ,
I Horse Drawn Hearses DayandNlghti
{ONES ‘EL CHILES
I FUNERAL HOME I
I Lady Attendant I
1 Calls answered promptly anywhere!
Web. 1100 and Web. 204
1 Licensed Embalmer. I
AUGUST ANDEFSON
I GROCERIES AND FRUITS ]
Good Goods—Fair Prices
Webster 2271 21th and Clark. 1
Res. Colfax 3831 Douglas 3181
AMOS P. SCRUGGS
Attorney - at - Law
3807 Camden Avenue.
Repairing and Storing
Orders Promptly Filled
Norm side
SECOND-HAND STORE
Auction Every Saturday
R. B. Rhodes
Dealer in
New and Second Hand Furniture
and Stoves.
Household Goods Bought and Sold
Rental and Real Estate
2522 Lake St. Webster 908
. . .......
Annie Banks Cecil B Wilke*
BANKS-WILKES
Funeral Directors and Embalmer#
Lady Aasistant
Satiafaction Guaranteed
1014 Cuminpr Street
Bee. Doug. 4379, Office Doug. 371'*
Warden Hotel
On Sixteenth Street at Cuming.
STEAM HEATED ROOMS—HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER—BATHS
By Day for One..50c, 75c, $1.00
By Day for Two.$1.00, $1.25. $1.50
By Week .$2.00 to $4.50
BILLIARD PARLOR IN CONNECTION FOR GENTLEMEN WHO CARE
EASY WALKING DISTANCE TO HEART OF CITY
Douglas 6332. Charles H. Warden, Proprietor.
-BUY THRIfT STAMPS
First Class Hand
Laundry
I I
A FINISHED AND ROUGH DRIED X
V •!»
X All Work Guaranteed y
X *!•
? 1706 North 24th St. Tel. Webster 1091 or 2712 A
V v
v A
Trade at the Washington Market
The Most Sanitary and Up-to-Date Market in the Middle
West. Visit Our Branch at the McCrory 3c and 10c
Store in the Basement.
Washington Market
1407 DOUGLAS STREET
:: x :::: « x x x :: :: x x x x X x x x a x x x x a x x x x x x x x x x Xx X a x a x x x,XxTx'x x x X,
“ Office Douglas 7812. x
I I
« ::
•< ::
I Dr. C. H. Singleton jj
DENTIST 1
x I
.» . 1
Office Hours 109 S. Fourteenth St.,
x 9 to 12 A. M. 1 to 6 P. M; Omaha, Nebraska ”
X X X X XXX. X X XXXXXXXXXX X X ,X. X; X XXX X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X :
MORROW’S
HAND LAUNDRY
First Class Work Guaranteed. First Class Colored Laundry.
CLOTHES CALLED FOR AND DELIVERED.
Webster 5322. 25th and Grant Streets.
MARSHALL & LEE
RELIABLE TAILORS
SUITS MADE TO ORDER FOR $18.00 AND UP
Experts in the arts of repairing and remaking. Our dyeing and
cleaning is unexcelled. Our assistant manager, Mr. Haroid Bentley,
who recently returned from Western University, is rendering his
most efficient service in our shop.
Call Red 7306 103 So. 14th St., Omaha, Neb.
WESTERN INDEMNITY COMPANY
Incorporated
PROTECTION FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
This Company issues policy contracts from age six months
to sixty-five yeai’s.
PROTECTION THAT PROTECTS
INSURANCE THAT INSURES THE INSURED
314 Baird Building, Omaha, Neb.
For further information call Douglas 1733.
