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140 THE CRISIS towns with a population of 500 Negroes, 100 of whom came in as charter members—one-fifth of the Negro population. At another place eighty-nine Negroes became members of the Association as the result of a speech. Our new branches have vision. It is delightful to see a divided, apathetic community come to a sense of social consciousness through the unifying influence of the National Association. In Ypsilanti, Mich., there had existed a colored school for forty years. All Negro children attended this school to the sixth grade. The building was most unsanitary and its equipment inferior. Recently a bond issue was proposed and most of the Negro voters were disposed to favor it, for it was to provide a $40,000 Negro school. The fact that this school was to include all the grades of the grammar school and eventually of the high school, making segregation in education complete, did not seem to affect them. For forty years the whites had imposed a Negro school on them, and it was useless and vain to rebel. The writer invited himself to a meeting held to discuss the bond issue and took with him a brilliant young attorney of Detroit, Charles H. Mahoney, who is intensely interested in his people. The two of us tried with all our might to get them to vote down the bond issue, to organize a branch of the Association, and to take the case of a separate school into court. Mr. Mahoney offered his services as attorney free of charge. We thought that we had failed, but not only did they vote down the bond issue, but they requested the District Organizer to come and establish a branch of the Association, and the first thing the branch did was to accept Mr. Mahoney's offer. A short while ago, the case was tried and Mr. Mahoney's clients were awarded the decision that this Negro school was both unsanitary and illegal and must be closed as such. It was my pleasure to be present a few nights later when this branch presented Mr. Mahoney with a purse of eighty-five dollars in appreciation of his services. In Ohio, a copy of the New York Civil Rights Bill was introduced in the legislature. We called a conference of the Ohio branches and an efficient lobby was organized. Telegrams and petitions were sent from the colored people all over the state, and the bill was passed by an overwhelming vote in the House and went to the second reading in the Senate. At this juncture, the opposition became aroused, and the sponsor of the bill, the lone colored representative of Ohio, disappeared for a while. When at length found at his home in Cincinnati, he stated that he had been taken ill. While he was absent, the bill was recalled for reconsideration, and when it came again to the vote, was lost. Ohio has a civil rights law, but it is greatly inferior to the proposed one. The Ohio branches, however, learned the benefit of state organization while working for this bill, and are eager for a permanent state conference. In Michigan, the writer thought the time opportune for the introduction of the New York bill as the old civil rights law of Michigan was inadequate. Being instructed by the Detroit's branch to get this bill offered in the legislature, he placed it in the hands of Senator Condon and Representative Copley, both from Detroit. These men introduced it simultaneously in the House and Senate. On the night before the bill was introduced we organized the splendid Lansing branch, and this branch through the leadership of its efficient president, Mr. Charles Campbell, with assistance of Mr. Hesper Jackson, who is secretary, acted as a lobby and kept us apprised of every step of progress in the matter. We succeeded in getting every branch in the state and many lodges, churches and clubs to send telegrams and petitions to their senators and representatives. In the judiciary committee of the Senate, the bill, in spite of our efforts, was badly slashed through the influence of Senator Brennon, of Detroit, who is, we understand, identified with large restaurant interests. It was finally reported out with recommendation for passage, and passed the Senate by unanimous vote of all present. After considerable delay it was reported out of the judiciary committee of the House, but tabled on the objection of a member from Mackinac Island, who felt that his constituents would not stand for Indians eating in their restaurants. Rumor reached us that the bill was to be allowed to lie on the table until the House adjourned, and that if it did come to vote, the Wayne county delegation would vote against it. We sent out a press-story and news-letter, pointing out why the bill should pass and reminding the Wayne delegation that 30,000 Negro voters were holding them accountable for the passage N. A. A. C. P. 141 of the bill and that our Association would do everything in its power to inform these voters as to their action. We also had every Wayne member called up by long distance and urged to bring the bill to vote and to vote for it. One representative told me that he received twelve long distance messages from Detroit urging him to vote for the bill. The bill was immediately called to vote, and was passed by a vote of 67 to 6. Three of those who voted against the bill were from Detroit, one from the district in which Flint is located and the other two from the northern part of the state. We are doing all in our power to rivet their names in the memories of our people. The bill has now been signed by Governor Sleeper. The bill could not have passed without the help of the Lansing branch, to which too much praise cannot be accorded. The bill is not ideal, but it is clearer, more specific and more inclusive than the old law. The civil award to the aggrieved party was declared unconstitutional in Michigan, and so was dropped. We are not wholly satisfied as to the accuracy of this finding. The branches in Michigan learned the benefit of united action in their effort to pass the bill, and are planning a state conference for permanent concerted action in state affairs. They also intend to get the bill made stronger at the next session of the legislature. Here is the bill as passed: A BILL To amend Sections one and two of Act No. 130 of the Public Acts of 1885, entitled "An Act to Protect All Citizens in Their Civil Rights," the same being compiler Sections 15570 and 15571 of the Compiled Laws of 1915. The People of the State of Michigan enact: Section 1. All persons within the jurisdiction of this state shall be entitled to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of inns, restaurants, eating houses, barber shops, public conveyances on land and water, theaters, motion picture houses and all other places of public accommodation, amusement and recreation and all public educational institutions of the state subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike and to all citizens. Section 2. Any person being an owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, agent or employee of any such place who shall directly or indirectly refuse, withhold from or deny to any person any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges thereof or directly or indirectly publish, circulate, issue, display, post or mail any written or printed communication, notice or advertisement to the effect that any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of any such places shall be refused, withheld from or denied to any person on account of race, creed or color or that any particular race, creed or color is not welcome, objectionable or not acceptable, desired or solicited shall for every such offense be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not less than fifteen dollars or more than one hundred dollars or shall be imprisoned in the county jail for not more than ninety days, or both, such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. THE ATLANTA BRANCH In the June CRISIS the work of the Atlanta Branch was reported with the name of the President, Rev. A. D. Williams, omitted. This mistake was due to the office having received word that the president had resigned to go to Detroit, and not having heard of his return to Atlanta. We are glad, however, to learn that his presidency was kept open and that he is active again in the Branch. It was he who reorganized the work in June, 1918, and he brought up the membership to 1,400 in six months. Then he went North. but returned after two months to find a membership of 1,600 which has now become over 2,400. The Rev. Mr. Williams has been active on all committees in planning the registration campaign. He is one of those alert, wide-awake presidents that every Branch needs. His return to Atlanta and resumption of his duties of the presidency has been of great help to the N. A. A. C. P. work. We hope that all readers of the June CRISIS will add his name to the list of able men and women who have begun the long battle to make Atlanta "safe for democracy." The Rev. Mr. Williams is one of Atlanta's delegates to the Cleveland Conference. N. A. A. C. P. 1
