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[[image - five photographs]] 

THE LATE C. J. RYDER 

THE LATE J. B. BELL  

MRS. J. C. HORTON

L. S. HICKS 

C. L. RICE 

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National Association for the Advancement of Colored people


MOORFIELD STOREY DRIVE FOR 50,000 MEMBERS. 

Don't overlook the Association's drive for 50,000 members by May 1. A large membership is imperative for local and national success. The National Office is badly crippled for lack of funds energetically to carry on the fight for equal opportunity and a fair chance for all Americans, irrespective of color.

If interested, communicate with the National Office, 70 Fifth Avenue, New York.

If you have no branch in your city and wish to organize one and take part in this drive, kindly let us hear from you.


ESTILL SPRINGS BURNING

ON February 12, Lincoln's Birthday, Jim M'Ilheron was burned at the stake in Estill Springs, Franklin County, Tenn. He was accused of killing two white men and wounding a third.

February 9, a telegram was sent from the Secretary of the N. A. A. C. P. to the President of the United States:

"Speaking on behalf of millions of Americans, we respectfully call your attention to the horrible crime at Estill Springs, Tenn., where a fellow-American, accused of murder, was first tortured by hot irons and then slowly burned to death by a mob, the second burning recently of this kind.

"You have spoken out so nobly against German crimes in Belgium and on the high seas that we beg of you to break your silence and to denounce properly these terrible mob acts which cover us with shame and humiliation at the moment when we as a nation would speak and act for justice and righteousness, for decency and humanity abroad."


On February 14 an acknowledgment of the Association's telegram to the President was made by his Secretary with the statement that the matter had been referred to the Attorney General.


On February 18 the Association received a letter from the United States Attorney General, through Assistant Attorney General William C. Fitts, stating that "Under the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, the Federal Government has absolutely no jurisdiction over matters of this kind; nor are they connected with the war in any such way as to justify the action of the Federal Government under the war power."


February 19: Extract from another letter to the President from the Secretary:

"In view of this statement of the Attorney General and the silence of the Governor of Tennessee, we beg you to lay this matter again before the President lest the laws be flouted and justice denied. A statement from the President at this time, if he would be disposed to make it, would have a tremendously stimulating effect on the morale of the colored people whose sons are preparing to give their lives for America and who in sadness of heart and some disturbance of mind are looking apprehensively toward Tennessee to see whether in our own nation law or mob violence is to be supreme. 

"The President's inspiring moral leadership as a man, no less his position as President, gives him the opportunity, and may we suggest respectfully, the responsibility of speaking out. Hundreds of thousands of colored soldiers in the army and millions of their fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers would receive a new baptism of devotion to their country if it were made clear that the equal protection of the laws was to be afforded all men, whether white or black.

"This Association wishes it understood that it does not and will not condone the crimes nor apologize for the offenses of colored men."


February 14 and 15: The Secretary of the Association wired Governor Tom C. Rye on the 14th and on the 15th wrote to him as follows:

Dear Sir:

"I wired you yesterday in a night letter from Washington as follows:

"The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, speaking in the name of its ninety branches and ten thousand members, and on behalf of the outrage citizenship of the whole country, appeals to you to take action to bring to justice the perpetrators of the foul wrong against the honor of your State in lynching 

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