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The Outer Pocket ENCLOSED find my check on Alliance Bank of Rochester, N. Y., in favor of O. G. Villard, Treas., for $10, being another contribution to your Anti-Lynching Fund; this to cover that at Gainesville, Fla. I wonder if I can afford to give $10 for every lynching that you describe in a fair and unbiased manner--simply stating the facts? I am ready to try it--may have to cut it down five. G.R. Carter [Ex-Governor of Hawaii.] Loon Lake, N. Y. Some of the stories and poems which have appeared in your magazine I have enjoyed, but none have so appealed to me as "A Fragment" in a recent number. I have read it twice, alone, and to others with a choking in my throat. Its beautiful tribute to a mother willing to sacrifice all for her daughter's education and chance in life is most touching. The self-effacing purity of the love of the girl for the man she dared no love openly, is almost too pathetic. It is charmingly written and the story is, I believe, a true picture of the ambitions and heart-suffering of many of the Negro race. It must appeal to the best in every man and woman who reads it. If the day will but soon come when the Negro may have the same chance as those of all other races! Alexina Carter Barrell Boston, Mass. ----- I read with interest "A Fragment" and it reminds me of the sayings of the old Southern white man, "A Grief Nigger" and I do not think stories of that type should go to print in a Negro journal as there is nothing to learn or elevating in the reading, and the writing substantiates my theory that there is little or no hope for the Negro along many lines. He is of two bloods and each blood is demanding his attention. You know the Negro man has always demanded the service of his women and confiscated their money which accounts for their desire for the love of the white Man. C.P. Duncan. Oakland, Cal. ----- I noticed in your issue for October a mention of A. T. Smith, of this city and formerly Managing Editor of the Paul Quinn Weekly, in which you say he is still in jail and has been for a month or more. Smith has been in jail for more than four months. He was indicted for criminal libel. He was tried about three weeks ago and convicted and is still in jail serving his sentence. He was arraigned for trial without an attorney to defend him and the college for which he worked refused to help and left him to his fate. I volunteered my services rather than see him go to slaughter without an advocate. A jury was waived and I tried the case before the court. The State asked that he be given the extreme penalty--two years in jail. The court room was full of spectators. The trial began Monday morning and closed Tuesday evening. The judge gave him a sentence of one year and allowed him the benefit of the four months he had served, making in face an eight months' sentence. They took him to the county roads as a county convict under the laws of this State to do hard labor. I moved to commute his sentence by paying a dollar a day and have him remain in jail. The court said he was without law to do so, but granted me a hearing to show what law I had for it, with the effect that Smith came back from the road. I had raised among the colored folk by subscription about $34 and paid his first month's wages over to the county treasurer. I I can not keep this up he will go back to the convict game to work on the roads of the county. The entire trial of Joe Washington was reviewed on this trial and the articles that Smith wrote were read, and to say the least, he took this city to task harder than any I have read on this lynching. I feared violence would be practiced during the trial, but everybody choked it down. The colored people here were afraid to help him and afraid for me to do so, but I believed in his innocence and could not refrain from coming to his assistance. It is all over now and he faces a jail sentence of about seven more months. I wish he could be helped, as I feel sure I can do more for him yet as white sentiment has changed since the trial. The Outer Pocket 123 These were two of them indicted for the same offence; another, Zelford Carter, remains to be tired, but i have almost an assurance that I will turn him loose. R.D. Evans Waco, Tex. May I ask you to kindly alter your statement of the purpose of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People so that a humble American citizen like myself may be included? The statement reads: "It believes colored men and women must organize, etc." I do not admit these exclusive privileges in that matter and ask that you modify the statement to read: "It believes American citizens white and colored must organize and fight for the full rights of colored citizens and all other native-born American citizens." George G. Bradford, Boston, Mass. I am a poor, working man and a constant reader of THE CRISIS. It makes my heart leap for joy to know that some one can and will help the poor colored people of the South. I am a Southerner myself and I know something about conditions down there. I have only been here one month and, of course, a working man from the South-you know what chance I have had there. I only wish I could give the whole $10,000 for the Anti-lynching Fund and I think there are thousands who would gladly do so if they were able. I honestly believe it is not because we are so narrow-minded about helping the fund; I believe it is financial matters that keep us from it. But in the future I hope I may be better qualified to help the good cause. L. W. Whitner. Omaha, Neb. As a staunch member of the race I am herewith enclosing for your information a few facts about this city. The Northern Railroad has been recruiting Negroes from the South to work on the road. This has caused considerable uneasiness among some of the white folks here who "make money off of Negro labor." The Mayor, Chamber of Commerce and quite a number of associations have protested to the president of this road asking that these Negroes be not taken from here. Whenever the Negroes gather around the depot to leave the police arrest and beat just as many as they can. The Mayor issued orders to arrest any Negroes found standing on the street corners or around the recruiting office. The police became so bad about beating the Negroes that it was necessary to have the Mayor to ask them not to use their clubs so freely on these poor fellow. The City Council in this city and in many others immediately passed a law making the license $1,000 for recruiting, a clipping of which I am enclosing. Notice the editorial of one of the leading papers of the city. Also note how they are treating my people just a few miles from here in this lynching matter and yet the white people object to them leaving. They are wanted here to work cheap and be killed for the least thing they do. I hold an important position in this city and for that reason will not possibly give you my name until I hear from you and you assure me that whatever I write you under my signature will be treated confidentially. The Federal Government established an office in the Post Office Building yesterday for the purpose of recruiting Negroes North to work. This office was on the fourth floor. They would not let Negroes ride up on the elevator, but made them walk up. The city authorities then got busy and placed policemen in front of the building and there they began to arrest and abuse every Negro they could get their hands on. I understand (this I do not know for a fact) that the U.S. Marshal then appeared on the scene and told the city authorities that those Negroes were on Government property; that they were not to be molested. Immediately then the Mayor, Board of Trade, Chamber of Commerce and a few prominent individuals telegraphed U.S. Senators Fletcher and Bryan from this State and also the Congressmen asking that they use their influence to have the order revoked in Washington. Nearly 1,000 Negroes have left the State, and I forgot to tell you that the majority of them had to go out to the city limits and catch the train as it was passing since the policemen would not let them go through the depot. This exodus has created great amazement down here and what few Negroes are left have had their wages raised and are being treated somewhat better. Jacksonville, Fla.
