Plaindealer of Detroit, Mich., issued a circular to the leading men, calling on them for aid. The response from these circulars was both satisfactory and encouraging. The Plaindealer publishes them under the caption—"Let us reason together."
Judge A. W. Tourgee, in his answer to The Plaindealer, said: "If Irishmen may organize, to aid in improving the condition of Ireland; or other nationalities among our citizenship, to perpetuate the tradition of the land of their nativity, I can not see why it is not only the privilege but the bounden duty of the only class of our citizens whom any one has ever proposed to deprive of the rights so readily conferred upon the alien, to organize for consultation and harmony of action in the maintenance of their lawful rights, in a lawful manner."
Prof. B. T. Washington said: "An organization of this kind, I am sure, can be made to serve a good end, if it can, in some way, be made to reach the masses of the colored people. Most of our conferences, conventions, etc., have reached only the mountain peaks, leaving the great Alpine range of humanity and activity below."
Other views were received from Hons. John R. Lynch, J. M. Townsend, Rev. J. C. Price, D. D., and a host of others. Suffice to say, the consensus of opinion was so satisfactory to The Plaindealer, it was led, editorially, to ask for a call, as follows: The success of the proposed national Afro-American League is almost assured; there remains but one preliminary arrangement to be perfected, and that is the call with the number of delegates to which each state is entitled. This should be made before new state organizations are effected, to save the expense of two state conventions. The consensus of opinion, as gathered from The Plaindealer from those in a position to represent the sentiment of their localities, is almost unanimous as to the need of such an
