OFFICE OF ANTI-LYNCHING BUREAU
2939 PRINCETON AVE. .......... CHICAGO. 

To the Members of the Anti-Lynching Bureau;-- 

The year of 1901 with its lynching record is a thing of the past. There were
135 human beings that met death at the hands of mobs during this year. Not
only is the list larger than for four years past, but the barbarism of this
lawlessness is on the increase. Six human beings were burned alive between
January 1st 1901 and Jan. 1st 1902. More persons met death in this horrible
manner the past twelve months than in three years before and in proportion as
the number roasted alive increases, in the same proportion has has there been
an indifference manifested by the public. Time was when the country resounded
with denunciation and the horror of burning a human being by so called
christian and civilized people. The newspapers were full of it.  The last
time a human being was made fuel for flames it was scarcely noticed in the
papers editorially. And 
the chairman of your bureau finds it harder every year to get such matter
printed. In other words, the need for agitation and publication of facts is
greater than ever, while the avenues through which to make such publications
have decreased. 
Nowhere does this apathetic condition prevail to a greater extent than within
the membership of the Anti-Lynching Bureau. When the bureau was first
organized three years ago, it was thought that every man, woman, and child
who had a drop of Negro blood in his veins and every person else who wanted
to see mob law put down would gladly contribute 25 cents per year to this
end. There were upward of 300 responses to the first appeal and less than 50
per cent renewed at the end of that year. The third year of the bureau's
existence is half over and although the chairman has determined to issue a
periodical, there are absolutely no funds in the treasury to pay postage much
less the printer.  Nevertheless my faith in the justice of our cause and the
absolute need of this agitation leads me to again 
address those who have shown 25 cents worth of interest in the matter
heretofore. I send with this circular a pamphlet which friends have helped to
pay for. It was thought best to begin with what to us was the beginning of
history for our race in the United States the Reconstruction period. In view
of the recent 
agitation in Congress and out anent the disfranchisement of the Negro and the
causes alleged therefore it was thought best to throw some light on those
times and give some unwritten history. This history is written by one who can
say with Julius Caesar of the history he wrote: "All of which I saw and part
of which 
I was." He has given his time and money to aid the publication. Will not the
members of the bureau bestir themselves to circulate this number and aid in
the publication of others. We can only change public sentiment and enforce
laws by educating the people., giving them facts. This you can do by 1st,
Renewing 
your membership in the Anti-Lynching Bureau and securing others. 2nd, By
paying for the copy sent you and purchasing others to distribute. 3rd. By
paying for the copy of the Reconstruction "Review" to your Congressman
together with a letter urging the cutting down of the representation in
Congress of the states 
which have nullified the Constitution. It rests with you to say whether the
Anti-Lynching Bureau shall be strengthened to do its work for the future. 
Jan. 1st, 1902. .......... Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Chairman.