Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-04
WANT ASSISTANCE"
Letters That Are Being Sent to Col
ored Employees.
DEMAND CONSIDERED PEREMPTORY
What the Chief of the Afro-Ameri-
can Bureau Says.
G f \ Z r A L p e r p 0 S Z S

It has been charged that the recent dis
missal of so per cent of the colored en-
ployes of the War Department was due
to the failure Of these whose heads were
cut off to contribute furds for democratic
campaign purposes. Letters are now being
ro ceived by every colored employe Of the
Treasury Department which are consider
ed to be threatening in their tone. Star
reporter was handed two of the epistles
which, though worded differently. convey
the same mandatory appeal for contribl-
tons.
The letters are written in a scrawling
hand on paper headed in bold type, as fol-
lows: "Afro-American bureau of organiza-
ton of the democratic congressional COM
mittee, Room D, Corcoran building. Robert
g. STILL chief. Advisory board. c. ii. j.
Taylor, Kansas. NJ. l.. Koonce, Alabama !;
II. c. c; Astwood. New York; 7. w. Swami,
Pennsylvania: w. L. Gross, New York;
Clifford Plummer. Massachusetts; John
Brown, New Jersey; J. T. c. Newsom
Texas" One is dated July IS. and reads
given below:
MY dear sir:
I'VE sent you a letter some time ago, but
have had no reply. You will therefore
please call and US Immediately, either
at the above address until 5:30 pm, at the
committee looms. Wormeys Hotel from
Z to pm, or at the headquarters of the
National Negro Democratic League, 33S
Indiana avenue from pm. to 10 pm.
II. G. STILL.
Chief"
July 80 is the date of the other letter, the
wording of which is:
My Dear Sir: We sent you a letter some
time ago, from which we have had no reply
The congressional committee, of which
Senator Charles J. Faulkner is chairman
needs the immediate assistance of all its
frinndC will ya1a
see us Immediately, either at the above ad-
dress until $50 pm, at the committee
rooms. Wormley's Hotel, from to p.m
or at the headquarters of the National
Negro Democratic League, 33S Indiana
avenue. from pm. to 10 pm.
Respectfully yours,
r. G. STILL,
Chief"
Various Kinds OF "Assistance.-
A Star reporter called upon Mr.. Robert
G. Still. chief of the so-called Afro-Amer-
lean Bureau OF Organization, at his office
room 3. Corcoran building today, in regard
to his letters to the colored employees of the
government departments at Washington,
calling upon them for assistance to the
democratic cause. Mr.. Still admitted having
written such letters and talked in a very
philosophical way about his actions. He
contended that his conduct had been per-
fectly legitimate and was in no wise in vio-
lation OF the laws against political assess
ments. He made a strong point of the fact
that in none Of his letters any mention is
made of money, and explained that there
are various kinds of Assistance" He said
that persons desiring to help them could
render Assistance on the stump. or they
might be able to give valuable information
regarding the status of the colored people
nVing in their districts; or they might aid
the committee in sending out documents or
other Campaign matter. Many colored en-
Moves a ed in,
ner indicated. OF course. money would be
Of greatest assistance" and would be
most gladly accepted. but Mr.. Still said
that SO far in none OF his letters has he
called specifically for such kind Of assist
ance."
What Mr.. still Says,
THE democratic congressional committee,
which is acting in harmony with the Ma
tional Democratic Society, and the Negro
National democratic League" Mr. Still said.
lis desirous of enlisting the support and CO.
operation of all who are in sympathy with
the principles and policy of the present ad-
ministration. To this end every effort will
DC made by the dissemination of literature
and through the popular educator of the peo-
ple-the presto perpetuate the existing
principles and policy. Our committee deems
1t essential, in order to achieve the best re-
suits, that club organizations be formed
which will unite in a general body for
common cause and the general welfare such
as the congressional club now in existence
We sent letters to the colored men in the
departments on the supposition that they
were in sympathy with the policy of the
present administration, inviting them to
meet US for the purpose of assisting the
congressional committee in their efforts TO
further the interests OF the party in the
coming fall campaign. The democratic party
mas taken an advance stand in the creation
of this Afro-American bureau, 1t being the
first time that any political problem has
placed colored men in charge of the political
work among the people Of that race Our
efforts are not confined to Washington. but
extend all over the country"