The evening times., 1901-05-21
GOJORED WOMEN TO PROTEST.
They Claim They Are Entitled TO
McmberShip in the .. 4. r.

coiored women who claim to be
descended Of ancestors who assist
cd in achieving American indc-
pendence, and who intended to apply
for admission into the National Society
OF the Daughters Of the American Revo-
luton, would be received with that cor
dial welcome which was anticipated by
them They. however, it is said, are not
disuayed. and intend to prosecute a live
" fight for recognition and admission.
The more determined. it is said. suggest
carrying the matter into the courts
claiming their exclusion from the society
on account Of their race and color. to be
unconstitutional Should they receive no
satisfaction from the courts, the apQIi-
cauts intend to organize a NataiouaI So
Ciety Of CJiored Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution. adopting the constitution
and bylaws OF the Daughters OF the
American Revolution
Their claim cor admission into the Ma
tiouaI Society of the Daughters Of the
American Revolution, they contend, is
based on the acts Of Incorporation of the
Daughters of the American Revolution,
which contains a clause enttIing all
those to membership in the society whose
ancestors assisted in achieving American
independence, or rendered material aid.
They claim, the Daughters Of the AmeTi-
evan Revolution must show legal cause
why they exclude from their ranks col
ored women who can prove beyond a
doubt that they are descendants of Rev
oIUtionary patriots
Referring to this matter, Miss Susan
Riviere HetzeI, ex-Registrar General of
the National Society Of the Daughters Of
the American Revolution, made the fol-
LOW
The Washington Times Of Saturday
Nay IL asserts that several prominent
coIored women viii apply for membership
IN the National Society of the Daughters
Of the American Revolution; basinS their
claim on an Official communication sent
by Miss SUSAN Riviere Hetzel, the Reg
istrar General to Mrs. Amos G. Draper,
on January 81, 1892 Also stating that
such descendants are guaranteed mem
bershfp in the society and cannot be re-
jeCted on any pretext after they have once
established the validity of their claim
The official communication alluded to
is to the effect that the descendants Of
those who loaned money TO the Govern
ment during The Revolutionary War are
entitled to membership in the society
This letter was sent TO Mrs Draper
and published by her with d list of names
y
on the rolls Of the Treasury Department
Il simply endorses more clearly the
claims OF those who gave material aid
as expressed in the eligibility clause
Of the D. 4 r Constitution. which clause
concludes with these important words
provided the applicant be acceptable 10
the society
As ] am given as an authority for en-
couragiug these prominent coiored wO-
men to send IN applications ! feel 1t my
duty 10 let them know that their claims
h.. dor. rH for
sufficient reasons:
--First-No matter how valid a claim
may be, it was many years ago decided
that applicants OF that race were unac-
ceDtahIe to the society
'Second-The validity OF any such
claim cannot be established as descent
from such ancestors cannot be proved,
owing TO legal obstacles well known TO
all students Of American history and gen
-s~TIiIrI-There are no COlored men on
the list as furnished by Mrs Draper The
reasons are given by her in her preface
to the little volume.
IN snort. claims would not be COnSid-
cred # they could be verified
No claims OF that kind can be verihed,
and they haze no claims TO verify
Speaking Of this contemplated move
rnent Mrs. Amos c. Draper said i had
never been made q universal rule 20 eX-
cIude CoIored women from the daughters
! Of the American Revolution, but that Il
was left to each chapter 70 ADMIT OF re-
1 Ject such persons as it saw tit Mrs. DTaD-
er in regard 10 ths eligibility of colored
Z women to membership III the Daughters
/ of the American Revolution, made the IOI-
1 lowing statement
Referring 10 a book. containing the
names Of many Massa chusetts patriots
I who loaned money 70 the Federal Govern
ment during the years l4fI-S, an article IN
I The Times Of May II says Among
them can be found the names Of a NUM-
: Der Of cgiyred men The name Of no col
ored man CEn be found in the book men
1 toned One name ana only one, that OF
I Samuel Ware tDsgTO), Boston HDpesLTe Cd
IN the original list, as copied ny me, but
I If the reporter had read on q little further
( he would nave found the following para
( graph.
I last time 7 discovered to my surprise that
I in the resolution C Congress July = 1Is9.
a DrOViso vas made that the hoiCerS OF
such bills should take oath that they had
not been obtained directly or indirectly
! at q discount This led one TO infer that
( all the holders OF bills Of the emissions OF
I Nav . III. and april II, 1IlS. were not
! necessarily the patriots they had been
! SIUu1Sed To be they might have come
commercial way ], therefore, divided the
names into two classes The first. which
I is printed n this volume, contains the
names Of those who not only held bills of
the emissions before mentioned but also
| exchanged them for United States bonds
payable IN the then distant future. thereby
/ doubiy showing their patriotism The
other. by far the larger class, while con-
I tanning the names o. many undoubtcd pa
/ trfots, IS not printed, the evidence Of pa
! trio:ism not being sufficient WithOU- some
other proof. TO eutitle their descendants
/ to admission 10 the Daughters Of the
/ American Revolution. The list is vail
able simply for historical purposes.
! Samuel Wares name was among the
| larger class, and IS not, therefore, iuCIud-
ed in the list referred to by Miss HetzeI,
9 -.r-H- a~Bf