The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-09
USE OF WHITE LOT IS
DENIED TO CHILDREN
Rescue League Takes Its
Charges to Monument.
COLOR LINE is OBJECTED TO
President Said to Disapprove of Use of
His Grounds If There Is Dis
elimination.

Five hundred poor children OF Wash
ington were entertained yesterday by
the Woman's Rescue League on the
Monument Lot instead OF In the White
| House grounds, which had been pre-
viously promised them by President
Roosevelt Disappointment in not being
given the use of the Presidents grounds
was more keenly felt by members of the
league than by the little guests.
1t was generally understood yester-
day, and SO stated by members of the
league, that the reason for the Presi-
dents revocation of the order that the
White Lot be thrown open for the chill
dren's use was that no colored children
were TO be permitted to enjoy the hos
pitality Of the league. The mere sug-
gestion that such was the reason ad-
vanced for the change caused much in
dignation among those having the en-
tertainment in charge, and is to result
in an indignation meeting next week,
when some course of investigating the
matter will be considered
In response to a letter from Mrs.
Charlotte Smith. president of the
( Woman's Rescue League. President
| Roosevelt few days ago communicated
by long distance telephone with Colonel
| Symons, Superintendent of Public
Grounds. directing him 70 notify the
| league that the White House grounds
would be at its disposal for days out
| ing for the children. subsequent let
ter from Colonel Symons informed Mrs.
/ Smith that the bandstand would be
| erected and the United States Marine
Band would be in attendance in the
| afternoon.
Order Is Rescinded.
| At o'clock Friday afternoon. Mrs
Smith received a lengthy communication
/ from Colonel Symons expressing his
regret that the order for the use of the
! White House grounds must be revoked.
| He added that, if IL so desired, the
! leag que might have the use of the Monu-
ment lot for its entertainment but that
owing to the fact that the band was to
| play within the Enclosure of the White
| Lot, no bandstand could be erected on
the Monument grounds.
Inquiry at the Office of Colonel Sy-
mons ELECTED the information that the
order had come from Oyster Bay. No
explanation was offered for the change
| of program. but members of the
| league declare that they were told
| that some one wrote to the
| President informing him that The
League purposed TO entertain only white
| children and exclude negro children
from the White House lawn and that
this was the reason given for revoking
the permit.
! In order that the little ones should
| not be disappointed by not having their
outing. the league made the best OF
things and accepted the prefer of the
Monument grounds. Despite the fact
! that the Marine Band was not allowed
| to play, there was music in plenty, as a
street organ was hired for the after
noon, and the little ones made merry to
| its popular tunes.
For souvenirs the children carried
/ away small American flags attached TO
| the invitations which. by the prefixing
OF word, was made TO read:
Not Welcome, Children, to the White
| House Lot, Saturday. August s. 1903
| The Woman's Rescue League of Wash
| iuPfOn d c"