The Washington bee., 1908-06-20

ing he would correct the evil imme-
diately.
The following letter was fled with
Secretary Taft:
Washington, D. c,
June 10th, Io8.
Hon. William H. Taft,
Secretary Of War.
Dear Sir:
l received an appointment as black
smith helper under the Isthmus Ca
non Commission, May 4, 1907, at the
rate Of forty-four cents an hour, Unit
ed States currency value. The COM
mission reads, among other things,
as follows: For the performance of
such duties as may be determined by
the head of the department to which
you are assigned upon arrival on the
Isthmus, to serve at the pleasure OF
that office, subject only to the allow
anceS and conditions shown" etc.
have been working as blacksmith
helper for nearly a year, and was
paid in gold. For some unexplained
cause | was informed that I would
be assigned to the silver roll, which
woud greatly reduce me in pay and
deprive me of certain benefits that
are accorded to white foreigners who
don't understand their duties assign
ed to them. Out of the seven col
ored Americans on the Isthmus only
two have been assigned to the gold
roll a colored American helper and
myself. There is a disposition on
the part of the sub-bosses, without
the knowledge of the Commission,
to discriminate against cOlored Am
ericans and deprive them Of certain
benefits and privileges accorded white
foreigners. Conditions on the 18th
mus. as far as colored Americans are
concerned, are oppressive, which can
only be remedied by the Commission
through the Honorable Secretary OF
War. | feel confident that the Com
mission is unaware Of this discrim-
ination against colored Americans.
The moment a white foreigner ar
rives, who does not know a word Of
English, he is assigned to the gold
roll, Objections are often made by
the foreigner to colOred Americans
riding, having hrst-class passage, on
the cars, while no objections are
made to foreigners.
All sub-bosses are more or less
foreigners, hence they discriminate
against colored Americans in favor
of foreigners. No matter what their
nationality may be, except colored
Tamaicans and colored Americans.
The former class seem to be dull
and unable to do the work, but col
ored Americans outclass all workers
on the Isthmus, although they receive
less consideration.
l appeal to you to remedy the evil
through the Canal Commission, and
to see that colored Americans are
fairly treated.
/ am from the State of Texas,
from which State | was appointed,
and having worked satisfactorily on
the Isthmus for a year and with no
complaint against me, I see no rea-
son why l should be transferred from
the gold roll to the silver roll, which
means a reduction in my pay and a
denil of certain privileges that white
foreigners who cannot speak English
receive. l am willing to work and
do whatever | am directed under the
terms of my oath, but you would not
want me TO receive less pay for bet
ter work than white foreigners who
receive their pay in gold. Many 9th
er things l might call your attention
to, but l prefer to lay them before
the Commission, which IS impossible
for me to see on the Isthmus; hence
l have come all the way to Washing
toy to lay my grievances and other
conditions on the IsthmuS before the
Honorable Secretary OF War, with
the hope of receiving justice for col
ored Americans against foreign op-
preston and discrimination on the
Isthmus of Panama.
With the hope of an immediate
change. believe me to be
Very respectfully yours,
Henry Williams,
Houston, Texas.
TuE TTpEpTAN ENNONC