The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-03-20

PERVERTED PREJUDICE
There are two kinds of race preju-
dice-one, that OF the white man
against the darker races; a natural
feeling. and of service to both If not
carried to a cruel and unreasonable
extreme. as is amply proven by the de-
generation of the countries in which
1t has been overcome. The other is the
prejudice few and steadily decreas-
Ing number of white people have
against all those OF their own race
who do not recognize colored people
as their social equals and intimates. 1t
Is not natural but perverted. and like
all perverted passions is venomous and
generally nasty Coupled with political
hypocrisy. it has made untold trouble
for both races in the United States.
The latest instance of this combin-
ed perverted prejudice and political
hypocrisy is the case of W. II. Lewis.
Lewis Is a negro lawyer of Boston. He
Is man of considerable ability and
well grounded in the law. He has
practiced In all the courts of Massa-
chusetts. but it is not on record that
he attends white churches. or is re-
ceived into white society. IL he is a
to be.
S As the entire country remembers
some years ago, President Roosevelt
served out summary punishment to the
negro troops who shot up Brownsville
1t was one of his few righteous acts,
and had he possessed the sturdy man.
hood of old Grover Cleveland. he
would have stood by it without any
f1inching or temporizing. The negroes
of the country were naturally in a
rage about 1t, and fearing to lose their
votes in large enough quantities to
turn the next election, Roosevelt made
several concessions. among them ap-
pointing Lewis assistant attorney gen.
eral Of the United States.
OF course, Mr. Roosevelt was in his
legal rights in making his appoint
ment. and no one seemed to care very
much. But when, few months ago, a
coterie of Massachusetts, lawyers tried
to sneak Lewis into the American Bar
Association, they showed perverted
prejudice and political hypocrisy in a
high or rather low degree.
The American Bar Association is
composed OF lawyers. but man being
lawyer doesn't entitle him to mem
bership in 1t. He must be acceptable
to the members, same as in any other
association or order. That the associa-
ton doesn't want negro members has
been proven time and again. So when
the little bunch of Massachusetts, at
torneys presented the name of Lewis
without informing the associations
committee that he was a negro, they
were guilty of a trick that an honest
negro would be ashamed Of The COM
h.rf Z
found he was a negro, promptly re-
scinded its action.
Attorney General Wickersham saw
his chance to make a grand-stand
play for the colored vote for Taft, and
issued circular letter asking all law
yers, members of the American Bar
Association. 20 condemn the action of
the committee. Mr.. Wickersham made
a very virtuous roar. He does not
seem. however, to have received an ap-
precfatfve response.
Mr. RI Anderson OF this city, for
merly president of the State Bar AS
ISOLATION. and one of F1orida's leading
lawyers. received one of Mr.. Wicker
sham's effusions. and gave it fitting
reply in the following letter:
MIR. Anderson's Letter
Ocala. Fla. February 20, 1912
Hon. George w. Wickersham. Depart
ment Of Justice. Washington, D. c.:
Dear Sir: I beg to reply to your
printed circular letter addressed to me
as a member of the American Bar AS
ISOLATION, as follows:
/. It seems to me you undu1y mag
Nifty this affair. When analyzed, the
case Is q social slight to a negro who
happens to be an employe Of the gov
eminent. This hardly deserves the
time. expenses and attention bestowed
upon the matter by the head of the
Department of Justice. There are
many things of vastly greater import
ance involving public wrongs to thou
sands OF citizens, white and black,
which ought to- engage all the atten-
ton Of the public servant Moreover,
the case involves only private rights.
not meriting notice or action on the
part Of public official.
3. The aggrieved party knows that
he is unwelcome as member of the
association. at least to a large number
OF that body. This fact, it seems to
me. should rather be a reason for de-
Ginning or withdrawing from the mere
right. however legally assailable, to
remain in the organization as dis
t4A oAn6 k0StoI DiSHity ana S0iI-FC-
spect of the genuine sort should for
bid the obtruding of ones self into
such an organisation under the cir
cumstances.
3. This party. II denied rights that
are legal in character. should appeal
to the courts. il he can not wait for
the regular meeting to pass upon the
eAse.
The interests OF the American
Bar Association should be paramount
to the personal feelings OF the indi-
vidual This scircnlarizfng. of a mere
~ personal controversy by the attor-
ney general OF the United States can
only create trouble to the detriment
OF the association. without real or
substantial benefit to the complaining
party.
herewith return to you the card
which you enclosed.
Yours very truly,
r. L. Anderson
That motto of Albert williamson's.
fuuRrn H..