The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1913-11-07
PLEA FOR FAIR TREATMENT,
Constitution League Sends Strong Re.
minder to President Wilson.

:, SS"S''ees'oV ISd9ue oSUoS StTon9 nc.
minder to President Wilson.
IL Philadelphia. = The Constitution
League OF the United States. with
Headquarters at 1880 Lombard street.
/ this city. through It's field secretary
| pr. William A. Sinclair. recently sent
q memorial to President Woodrow VIII
son ut Washington, which reads in part
as follows: r. .....r.s~.. .. ..
Hon. Woodrow Wilson. President of the
/ United States, Washington: ......
- Honored Sir-In the name of the Con-
/ stitution League Of the United States lin
/ corporatedl, composed OF citizens without
regard to race. sex. creed or party. | beg
respectfully to make representations to
You In regard to the unfair. humiliating,
sEssradins and. i think, uniawfui treat
nent which your colored fellow citizens
are receiving under your administration.
| Co!ored men were members of the con-
Vention which nominated you. Colored
citizens were generously admitted to the
convention hall, and some sat on the plat
form. You were elected to your high Of
flee through the united efforts and vo. es
OF both your white and colored fellow cit
ing charge OF your campaign made special
appeals to colored voters. and In order to
accomplish results they established spe-
cal headquarters In Boston. New York,
Washington, Chicago and Denver. Every
assurance was given Of fair. just and
equal consideration for colored citizens In
the event of your election. ....s- -
In your letter to the Right Rev. Bishop
Alexander Walters. president of the Ma
tonal Colored Democratic league you
Yourself specifically pledged ''just," fair
and equal treatment to your "colored
fellow citizens" During the progress of
the campaign you gave similar assurances
to other colored men. 1t seems conclusive
that the elimination Of the race issue
achieved your election. .... =
l beg respectfully to say that many
white and colored citizens believed that
as-you were man Of southern birth and
northern opportunities. possessing the
broadcast scholarship and culture with the
gut OF statesmanship. you would bring to
bear on the race question the best and
most patriotic thoughts Of both southern
and northern life. and also that you were
Ideally circumstanced to wipe out the Ne.
gro question as q factor in American poll
tics by the faithful recognition Of the
mandates Of the constitution Of the Unit
ed States.
At the moment when all should be "quiet
on the Potomac do not think II will be
altogether surprise to you for me to
say that the colored people Of the United
States are more wrought up and alarmed
at this time over their rights and liberties
than at any period since their emancipa-
ton. This is due .... t-s ..'
First-To the removal Of competent COL
ored men from offices In several of the
states which they had filed by national
appointment for years. ..... .
Second.-The removal Of competent col
ored men from offices held under national
appointment In Washington. -r s.-7
Third.-The refusal to appoint colored
men to diplomatic posts which had for
more than generation been held by MEM
bers of the race. ...
Fourth = The degradation imposed on
coiored men and women I'm several of the
departments of the government through
the practices Of segregation and "jIm-
crow.sm." co.ored clerks being taken from
desks and from rooms and segregated.
coiored clerks being denied equal use of
the lunch counters. the lockers, toilets,
etc. 's' -. - =
In the name. then. Of the Constitution
League Of the United States-and I may
venture to say In the name Of the liberty
loving. Christian and patriotic people of
the republic-I would most respectfully
appeal TO you as the president Of the
whole people to take such steps as In
your good judgment would remedy these
terrible wrongs against the Negro people
people whose loyalty. faithfulness and
service to their country In peace and In
the stress OF war have never been ques-
toned, people whose life Ia always on
the altar Of their country.
with assurance OF our most high regard
beg 10 subscribe yours most obedlentIy.
WILLIAM A. SINCLAIR,
National Field Secretary.