New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-18
Protest Filed with President
Says Segregation Of Employees
Is Race Discrimination.
LETTER SENT TO WILSON
National Association for Ad.
vancement of Colored People
Fears It Will Tend to
Increase Prejudice.


ment Of Colored People, of which Moore
field Storey is president. has sent a letter
10 President Woodrow Wilson protesting
I against segregation OF negro employees In
| the departments At Washington. The as
ISOLATION contends that the adminstra-
| tons policy in this respect amounts TO an
insulting race discrimination
The directors of the association assert
that such discrimination by the govern
looks for his broadcast protection under
the Constitution. will tend 10 increase
prejudice against him in sections where
he is looked upon as an inferior and lead
to his greater humiliation and persecu-
ton.
They point out that never before has
the government Disseminated against its
civilian employees on the ground OF color,
such action hitherto being confined to the
individual states. The letter follows:
The National Association for the Ad-
vancement OF Colored People, through its
board OF directors, respectfully protests
against the policy Of your administration
in segregating the colored employees IN
the departments at Washington. IL re-
allies that this new and radical departure
mas been recommended, and Is now being
defended on the ground that by giving
certain bureaus or sections wholly 20 coll
ored employees they are thereby rendered
safer In possession OF their Offices. and
are less likely 10 be Ousted or discriml-
mated against We believe this reasoning
to he fallacious. II il based on a failure
TO appreciate the deeper significance Of
the new policy, to understand how far
reaching the effects OF such A drawing OF
caste lines by the federal government
may be. and how humiliating II is 10 the
men thus stigmatized.
Federal Discrimination Charged.
Never before has the federal govern
ment Disseminated against its civilian
employees on the ground OF color. Every
such act heretofore has been that Of an
individual state. The very presence OF
the Capitol and OF the federal flag has
drawn colored people to the District OF
Columbia in the belief that living there.
under the shadow OF the national gov
eminent itself. they we're safe from the
persecution and discrimination which fol-
low them elsewhere because Of their dark
skins
To-day they learn that. though their
ancestors have fought in every war in
behalf ~ the United States. I'm the ff-
tieth year after Gettysburg and emanci-
patton, this government. founded on the
theory OF complete equality and freedom
for all citizens. has established two
classes among its civilian employees. II
has set The colored apart as II mere con-
tact with them were contamination.
The efficiency OF their labor. the prin-
ciples of scientific management, are dis
regarded: the possibilities Of promotion. Il
not now, will soon be severely limited.
To them is held out only the prospect of
mere subordinate routine service without
the stimulus Of advancement 10 high Office
by merit. a right deemed inviolable for all
white natives as for the children Of the
foreign born. OF Italians. French and Rus
SLAMS Jews and Christians who are now
entering the government service. For 10
such limitation this segregation will In
evitably lead. Who took the trouble 70
ascertain what our colored clerks thought
about this order, 10 which their consent
was never asked? Behind screens and
closed doors they row sit apart as though
leprous.
Men and women alike have the badge
OF inferiority pressed pom them b. gov
eminent decree How long will II be be-
fore the hateful epithets Of niger and
Jim crow are openly applied 10 these
sections? Let any one experienced in
Washington affairs or any trained news
paper correspondent answer.