Evening star., 1914-11-12
Abruptly Ends Discussion of
Segregation in Departments
With Head of De egation.
WILL NOT AGAIN RECEIVE
PROTEST FROM SAME men
Most Offensive Experience He Has
Had in White House,
MI. Wilson Says.

William Monroe Trotter of Boston,
secretary of the National Independent
Equal Rights League of the United
States, as spokesman of a delegation
of colorcd men, which was received by
the President this morning to discuss
the question of segregation of the col
ored employees in administrative de-
partments of the government. received
a rebuke from the President for the
aggressiveness Of his attitude The
President wenf 20 far as to say that
he would pp{ receive the delegation
again If Secretary Trotter was to be its
spokesman.
The President is known to have said
in effect that the spokesman's manner
was offensive bevnnd his nrevious ex-
perience in the White House.
The delegation charged that Secre-
tary Nc Adoo and Controller Williams
in the Treasury and Postmaster Gen.
eral Burleson had enforced segregation
replied he had investigated the ques-
ton and had been assured there had
been no discrimination in the comforts
and surroundings given to the negroes.
He added he had been Informed by
officials that the segregation had been
races and not with the object OF in
juring the negroes. The President said
he was deeply interested in the negro
race and greatly admired it's progress.
He declared the thing to be sought by
the negro people was complete in
de ependence of white people, and that
he felt the white race was willing to
do everything possible to assist them.
Claims Equal Rights.
Trotter and other members at once
took issue with the President. declaring
the negro people did. not seek charity
or assistance. but that they took the
position that the negroes had equal
rights with whites. and that those
rights should be respected. They de-
MED there had been any friction be-
tween the two races before segregation
was begun.
President Wilson listened to what
| they had to say, and then told the
delegation that Trotter was losing con-
troll of his temper. and that he (the
President) would not discuss the mat
ter further with him.
After leaving the Presidents private
office Trotter. Maurice " Spencer and
others of the delegation declared their
talk had been thoroughly disappoint-
| ing"
| Mr.. Wilson is understood to have told
the committee the question was not q
political one. and that he would not
take it up on political grounds.
Calls Segregation Unfair.
| THE colored people object to the
government undertaking to interpret
this treatment of them in the way OF
sympathy and help and charity for the
benefit of dependent wards" Secretary
Trotter later quoted himself as having
said in reply to the President. 'The
colored American is a full f1edged, abb
solutely equal citizen under the law
Segregation is in itself an injury
and denial of the equality of citizen.
ship. 1t is unfair to separate the
Afro-American when there is no SINH
lar segregation of the Semitic. Teu.
tonic. Latin. Celtic or Slavic govern.
ment employees.
ut is entirely contrary to the facts
| he further quoted himself as saying
ito say that segregation was insti
tuted because of racial friction.
white and colored employees have
been working together in peace ant
even under a former democratic Presi
dent. Segregation was drastically In
troduced as soon as this administra
| tion came into being by John Skeltol
Williams. Secretary McAdoo and Post
master General Burleson. because o
their own racial prejudices.
Humiliating and Degrading.
TT would be impossible for us. wer,
we willing, to make the colored peopl
of the United States regard segrega
tion as anything other than humiliat
ing and degrading"
The delegation consisted. in addition
to Trotter, of Rev. Byron Gunner O
H'llburn. N Y; Thomas Walker, chair
man of the local branch; NJ. w. Spence
of Wilmington. Del; Rev. E. E. Kicks
pastor of the First Baptist Church o
West Washington: F. Morris Murra,
NJ VIRGINIA Addresses were made h,
President Gunner, M. W. Spencer an,
secretary Trotter.
The delegation presented a resolu
ton of the Massachusetts, legislator
and letters from several Massachu
setts democratic members of Congress
protesting against race segregation Il
federal government departments.
There will be a mass meeting he'll
in Asbury NJ q. Church, 11th and !
streets, at 8 o'clock Sunday Afternoon