The Denver star., 1914-03-14
FAIR Treatment
FOR OUR RACE
Head Of Tuskegee Institute In
terviews Railway Officials.
SUGGESTS DAY OF APPEAL.
Afro. Americans Are Urged to Take
United Stand In tho Matter Of Un-
equal Accommodations on Railroads.
Roplies From Passenger Officials In
djcate Desire to Give a Square Deal.


Replies From Passenger Officials In
dicate Desire to Give Square Deal.
BY BOOKER T. WAsHINCTON.
Tuskegee, Ala.-Some months ago |
sent out marked copies to railway otfi-
,ials in every part of the south OF an
article written for the Century Maga-
zine, in which | referred to the un-
lust treatment of colored people on
railroads. In addition. letter was
written calling attention to the portion
of the article marked. 1t might inter
est Il ose of our people who are seek
ing to improve the bad conditions that
exist on many railroads to read some
of the replies from these Official to
these communications. In one case.
for example, the president Of the rail
road had a copy of the Century arti-
Gle placed in the hands Of every officer
on his road.
Later on it is my purpose to urge
our people to set aside one day in the
year that might be called railroad
day." upon which throughout the coun-
try, wherever conditions demand it, we
can 90 to the officials of the railroads
and speak to them about the bad con
ditions that exist with view of our
cooperating with these railroad Off
cials in order to bring about better con
ditionS.
| think the extracts from these let
tiers indicate that the railroad officials
are now in Il state of mind where, in
most cases. they are willing to recog-
niZe the justice of our claim for bet
ter things-in fact. some Of them have
already acted.
When the proper time comes We
should take up with the officials con
cerned the matter Of accommoda tionS
provided in restaurants. sitting rooms.
street cars, steam cars. STEAMBOATS,.
etc. For the present, am giving you
these extracts for publication in order
to show that there is an opportunity.
if we go about it in the right way, 10
do away with what has been long
standing source of complaint.
Views Of Several Railroad Officials.
Mr. c. j. Mills. assistant to Presi-
dent William Sproule Of the South
ern Pacific, writes: Am very much
obliged for your letter OF Oct trans
mitting your printed article Is the
Negro Having a Fair Chance?' and
note with interest your reference to
transportation facilities afforded in
the south. These matters are bound
to receive attention. and we hope the
objections viii be overcome in due
course
Mr.. William j. Black. passenger
manager Of the Atchison. Topeka and
SaiSa Fe railway system. wrote as
follows: Il am in receipt of your fhvor
of the Sth inst. inclosing an article
by yourself recently published in the
Century Magazine. which | have read
with interest. You will. no doubt. be
pleased to learn that the Santa E'e has
already provided equipment for color
ed travel in conformity with the plan
outlined in your article.
AT the present time % per cent of
the coaches used in Oklahoma and
Texas for coiored people have two
compartments. one being Il smoking
compartment and the other for men
and women. and they have separate
toilet facilities for each sex As new
cars are purchased or present ones are
converted. they will be of that type.
and we expect before long to have all
of our cars for colored traffic on tho
same plan"
The Race Is Not Getting Square Deal.
Mr.. J. NJ. Parker. receiver and gen
eral manager Of the Arkansas. Louis
lana and Gulf Railway company. says
81 have your favor with inclosure, be
ing marked copy Of an article which
recently appeared in the Century Mag
azine. ] shall take pleasure in read
ing this article. and from glancing
through it ! am inclined to think that
the statement that the Negro is not get
ting square. deal in the way of trans
portation facilities is well founded"
Mr., w. Coughlin. general superin'
tendent of the Missouri. Oklahoma and
Gulf Railway company. wrote: ~
have carefully read the article to which
you have called special attention and
In connection Herewith wish to say
that while. no doubt. there is ground
for complaint at times. am inclined tO
the opinion that. as a whole. the sjtua
ton alluded to is improving. In fact
accommodations for white and colored
passengers on our motor trains are
identical.
ION other trains there is not much
difference except in emergency cnses.
where II becomes necessary to use tenn
lrrary equipment that was not intend
ed for passenger trains. but such cars
ns are used for the handling of both
white and colorcd passengers as we'll
~ employees on freight trains. I as
sure you that our company appreciates
the patronage OF the rolorcd people
i'h that II Is our desire to do what we