The Twin City star., 1914-03-27
WASHINGTON ON
EQUAL JUSTICE
Many Replies Received From
Railroad Officials. :. y !.
PLEA FOR BETTER SERVICE.

Principal Of the TusI<ssse Institute
Takes Manly Stand In Request Fol
Equal Accommodations For colorsc
People on Public conveyanesse op-
Grated In the Southern States. .,
Tuskegee, Ala.-In reply to letters
sent to officials Of the various railroads
in the south by DR.. Booker T. Wash.
ington, In which he called attention to
the. deplorable conditions under which
the colored people are compelled to
travel on the several roads In question,
the following answers indicate that q
change for the better will be made In
the near future:
O. V. Johnson, president of the Nor
folk and Western Railway company,
replies as follows: Il have read your
article. and apprehend that there IL
some cause for criticism as outlined
by you. Whether or not this applies
to the Norfolk and Western railway.
am at this moment unable to advise
definitely. Permit me to suggest that
in presenting matters Of this character
to the public that it might be we'll to
be more specific and not include all the
railroads, that perhaps have reason
ably well provided the same conditions
for the colored people as they have for
the white people. ~
II know that In some instances the
railroads have endeavored to do this.
and further know that generally
speaking it Is the purpose Of the exec
utive officers of the railroads which
operate in the states in which the sep
aration Of the races 10 made necessary
in travelling to do this. and great pains
have been taken and very consider
able amount Of money expended to
bring about condition that complies
with the law. and all should not be
condemned for the failure Of some.
may write you further regarding this
matter at later date"
Desires to Be Fair to All Patrons.
w. J. Craig. passenger traffic man
ager Of the Atlantic Coast Line Rail
road company. says: 1T is the desire
Of the Atlantic Coast Line to treat all
Of its patrons with fairness and to pro.
vide accommodations in accordance
with the patronage received and not
between them. As
southern man have only the best in
terests Of your race at heart and have
noted with great deal of interest
the wonderful progress and develop
ment that they are making. invite
your criticism from time to time Of our
service with view Of correcting any
conditions that 1t may be possible for
us to do so"
George w. Stevens, president Of the
and Ohio Railway com
pany, says: II have read with interest
your pamphlet entitled rs the Negro
Having Fair Chancer One hundred
copies Of this article have been receiv-
ID and distributed among the officials
and in the employees reading rooms
Az you are well aware, both in Virgin
"a and Kentucky, the railway lines
the same accommodations for
,olored passengers as are furnished
white passengers, and II Is a require
nent that these accommoda tiOns shall
,e equal In every way to those furnish.
I'd the white race. If it comes to your
that equal service is not be-
ne given l shall be glad to hear from
'ou personally.
In the other three states through
which this company operates-West
Virginia, Ohio and Indiana-segrega.
ion laws do not exist, and the Negro
. accommodated in the same cars as
he white race. As to employment by
he railway companies the Negro is
accorded the same treatment as the
white man, and in some particular
:lasses Of employment is preferred to
he white man. am deeply interest
ID in the work that you are doing and
I'm quite convinced that It ia along the
light lines. II In any way ! can aid
'ou do not hesitate to call upon me-"
Will Give the Matter Consideration.
R. Lancaster Williams, president Of
he Georgia and Florida railway.
writes: II am in receipt Of yours Of
he 18th inst. and copy Of pamphlet en-.
tiled is the Negro Having a Fair
,hancer have read the marked ar
icle and also your letter. and am
aking the matter up with Vice Presi
ent Duer Of the Georgia and Florida
ailway."
c. B. Ryan. general passenger agent
( the Seaboard Air Line railway.
Vrites: Il do not feel that criticism as
the discrimination between the two
aces in character Of equipment pro |
fded for their use In travel can Justly |
e made against the Seaboard Air Line