The Denver star., 1914-04-25
SEGREGATION is CHECKED.
Federal EmpIe, ees In Washington Are
Treated Alike, Says Report.

Washington second blow to
race segregation since the national
anti-segresation petition by colored cit
liens was presented to President viii
son by delegation of the National
Independent Political league last fall
u announced in recent report.
which states that the last Of color
segregation in the departments of the
government service in this city has
come to an end on an order issued by
Charles S. Hamlin OF Boston, the SEN
ior assistant secretary of the treas
ury. The segregation had lowered
longest in the bureau Of engraving and
printing of the treasury. where some
800 colored girls were during all of
last summer ordered by Director Ralph
to desist using the common dining
room at the luncheon hour, but to use
instead small room containing the
lavatories assigned to colored people.
The crowding was terrible. and there
were other obvious objections.
Mr.. Ralph refused to make change.
however, and the former head Of the
fiscal division. Assistant Secretary J
8. Williams, Virginian. did not make
use OF his authority, being, in fact. not
little responsible for the indorse-
ment in the treasury department of
such segregation. Mr.. Hamlin has now
succeeded Mr. Williams, and he has
eliminated the last Of the segrega ton,
as reported, by ordering, now that the
bureau of engraving and printing is to
occupy its new quarters, that all en-
| ployees shall use the common dining
room there provided.
The colored people are very grateful
to Mr.. Hamlin. Recently prominent
| colored citizens appeared in protest to
| a committee in congress giving hear
ings on a bill purposing legal en-
forcement of segregation in general in
Washington. When the delegation Of
the National Independent Political
league made the argument against seq
regation President Wilson promised an
Investigation. which he later made.
When John Shelton Williams was
made comptroller of the treasury the
| leagues secretary, w. Monroe Trotter.
asked Representative Peters of Boston
/ to use his influence for the appoint
| ment of Mr.. Hamlin to first assistant
treasurer, as the following letter to
Mr.. TrOtter shows:
House of Representatives. Washington.
Jan. g. 1914.
Mr.. William Munroe Trotter. Cornhil,.
| Boston, Mass:
| Dear Trotter-Your wire is at hand. l
| wish TO say that am urging on Mr.. Ham
| lin the appointment Of some one unpreju-
| diced to take Mr.. Williams place. left va
| cant in the treasury. Yours sincerely.
A ]. PETERS
| On Feb. 10 Secretary Trotter tele-
| Rraphed Representative Peters to see
Mr.. Hamlin as to undoing segregation.
In reply he wrote. Have you any re-
cent Information which would show
thu .the relief which was promised
youF committee is not being carried
out in the department here?" In reply
i Secretary Trotter wrote on the I'd of
March that the presidents promise had
not been carried out and urged action.
Then came this reported action by As
sistant Secretary Hamlin on March 6.
When the leagues delegation had its
hearing, being presented by Repre-
sentative Thacher of Massachusetts.
the leaRue did not cease its work. At
Christians it issued a second appeal to
the president. which was presented to
him in person by Representative Peters
before the president went south. Again
on Jan. 3 the league had another pro-
| test on q clear case of railway post
office segregation filed with the presi-
dent by Representative Thacher. The
Massachusetts branch of the National
Do 10
| fighting a case Of segregation in the
Boston navy yard.