The Sentinel=record., 1914-11-13
BY SPOKESMAN OF A NEGRO DELEGATION WHICH CALLS
 AT HIS OFFICE.
INTER VIEW IS TERMINATED
President Informs Committee That Arrogance of the Spokesman Had Ruined the Cause Which They Came to Present to Him.

Washington, D. C., Nov. 12.-Deep- ly offended by the tone and manner Of their chairman, W. NJ. Trotter, of Boston, President Wilson today end ed an interview with a delegation of negroes who called at the White house to protest against race segre- gation in government departments with warning that if the negroes wanted to see him again they would have to get another spokesman. The president said he had not been ad- dressed in such fashion since he en- tered the White house. A fifteen minute interview had been arranged for the callers and the president re- ceiyed them in his office with only his stenographer present. The dele gation formally complained that Postmaster General Burleson, Secre- tary McAdoo and Comptroller Wil- Lams of the treasury, were enforcing segregation of white and negro em- ployes in their offices.
 Mir. Wilson listened to the state I'ment and then replied at length. eX- blaming that he had investigated this matter himself and had been assured that no discrimination had been ac. used against the negroes, and that segregation had been inaugura,ed 10 avoid friction between the races not 10 injure the negro. He added that he was deeply interested in the negro race and admired it for the progress it had made.
 At this point Trotter and other members of t1e delegation took issue with the president They asserted lue negro people did not seek charity or assistance, but took the position that they had equa rights with the whites and that these rights should be respected. TAere had been no friction, they insisted before the segregation was started.
 Mr Wilson waited for the protest to end. Then he told the delegation that he could not discuss the matter further. He closed vita the quiet bu, impatient statement that Trotter mad lost control of his temper and that he (the presidenU could not be talk ed to in such a manner.
 When the negroes left taey said their talk had been thoroughly dis appointing" and that wou hold a mass meeting in Washington next Sunday to protest further against segregation.
 Trotter said in his address that his committee did not come as wards looking for charity, but as full fleds- ed American citizens, vouchsafad equality of citizenship by the federal constitution"
 Two years ago" Trotter said, you were thought 10 be a second Abraham Lincoln-'
 The president tried 10 interrupt, asking that personalities be left out of the discussion Trotter continued to speak and the president finally told him that if the organization he lIerrosented wished to approach him again it must choose another spokes- man. adding that ne had enjoy q lis tening to the other members ol the committee, but that Trotters tone was offensive.
 The president tod Trotter that h. was an American citizen as fully as any body else, but that he CTrotter) was the only American citizen who had ever come into the White house and addressed the president in suca tone and with such background of passion.
 Here Trotter denied that he mad any passion, but the president told him he had spoiled the cause for which he mad come and said he eX- pected those who professed to be Cristians to come to him in Cir S tian spirit.
 The negro seemed to want to ar que that he was merely trying to snow how his people felt and assert ed he and others were now being branded as traitors to their race be- cause they advised the colored people to support the ticket
 This mention of votes caused Mir.
 Wilson to say that politics must be
 eff out because it was form oi
 blackmail. He said he would resent
 if as quickly from one set of men as
 from another and that his auditors
 could vote as they pleased. 1t mat tered little to him so long as he wa.