The Denver star., 1914-03-28
WASHINGTON ON
Equal JUSTICE
Many Replies Received From
Railroad Officials.
PLEA FOR BETTER SERVICE.
Principal of the Tuske1ee institute
Takes Manly Stand In Request For
Equal Accommodations For coIored
People on Public Conveyanees op-
Grated In the Southern States.

Grated In the Southern StdteS.
Tuskegee, Ala.-1n reply to letters
sent to officials of the various railroads
in the south by DR.. Booker L. Wash
ington, in which he called attention to
the deplorable conditions under which
the colord people are compelled to
travel on the several roads in question.
the following answers indicate that
change for the better will be made in
the near future:
G. v. Johnson, president of the Nor
folk and Western Railway company.
replies as follows: Il have read your
article. and ] apprehend that there is
some cause for criticism as outlined
by you. Whether or not this applies
to the Norfolk and Western railway,
l 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 well to
be more specific aud 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.
Il 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 is made necessary
in travelling to do this. and great pains
have been taken and n very consider
able amount of money expended to
bring about a condition that complies
with the law. and alp should not be
condemned for the failure of some.
may write you further regarding this
matter at a 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
discriminate between them. AS a
southern man j 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 u view of CORRECTING any
conditions that it may be possible for
US to do So"
George W. Stevens. president Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway com
pany, says: Il have read with interest
your pamphlet entitled is the Negro
Having Fair Chance? One hundred
copies of this article have been receiv-
ed and distributed among the officials
and in the employees reading rooms.
AS you are well aware. both in Virgin
ia and Kentucky. the railway lines
furnish the same accommodations for
colored passengers as are furnished
white passengers. and it is require
ment that these accommodations shall
be equal in every way to those furnish
ed the white race. If it comes to your
knowledge that equal service is not be-
you persCRally.
I'm the other three states through
which this company operates-West
Virginia, Ohio and Indiana-segrega-
ton laws do not exist, and the Negro
is accommodated in the same cars as
the white race. AS to employment by
the railway companies the Negro Is
accorded the same treatment as the
white man. and in some particular
classes of employment is preferred to
the white man. l am deeply interest
ed in the work that you are doing and
am quite convinced that 1t is along the
In
you do not hesitate to call upon me-"
Will Give. the Matter Consideration.
II. Lancaster Williams, president of
the Georgia and Florida railway.
writes: II am in receipt of yours of
the 18th inst and copy Of pamphlet en-
titled is the Negro Having a Fair
Chance" l have read the marked ar
ticle and also your letter. and | am
taking the matter up with Vice Presi-
dent Duer of the Georgia and Florida
railway"
C. b. Ryan. general passenger agent
of the SeabOard Air Line railway.
writes: IL do not feel that criticism as
to the discrimination between the two
races in character of equipment pro-
vided for their use in travel can justly
be made against the Seaboard Air Line.
Our through trains are all equipped
with new steel coaches. The coach for
white passengers seats eighty-six peo-
pie. for coIored people forty-eight pas
sengers. The facilities accorded the
colored passengers are greatly within
ratio between white and colored travel.
The accommodations are Identical In
every respect.
'"On some of our principal local trains
take as nm Illustration the train ienv-
ing Atlanta for Monroe. n. c.. A. dis
tnnce Of 275 miles the car which II
used for colorcd passengers easrbound