The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1914-11-18
NEGROES OVERSTEP
SELVES WITH PRES.
3
Wilson Refuses to Listen and Declares
Interview Ended Mass Meeting
to Be Called.

1 washington, Nov. l2.-UHended
by the tone and manner of their
chairman, W. M. Trotter. of Boston.
President Wilson to-day ended an
interview with a delegation of me-
Rroes who called at the White
House to protest against race seq
regation in government depart
ments, 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 addressed in such
fashion since he entered the White
House
Trotter came to the White house
with prepared speech, to which
the President listened. 1t was af-
ter delivering this address. howev-
er, that Trotter made remarks in a
tone which displeased Presiden t
Wilson.
In the address Trotter reminded
the President that the delegation
called on Mr.. Wilson n year ago, at
which time he had promised to in
vestigate the question.
I'VE stated" said Trotter, THAT
there could be no freedom, no re.
spect from others, and no equality
Of citizenship under segregation of
races; for such placement of en-
ployees means a charge. by the
government, Of physical indecency
or infection, or of being lower
order of beings. or a subjection to
the prejudice of other citizens,
which constitutes inferiority of
status.
"We stated that such segregation
was a public humiliation and deg
radiation entirely unmerited and
tar-reaching in its injurious
effects. Now, after the lapse of
year, we have come back, having
found that all the forms of segre-
cation of government employees of
African extraction are still being
practiced In the Treasury and Post
Office Department buildings, ana to
a certain extent have spread into
other government buildings"
The delegation charged that Sec
retary McAdoo and Comptroller
Williams IN the Treasury and Post
master-general BurIeson had enforc-
ed segregation rules in their off,
ces. President Wilson replied that
he had investigated the question and
had been assured that there had
been no discrimination in the COM
forts and surroundings given to the
negroes. He added he had been
informed by officials that the seq.
regation had been started to avid
friction between the races, and not
with the object of ipjuring the ne
groes.
The President said that he was
deeply interested in the negro race,
and greatly admired its progress.
he declared the thing to be sought
by the negro people was complete
independence of white people, and
that he felt the white race was will
ing to do everything possible to
assist them.
Trotter and other members at
once took issue with the President.
declaring the negro people did not
seek charity or assistance, but that
they took the position that the me-
groes had equal rights with the
whites and that thuse rights should
be respected.
They denied there had been any
friction between the two races be-
fore segregation was begun
President Wilson listened to what
they had to say, and then told the
delegation that Trotter was losing
control of his temper, and that he
1.-THE President) would not discuss
the matter further with him
After leaving the Presidents pri-
vate Office rrotter, Maurice v
Spencer and others of the delega-
tion declared their talk had been
thoroughly Disappointing
They declared they would hold
mass meeting in Washington Sun
day to discuss the question.
MIR. Wilson is understood to have
told the committee the question
was not political one, and that he
would not take it up on political
grounds.