New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-13
Stirs Ire of League by Re-
fusal to Change Segre-
CATION Order.
MEMBERS THREATEN
WAR ON DEMOCRATS
Wilson Near Having Delegates
Thrown Out When Speakers
Begin Heckling Him.
rFrom The Tribune Dureau.l


Washington. Nov. 12.-President
Wilson to-day told delegation of the
National independence Equal Rights
League, negro organization, that he
would not change the orders of Secre-
tary McAdoo, Comptroller Williams,
and Postmaster General Burleson en-
forcing segregation of negroes in their
respective Offices.
The session between the President
and the negroes was warm one, when
was ended by the President abruptly
declaring that he had never been ad-
dressed in so insulting manner by
any one since he had been in the White
House, aud that he would not again
listen 10 a delegation of the organlza-
,ion until it had chosen some other
spokesman.
The President refused to regard the
question Of segregation from poll
teal standpoint, and he showed niue
interest in the threats of the league
that il would oppose ali Democratic
candidates in the future. He declared
the problem was human one and that
the best thought of the administration
mas OtNAONN NNAk IL NOAlN bNNs ~ w.
by segregation, but segregation under
such circumstances that the negro civil
service employees would have equal ad-
vantaCes with the white employees IN
the way of working conditions.
William NJ. Trotter, of Boston, sec
retarv of the league, was spokesman
of the delegation, and he heckled and
ouizzed the President in a manner that
aroused Mr.. Wilson's Indignation.
Warm words passed between the Presl-
dent and the negro. and il looked for
a time as though the President would
have to call in some outside aid and
have his office cleared. The delegation
was supposed 10 be with the President
for fifteen minutes, but as each mem
Der had a set speech they renamed
for nearly an hour, while the Secre-
tarv of Commerce and other callers
were compelled to wait.
Several other members of the delega-
ton attempted TO cross-examine the
President. He answered a number OF
the questions put TO him by the league
secretary, but as they grew more Cd
iectionable in their nature he plainly
told the delegation what he thought OF
its members.
Tho negroes called on the President
TO submit charges that Secretary Nc
Adoo. Controller Williams and Post
master General Burleson had enforced
segregation rules in their offices. The
President said he had investigated the
question and had been assured that
there was no discrimination in the COM
fort and surroundings given to the ne
groes. The officials had informed him'
he said, that segregation had been
started not with the object of injuring
the negro but to avoid friction between
the races.
Trotter and other members Of the
delegation took issue with the Presl-
dent. They declared that the negroes
we're not seeking charity or assistance,
and they asserted that the negroes had
equal rights with whites, which rights
should be respected. They also denied
that there had been any friction be-
tween the races before segregation had
been started. After leaving the Ex-
ecutive Office the negroes declared that
the Presidents attitude was entirely
disappointing"