The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-11-17
President Wilson and the Negroes


The fact that an emotional Negro
may have lost control OF his temper
and his manners in addressing the
president at a White House confer
ence should not obscure the painful
fact that Mr.. Wilson has fully ac-
cepted the principle and the practice
OF the segregation of the white and
black employees in certain admins
trative departments OF the govern.
ment at Washington notably in the
treasury and postal buildings. Segre-
cation in the treasury and post-office
departments was never practiced in
Washington until the southern demo
Gratis who now preside there came
into office. In President Cleveland's
time there were southern democratic
holding the posts of secretary of the
treasury and post-mastergeneral but
they did noe venture to infiict their
views concerning racial caste upon
the American people. 1t has remain
ed for the Wilson administration to
do this. The president who a year
ago took the question of segregation
under advisement now unqualifedly
justifies the separation of govern.
ment employees on the basis OF color.
1t is a distressing and sinister de-
velopment.
The president holds that segregat.
ion under certain conditions is neces-
sary to prevent racial friction be-
tween government employees and that
the reduction of friction means in
creased efficiency in the service But
something much deeper, much more
fundamental is involved. II there are
white employees who object to work
ing within sight and sound of Negro
employees they should be promptly
confronted with the alternative of ac-
cepting such conditions of work or OF
leaving the service For the so-called
friction arises from a race prejudice
which in large section of the repub.
lie, has been the underlying motive
for ceaseless assault upon the po-
litical and civic rights of the Negroes
under the constitution of the United
States. The president declares that
segregation is human, not politi-
cal question. 1t is impossible TO
agree with him. The Negro for years
has been under severe pressure, in
many states. forcing him into a posi-
ton OF political inferiority, and the
black race cannot avoid being further
Inundated and discredited IL the fed.
eral government pursues segrega.
tion policy. What nations regard as
their honor race must develop and
crystalize in the dignity of it's polti
cal status and in the respect with
which it is treated by the world.
The Negro race in this country is
the political equal of the white race,
under the federal constitution, and
while the Jim Crow" statutes and
grandfather" suffrage laws OF vari.
Gus states have stood the test OF Judi |
cial review. segregation in the Wash.
ington departments unQuestionably
violates the spirit OF the constitution,
whatever shift for the government |
the courts may find in its letter.
That the nationwide public senti- !
ment outside of Washington itself
sustains classification OF this oharact-
er in government departments is not
susceptible Of proof. The southern
influence now dominating those de-
partments is simply asserting its pow
er by introducing the cruelest south
ern customs into the government OF
the whole people, Springfield Repub.
lican.