The Washington herald., 1915-02-14
WILSON AND THE NEGRO RACE.
Presidents Attitude Discussed at
SpInEarn Medal Presentation.

Oswald G. Willard told 1000 negroes last
night at the meeting of the National As
sociation for the Advancement of Col
orcd People in the meeting house OF the
Ethical Culture Society. that President
Wilson could not be relied upon to make
good his prediction pledges in regard
TO the negroes. These remarks followed
the presentation by Gov. Whitman OF the
Spingarn medal to DIR. Ernest Everett
Just as being the negro who has done
most for his race during the last year;
There has been in Washington" Mr..
Willard said, ''an outburst of prejudice
and a lot of anti-negro legislation of one
kind or another. This has given us con-
Germ. in view of the fact, l regret to
state, that we are not sure that the gen.
tleman in the White House is to be re-
lied upon to make good his promises
made during the campaign that II he
entered the White House he should do
everything in his power to advance the
interests of the ColOred pPOpl" and to be
the President Of the entire nation
This was the first discordant note in a
hitherto harmonious meeting OF blacks
and whites. mostly the former Before
that all had been admiration of one race
for the other. After that negro and white
did not mince words about the treatment
accorded the black. DR.. W. +. b. Du
Bois. editor of the official organ Of the
Association to Advance the ColOred PeO-
pie. even went so far as to suggest race
warfare as a way out OF present abuses.
I'm this. as in all great causes" he
said, IF peace and patience cannot win,
war and strife must"
Dr. Just who was the recipient Of
the Spingarn medal, is head of the de-
oF rbt tla Hnwl I'd
University Medical School He is thirty
one years old. and was graduated from
Dartmouth with the highest honor in
his class in 1901. an was elected to
Phi Beta Kappa lie is engaged in bio
logical research work in addition to his
academic duties. In presenting the med
al. Gov Whitman said:
In the pain or loss of one race all
races are affected. and it is due from
all tonight to honor a man who has
done most in the past year for the Oegro
race. His distinguished scholarship is
OF a nature so high that II is not only
credit to his race. but to the white
race as well.
Il am glad our country shows jus
tice to any race for what has been ac-
Complished by DR.. Just. 1t is Gratify-
ing that education. improved condi-
tions in living and opportunities have
people The success Of this young man
is an inspiration to white and black
alike Unless the Federal Constitution
is wrong his rise is as dear TO white
as to black. Speaking for the State, we
are all Of common hopes and ambitions
that the stronger race should help the
weaker. asking nothing more than jus
tiCe for an
Following Mr.. Wizards anti-Wilson re-
marks. Prof. William Pickens. colored.
OF Wiley University. spoke on The
Negro, a Challenge to American Chris
tianity and Democracy" He left unmen-
toned none of the social and political
disabilities under which his race Is sur
fering. and left untouched none of the
appeals to race prejudice.
other speakers were Mira Ali Huli
Kahn, representative OF Persia TO the
United States; Mrs. Charlotte Perkins
Gilman. and Lindon Bates. jr.-New York
Tribune,