Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-08-31
COLORED WOMEN NOT
WANTED BY NAVAL.
OFFICIALS


Daniels. Secretary of the Navy, in
which the Association directs the at
tention of Secretary Daniels to the
case Of two young colorcd women.
graduates Of the high and normal
schools at Washington, for employ
ment in response to Il recent press
item in the Washington papers in
which it was stated that women be-
tween the ages Of eighteen and
thirty-fivo years, possessing high
school education and good health,
were wanted for immediate service,
and were told by the Department
that no colorcd people could be CHI
rolled.
The Association asks whether It Is
the intention Of the Navy Depart
meat. when Offering opportunity to
women for service in the Department
to exclude from such service colorcd
women who may be able to meet the
requirements Of tho positions offered
art says that white it would feel
brurd &c protest against the rcstric
tion of employment in the Navy
Department 10 white women, 1t would
suggest that, if COlorCd people arc
to be excluded from employment Of
fered. public announcement so stat
ing be made.
IN making pubic this letter to Sec
rotary Daniels, the Association says
that it is Il common practice in the
Departments at Washington, when
co!orcd people apply for positions to
which they have been certified, for
them to be informed that there arc
no vacancies. The Association says
that. its Washington Branch is prac-
tically dcluGcd with complaints of
II; al, Of
coming to National Headquarters Mt
Now York is the case OF young
.colored woman who On August 13
received from the Treasury Depart
ment All official notification that her
name had been certified to ono OF tho
bureaus OF the Treasury by the Civil
Service Commission for a temporary
position MS Clcrk and requesting that
she call at tho bureau at her earliest
convenience.
4 Reporting in less than an hour
after receiving this notice, the appli
cant was told that there were no
, vacancies. The young woman in
question alleges that this is the sec.
ond time that she has been treated
in thc\Same manner.
I'm view Of the great need for
workers in all the governmental de-
DuitulcHlS W itllI W III VIC wall, Situ
Mr.. Shillady, the Associations See
Notary, "tho Association wonders how
tho great majority of the general
public, not addicted to color proju-
dice, will regard the continued de.
ninl Of opportunities to serve the
government merely because the ap
plicants happen to have dark instead
or white skins"
Tho letter to Secretary Daniels
follows
August 16, 1918.
"Hon. Josephus Daniels,
"Secretary Of the Navy,
'NNashinston, ID. G.
Dear Sir: | have before nc Il
copy Of the Washington Evening Star
Of Saturday, August 10. which in an
;article occupying seven inches OF
newspaper space says that the Navy
:iS Offering opportunities to womcl
without previous clerical or Office eX
'poriencc TO enroll in the United
states naval forces for services at
Washington or at other points where
the needs OF the service require them
as clerks and messengers. Women
between the ages Of eighteen and
thirtyrfivc years. reads tho statement
possessing high school education
;and good health, are wanted by the
local Navy recruiting headquarters
(WaShingtOn) for immediate service ,
latter describing the pay and Sub |
;sistence allowance offered, the article
goes on to describe the desirability
of the work and from it's general tone
gives the impression that women ca
pable Of meeting the requirements, |
|arc urgently desired.
| have before me at the same time
la letter from a member of the Wash J
|ington Branch OF this Association,
under date Of August II, teacher
in sthe Dunbar High School, who in
forms me that two cultivated young
folored women, graduates Of the
nigh and normal schools, and said
10 be we'll equipped for the work,
lad applied and were told by the
department that no colored people
fOuld be cnrolleds The young wom-
IN brought their case to the high
school teacher to whom reference has
peen made, who was plainly told that
10 colored people would be accepted. |
At<the same time, says my informant
he Office was filed with white girls
&sceiVing assignments as fast as they
build be given.
Here appears to be a clear case Of
discrimination, but before deciding
hat it is the intention to discrim-
bate against colorcd people, | put
he case before you and ask you in
lie name Of this Association with
1t present one hundred and twenty
oven branches and more than SO,
GO dues paying members OF both
,Nes, whether it is true that when
ord to enroll all available women
no present themselves is given to q
avail recruiting officer as was given |
cording to the Washington papers
Lieutenant J. Frew Hall, the word |
lmen' is meant only to apply 20
to women. If II is the !"tcNtion
the Department to restrict en-
Iment to white women, an inten-