Evening journal., 1918-10-30
NEGROES Want ON
CITY POLICE FORCE
Delegation Asks Co m :
mission Why Race is Not
Given Representation
WILL CONSIDER
SIX APPLICATIONS

Headed by City Councilman John o.
Hopkins. Negro Councilman from the
Sixth ward, a delegation Of members
OF the Negro race called on the Board
OF Police Commissioners yesterday and
urged that Negroes be appointed TO the
department which at present has about
twenty-five vacancies. The Rev Henry
Y. Arnett was spokesman for the party
which included Councilman Hopkins,
Dr. Conwel Banton, Of the Board Of
Public Education; Charles II. Colburn, a
member OF the Republican State Com
mlttee, and II. B. Mckessick.
The delegation asked the commission
ers the question. Why Negroes were not
appointed 10 the local department 20
saying they had been asked that queE-
tion by members OF their race They
wanted TO know what they could say
when the same question was propound-
ed 10 them again. General I. p. Wick
ersham. president OF the commission
was the only one 10 speak on the sub
ject. he stating that the six Negro sppli-
cants for positions on the force would
be given due consideration.
Mr.. Arnett said that In the past vari-
Gus committees had appeared before
| the commission and urged that members
Of the Negro race be appointed. These
committees have been received and lis
tened 10 with apparent interest but Moth
| ing has been done. Mr.. Arnett said We
have wondered why our men were not
appointed and we are anxious 10 have
them appointed. We have men who are
the physical equal OF the white man.
and as intelligent, while their morals are
also equal. In the larger cities and
even in smaller cities than Wilmington.
I the Negro is represented IN the police
| department and 10 is common gossip in
those places that we cannot get a Negro
appointed 70 a position in the police de-
partment
we know that you VIII say that men
Of our race have been appointed IN the
past but that they failed to measure up
10 the requirements. but we can reply
that all Of the white men who have
been appointed have not measured up
TO the standard OF the department"
Mr. Arnett then referred TO the work
Of Mr.. McKessick. as chairman OF the
Negroes committee in the recent Lib
erty Loan drive and pointed out that
the women Of his race haf sold Sit.OOO
worth OF bonds al one stand
lie also referred 10 the patriotism dis
played by, the Negroes who had been
called in the draft. He said the gov
ernment did not discriminate because oI
color.
In conclusion Mr. Arnett suggested
that II patrolmen OF his race were not
| appointed. that the positions Of chauf-
feurs in the patrol wagons be filled by
members OF his race He added that by
placing Negro patrolmen on districts
that were peopled by members of tha
race much Of the objection 10 the Negro
patrolmen could be overcome.
Mr.. Colburn also spoke on the sub
iect saying that when the government
took his two sons who are now on the
west front IN France. 10 did not ask II
/ they were black.
The commissioners thanked the dele
gallon for its presence.
I The commissioners appointed Leon p
Skipski. Edward W Hickman and Edgar
/ +. Blackiston as members Of the depart
ment
Tho report Of Chief Black showed
that during the past week there were
i62 arrests. Of which number n were
charged with drunkenness. The fines
collected in City Court totaled S709.70.