The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1920-10-30
LIEUT.. J. WILLIAMS CLIFFORD.
Special Representative, coIored Sol
dIers and Sailors, Bureau Of War
Risk Insurance, Resigns.

I The usefulness of his work strangled
by the prejudice and discrimination OF
the Democratic Administration. Lieu
tenant ]. Williams Clifford, former
officer of the 367th Infantry, 92nd Di-
vision. A. E. F., who for over year
has looked after the interests of Col
ored Servicemen In the Bureau of War
Risk Insurance recently rendered his
resignation as their special represen-
tative because of continual limitations
of his official duties by prejudiced
southern white superiors. Upon inter
viewing Lieutenant Clifford, he said:
Little by little certain officials in
the Bureau of War Risk Insurance
have attempted to give my section
trouble simply because of their hatred
for the Negroes. Upon one occasion
it was claimed that personal letter
was sent out from my office in a
franked envelope without a stamp, al
though the envelope was never pro-
duced. Another time was ordered to
stop signing letters written in my sec
tion to Colored Soldiers, and friends
because they wished them to be sign,
ed by white man. This l refused to
do and was given to understand that
If l did not do so. they would get
someone who would carry out their
orders. 1t was only after a two weeks
fight that l was again permitted TO
sign my name to letters originating
in my section. Later l was forced to
send my dictated letters down to an
other office where a white high school
graduate approved and signed them,
signing my own signature to my own
letters before they were sent out.
This was all done because there was
fear that l would persist in helping
Colored ex-Serviceen in matters per-
tanning to their Insurance, Death
Claims and Allotment claims in way
that might 'embarras the Bureau of
War Risk Insurance"
Realizing that there was need for a
Colored man in the Bureau of War
Risk Insurance to look after the In
surance, Compensation, and Allotment
Claims of Colored Soldiers, succeed
ed in haying myself appointed TO the
position during the present admins
tration. My official designation has
been Special Representative of the
Colored Soldiers and Sailors in the
Bureau of War Risk Insurance. By
articles in the Colored newspapers
and magazines and through the enroll
ment of many volunteer workers in
cluding Ministers. Doctors, Lawyers,
Insurance Agents, Social Workers,
Young Mems Christian Associations,
Young Women's Christian Association,
National Association for the Advance.
ment of Colored people, Fraternity
Organizations, Urban League Work
ers, and other Community Service Or
ganizations. have been able to sti
mulate interest in Government Life
Insurance among Colored discharged
Soldiers to the end that millions Of
dollars worth of insurance have been
saved and added to the economic
strength of the Negro race. This
work according to letters over the
signature of my superiors has been
carried on my efficiently. In fact it
has been common talk in the Bureau
that the Colored Servicemen's Section
for its sic is one of the most efficient
Units in the entire institution.
My office force of twenty-five en-
ployees including dictators, stenograp-
hers. file clerks. and typists have rem
dered faithful and conscientious serv-
ice nthe interest of the discharged
Colored Servicemen. kilograms and
letters have been sent to me telling of
unjust, discriminating and cruel treat