Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-11-06
L&MU1 j WILLIAMS CLIFFORD
RESiNH., L S IN WAR RISK
DEPARTMENT..
Use&aincss Of His Work Strangtcd
by the Prejudice and DiScrimi--
nat ion Of the Democratic
Adpainistr alton

over year hps looked after the III
forests o. colorcd Servicemcn in
tho Burr-u at War Risk Insurance
recently rendered his resignation ia
their 81" :i.i rcSCntative because
of continual limitations OF his oil.
ciaI fulir* " prcjudicI southern
white Supporters. Upon interviewing
Lieutenant Clifford, he said:
"1Ittlc by II tile certain Officials ill
the Bureau Of. War Risk Insurance
have attempted to give my Section
trouble simply because of their ha
tired for the Negroes. Upon one oc
casion 1t was claimed that Il person
al letter was sent out from my office
IN frauke1, envelope without a
Szah although tho envelope was
mover produced Another time I was
ordered to stop signing letters writ
ten In my Section to Colored Sol.
diexs. and friends because they wish
ed them 10 DO signed by a white
man. This I refused TO do and l
did not do so. they would got some
oha whe would carry out their or.
dcau. 1t was only after a two wceks
fte2st that was again permitted to
Sign say name to letters originating
III ;Iny Section. Later / was forced
t. sign my name to letters original
In my Section. Later I was forced
to seph NJ. dictated letters down to
another Officer where white high
school graduate approved and signed
:hcaa. .,eieu.ns my own signature 10
MY own letters before they wcre
sent out. This was all done because
there was fear that would persist
In helping Colored ex--Ser vicoanen
in ytatters per aiming to their Insur
aG,oe. Death Claims aud allotment
Clairas In way that might 'embar
rass the Bureau Of War Risk lnsur
anee. Realizing that there was need
for II Colored man in the Bureau Ct
War Risk Insurance to look after the
Insurance, Compensation and Allott
ment Claims III Colored Soldiers,
suseeeded in having myself appointed
to the position during the present
administration. My official designat
i0a has been Special Representative
OF the Coored Soldiers and Sailors
in the Bureau OF War Risk Insurance
BY articles in the Colored nowspap-
els and magazines and through tho
enrolment Of many volunteer work
ers Including, Doctors, Lawyers, In
sui9nee Agents, Social Workers
Young Mems Christian Associations.
Young W0men's Christian Association
National Association for the Advaraa.
ment Of Colored People, FRATERNITY
Organizations, Urban League Work
ers and other Community Service Or
gnnizations, have been able to slim
ulate interest in Government Life In
suranoo among Colorcd discharged
Soldiers 70 the end that millions or
dollars worth OF Insurance have boon
saved and added to tho economic
stl ength of the Negro race. This
work according to letters over tho
signature OF my superiors has been
carried OH my efficiently. In fact 1t
has been common talk in the Bureau
that the Colorcd Servicemen's Sec
ton for it's size is one OF the most
efficient Units IN the n,,ti"e institu'
ton.
MY Office force OF twenty-five EN-
ployoes including dictatOs, stenogra
pliers, file clerks and typists have
rendered faithful and conscientious
service In the interest Of tho discharg
ed Colored Serviccmen. Telegrams
and letters have been sent to me tell
ing Of unjust, discriminating ano
cruel treatment that is accorded
wounded Colored heroes by Medical
Examiners in certain United States
Government Hospitals located i'll tho
South. Many letters have been re-
ceived that would bring tears to
your eyes upon reading them Upon
one occasion in endeavoring to do my
duty to my fellow comrades who
fought over seas to help make tho
World Safe for DcMc""""" my letter
requesting a Colored Y. M. G. A. SEQ
rotary of Houston, Texas to invest'-
gate tho condition at Camp Logan.
Texas and the treatment of Colored
War Risk patients at that institu'
ton was held up 1t being claimed
that such procedure would get the
Bureau into trouble. There are let.
tors in the Colored Servicenlen's office
fr ON Colorcd Soldiers who have heeh
wounded on The battle fronts OF Eur
bpe and who are now forced to re
main in hospitals in the South that
would mako your blood boil in read
ing Of tho treatment accorded them
The peculiar nature Of many cases in
the field occasionei by circumstance
es over which the Bureau has no d.
rect control justifics the employment
and recognized representative OF tho
Colored race in the Bureau of War
Risk Insurance and in the field as
Medical Examiners and Field Inyesti
gators. I believe such a policy would
minimize the cases where so cCnsid
erahlc a number Of Colored former
Servicemen are apt to be neglected
or set aside. I think that the Negro
es OF America should know these con
ditions' and that they should ba
brought to the attention of mon and
women Of noble characters and genu
inc American principles.
Mr.. Clifford further stated:
'"rhe policy of segregation and dis
elimination enforced by the Demo
craf DIN MI e rnt &c I'm A ,,,or;oor