Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-04-09
WHITBs sy0MEH PROTEST NAMING
OF GOIOYssDB MAN no
II. s. POST.
Resent Proposed Appointment OF
Black to OfIice OF Treasnr-
Sign Petition to Members
OF Senate and Others.
INV r. Frederick Hasary.)

(By J. Frederick Hssary.)
washington, April IAN unusual
petition, signed by 587 white women
who dislike the prospect OF service un
der a Negro chief Of a government Blu.
reau was sent today TO Mra., Virginia
White Speel, chairman Of the National
Womans' Republican Committee. Cop.
les were sent to members OF the Sen.
ate. among the recipienxa being Sena
tor Carter Glass. Of Virginia former
Secretary Of tho Treasury.
The petition is signed by white wo'
men employees OF the Office of the Regis
ter of Tyeaaury. It's signatures In.
score of States. North as we'll as
South, and women Of both, political
parties. Many ef the signers were ep.
pointed to positions III this bureau Qua
ing the war from Maryland and Vir.
ginia.
APPOINTMENT WOULD BE INTOL~
ERABLE. .......
We have been definitely informed,
says the petition that the appoint
ment Of a colored man as Register OF
the Treasury Is being considered. The
registers Office R now very large ana
doing responsible work. It's personnel
includes more than 500 clerks, mostly
ex-service men and white women, who
are dependent upon their income hero
for support. For Negro to have juriA
diction over these clerks would be
jntolernble.
at IS true that colored mon havo
served rs Registers of the Treasury,
but out Of the twenty-five registers on
ly four havo been colored. At no ;ims
When this Office was under .he super
vision of a Negro did the personnel
consist OF more than nineteen clerks
and one messenger.
NOT INsTIGATED By PREJUDICE
In letter Of transmittal, copies Of
which have been sent to Congress, tho
petitioners say the appeal does not
come from any political faction, nor
was 1t instfsated by Southern preju-
dicet Women Of all sections and both
parties have signed It.
The letter of transmittai adds that
in times Of war 1t was thought in
advisable to put Negro officers In
charge OF white troops. In times OF
peace, 1t would certainly be inexpeo
lent to give Negroes jurisdiction over
white citizens.n
Members OF Congress are APPEALED
70 to prevent the appointment OF
Negro to the office of Register OF the
Treasury.
During the war tho registers force
was greatly augmented because of the
issuance Of Liberty bonds, the records
covering which are kept in the regis.
ter's office. Recent reports have been
that Hetnry Lincoln Johnson, colored
National Committeeman from Gcor-
gia. was slated to succeed the present
White register William S. Elliott, of
Georgia.
Since 1897 there have been four Ne
gro and two Indian registers of the
Treasury. Mr.. Elliott is the first
Caucasian to serve since 1897. It is
understood the unusual petition Is
sent to Mrs. Speel as the head of the
woman's committee Of the Republi-
can partly so that she may present the
mater to President Harding and Sec
rotary Mellon.
government clerks, appointed from
more than q score Of States, includ.
ing tho following, have appended
their names.
massachusetts, New York, Indiana,
Illinois; Tennessee, Maryland; North
Carolina, Georgia. Virginia, Arkansas
Kansas Michigan; Vermont; Pennsyl
yania; and President Hartfing's owl,