The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-10-13
NATIONAL Equal
RIGHTS LEAGUE
PRESENTS QUERY
Chief Executive Declares for
Governmental Protection
Against Injustice
ANTI-LYNCR BILL MENTIONED
Massachusetts Delegation Cor
daily Received by White
House Head

Washington, D. c., Oct. Cat
1915 today the delegation chosen at
the 18th annual meeting of the Ma
tional Equal Rights League held in
the Holy Trinity Baptist church,
Brooklyn, where Rev. T. j. Moppins
of st. Louis was elected president in
strong convention, to lay before
the President the redress program of
the Race, was received at the White
House. Secretary Slemp introduced
Maurice w. Spencer, national treas
urer, citizen of Delaware, to Presi-
dent Coolidge and he introduced the
delegation consisting of Rev. l.. C.
Newby of Connecticut, Rev. C. M.
Moore of Missouri, ]. L. Neill, ESQ.,,
national recording secretary of Dis
trict of Columbia, DR.. Julia P. H.
Coleman, second vice president of
New York, Mrs. w. o. Taylor of
Massachusetts,, Mrs. T. S. Harten of
New York, ]. Simon Scott of Con-
necticut, H. R. Adams of PennsYl-
vania, Rev. Thomas S. Harten, ma
tional organizer of New York, Will
liam Monroe Trotter of Massachu-
setts, Rev. Geo. Frazier Miller, ma
tional president at large of New
York and Isaac H. Nutter, Esq, of
New Jersey.
The President shook hands cordial
ly and greeted the Massachusetts
delegation as home state acquaint-
ances. He stood in front of his desk
while the delegates stood in a wide
circle about him.
petition Query" Read.
Mr.. Trotter was called on and read
the "Petition Query" in conversa-
tional tone. 1t named lynching,
Southern congressional representa-
ton, unreduced despite, disfranchise-
ment, Jim Crow cars, denial of entry
to West Point, Citizens Military
Training camps, except with segre-
cation, the non-inclusion of colored
units in army divisions, denial of
entry to Annapolis or to any class
in the navy except as coal passers,
coal trimmers, oilers and the mess
department. It asked pardon for the
oath Infantry prisoners and for an
all-colored staff at the Colored Vet
erans' hospital, for refusal to recog-
nize Mexico unless there be no color
bar to immigration, and for aboli-
tion of segregation of colored civil
service employees at the national
capitol. An answer by the President
was asked to each section.
Spokesman Makes Plea.
The argument and plea by Rev.
Thomas S. Harten, spoken informal
ly represented that an expression to
the race was needed because it did
not rightly understand the new Chief
Executive, on account of which many
of the race had left the Republican
party, instancing, with Secretary
Slemp present, the Race conception
which he himself had until a long per-
Referring to Mr.. Coolidge's record in
expressions of the Race, Rev. Har-
ten, declaring the Race were praying
as they awaited the Presidents atti-
tude, quoting scripture on "speak
now or we perish" and on asking
bread and not giving a stone, urged
the President to take stand for pro-
lection and for redress of the grave
wrongs. Rev. G. w. Frazier Miller
then said the delegates were ready
to hear the President.
The Presidents Reply.
Then Mr.. Spencer nodded to the
President who spoke deliberately and
at length. After urging the Race to
realize others also had troubles, to
gain hope from the Races own won
derful progress. Mr.. Coolidge stated
that he would not change from his
stand in Massachusetts, that he was
glad the delegation had come to get
well acquainted, that the government
would dispense justice, that it would,
as far as government could, pro-
tect the race against injustice and
imposition, that it would recognize
the Race for political appointment
when it was possible to do so. He
said he wanted the Race to assist the
government in doing this, and as
sured that he was with the Race in
it's stand for fair treatment. r
i Isaac H. Nutter, Esq, expressed
appreciation and asked the President
:. to make as a public address some
time his statement. He delegated
Mr.. Nutter and the committee to do
this. When Mr.. Trotter asked wheth-
4 er the President would declare pub
licly for the Dyer bill, etc.. he re-
piled that his statement showed
where he stood on all such issues,
4 which the delegation considered bod
ed well in view of the character of
the general position taken in the
Presidents response.