The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-24
DEF |N|TE PROMISE
Of WHITE CONTROL
CAUSED LOCATION
Senator Powell Says Assur-
ance Was In Writing Be-
I fore Location Settled

uohtSeG lldS lSSueu LII lildI otdtC-
ment here giving a history of the
movement to build the government
hospital for disabled negro veterans
in which he shows that If tho gov
eminent persists In placing negroes
in all the executive positions at the
hospital it will be clear case of
the governments breaking faith with
the people of Tuskegee. He shows
that written guarantees were given
that whites would be placed in CON-
troll of the hospital, otherwise the
people of Tuskegee never would have
consented that it be built in their
city. He contends that the govern
nent's announced plan is not only
Objectionable to the white residents
of Tuskegee but also to the author
tiles of Tuskegee institute. His
statement reads:
THE Associated Press today car
ries the news in letter from Direc-
tor Hines to President Harding. that
in a very few days now the govern
meut hospital at Tuskegee will be
changed from white personnel to
an entire negro personnel. The press
news for the rast few weeks has
prepared us for this announcement.
and it simply means that every white
employe and every official at tho
government hospital will be imme-
diately replaced by a negro. What n
travesty on justicel What a breach
of faith and confidence on the part
of the government towards a trust
ing people!
The guarantee OF the government
is to be ignored: the expressed
wishes of the citizenship of this COM
munity both white and black. is to
under foot; for political purposes or
through reasons Of expedlency, a
white personnel already here and In
stalled will be kicked out, and a
negro personnel ushered in. We peo-
pie who live here, and whose homes,
property rights. and possibly lives.
Will be vitality affected by this an
nounced intention of the authorities
at Washington, feel outraged at such
action OF our government, its
like the German traties when war
clouds overwhelmingly a scrap Of
paper Here is the story:
white Control Guaranteed.
When it was suggested that the
hospital for disabled negro soldiers
be built here, our white people OBJ
jected strenuously. Other cities and
tow ms throughout the country had
refused to let it come within their
borders Tuskegee, of all places, be-
cause of its peculiar local situation,
could not afford to receive such an
institution. a government agent.
Major. w. H. Kenzie, was sent here
" SOuliQ oul the people,. lie an
nounced to everyone that the hospi-
tai would be absolutely controlled
and managed by whites. He said
that no possible friction between the
races could develop, because no au-
thority or control of any kind would
be placed in the hands of negroes
This statement was not received with
much effect, as his authority to make
such representations was doubted
and he promptly wired Washington
his representations to us. In re-
Spouse, the following telegram was
sent him, and the committee that Wis
tied Washington recently saw the
original on file in the treasury de-
partment: August "a. 1921. Major w.
N. Kenzie, Tuskegee, Ala. as
sure you that hospital will be con-
troled and operated by whites.
(signed) VIM. Charles White DR..
White was, at that time. chief and
head of the department that had full
authority to locate and build hospi-
tails. and is still serving as the head
of his department, though the oper-
alton of all hospitals has been turn
ed over to another department.
reop1. Accepted G 6 e
That telegram was shown the
people of Tuskegee, both white and
black. and by means of this written
guarantee from government in
which we IepOSeQ trust anu COHll-
dence, the opposition Of the people of
this community was overcome, and
the people agreed that the hospital
might be built here. Some of our
white citizens. and the Tuskegee In
stitute. donated lands to the govern
ment, gave right-of-way for a road
and assisted and co-operated in ev-
cry way, trusting fully and COM
pletely in the governments promise
and guarantee. In this manner was
the hospital located here and its con-
struction permitted. Now our peo-
pie ask: Was the hospital built on
fraud, Misrepresentation and decep-
,tion?' Were the people tricked SO
that the government might get foot
hold here, and then use this hospital
political football. to be kicked
about at the whim and pleasure OF
whatever party or individual might
be in power?
Who Is Responsiblef
was such a result foreseen? Ger
tainly not by our white citizenship.
or the hospital would never have been
located here. Could the Tuskegee
Institute have afforded to experiment
with the foothold that 1t had gained
here through the passing years. and
would it knowingly have donated
land and had established here thing
that may prove curse to 1t and the
race that it seeks to serve and BEN
eft? Could either the white citizenry
or the negro race here have been
party to any plan that did not have
back of it the solemn guarantee and
r assurance that 1t would not work
obstruction OF the good will and har-
monv tho have existed here so long
between the white and negro raessT
Asau.cu.y lue Gown ana institute pc
lieved that the government would
live nm TO it's promise regarding
white control and operation OF the
hospital. Where then rests the re-
sponsibility for diverting the govern
ment from it's promised course! FROM
such information as we have been
able to get together, we place THIS
responsibility upon the National Ne
gro Medical association. backed up
and urged on by few pie-hungry
and discredited negro politicians.
The Town OF Tu. z
Few people. comparatively. un-
derstand the situation here. Tuske-
gee is a splendid little city. AS fine
white citizenship lives here as can
be found anywhere In this country.
1t is a city of attractive homes. we'll
kept lawns. substantial business
houses splendid churches. good
schools, and has always had SOLID:
strong financial foundation. One OF
the Oldest of Alabama communities
for practically 100 years 1t has been
fine home of the white man. who In
the pioneer days fought the savage
and the wild beast and planted his
foot firmly and determinedly on
ground where he expects to stay and
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