Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-06-18
BY HARRY L. SEXTON
Especial to The Herald1

4S&Nh ia ~ IL 4
tariff and farm relief have been
relegated to obscurity as CONVEX
sational subjects in Washington, and
the major topic Of discussion in
the corridors and cloakrooms of the
capitol, In the restaurants. cafes
and hotels Is the question Of racial
equality.
A bomb from an enemy airplane
would have not produced a more
profound sensation than the recent
action of Mrs. Herbert Hoover in
entertaining the negro wife OF Rep.
Oscar De Priest, Illinois congress-
man, at a formal tea at the White
House.
Indignation over this event Is not
confined to southern representa-
tives, senators and their wives.
Northern representatives, while re-
tuSing to discuss the entertainment
of a negro woman by the wife Of
the president, do not fail to give
the inference that they do not ap-
prove 1t. Their wives, however, are
not restrained by party loyalty TO
the same extent, and condemn in
no unmeaSured terms the social pre-
GCACA4@C GGNOA 0Gd lAAC VIZ - 49,
negro congressman.
Only three months have elapsed
since the Hoovers were domiciled in
the White House. 1t is a regular
rule that the first lady of the land
entertain the wives of representa-
tives and senators at least once dur
ing the congressional session, and
social precedence depends largely
upon the order in which Invitations
TO White House teas are issued. The
fact that Mrs. De Priest is one OF
the first to be rendered the honors
at the White House, under circum-
stances, be considered a recognition
Of social precedence.
Many Sighted
The wives of scores Of congress
men and senator's have not yet been
rendered invitations TO one OF these
formal functions, and 1t IS under
stood that many Of them will po-
litely decline when such invitations
are issued.
Guests at the tea pearty given
on the afternoon of June IL by Mrs.
Hoover, in addition to the colored
woman from Illinois. included Mrs.
James Good OF Iowa, wife OF p
secretary Of war; Mrs. William ID.
Mitchell Of Minnesota, wife OF the
attorney general: Mrs. Arthur M.
Free. wife Of a California congress
man; and Miss Grace Burton, niece
of the Ohio senator.
Whether Mrs. Hoover's guests on
that occasion will be rendered u
taboo" Of Washington society re-
mains to be determined. Many OF
the southern ladies at the capitol
have indicated that they have no
desire to associate with persons
who will receive a negro upon terms
Of equality. and not a few OF the
northern ladies express similar sem
timents. Social leaders. who are at
tempting to act as arbiters between
the rival factions point out that II
Mrs. Hoover's guests are OStracized
there will be two distinct social
groups. Southern ladies assert that
Mrs. Hoover's action has already
created two distinct grousp; that
tkney are opposed to racial equality,
aY,d that all thesocial lures of Wash
ington are not sufficient to induce
them to recognize negroes as equals.
Discussion Heated
Discussion Of the subject in the
corridors and cloak rooms often
becomes heated. The action of Mrs.
Hoover was called TO the attention
of the senate Thursday by Senator
Caraway of Arkansas when he pre-
scented for reading and inclusion in
the Congressional Record a reprint
Of an item appearing in the society
columns Of the Washington News
giving a brief account of the formal
tea at which the Illinois negro wom-
an was an honored guest.
mo doubt the negroes Of the
United States are fully appreclative
and It will serve to bind them closer
TO the republican party" was the
observation Of a southern congress-
man. Down in my state they cele-
brate June 10Th as emancipation
day. Mrs. Hoover has added an
uther holiday to their list. Here
after they can celebrate June II as
the date upon which a member Of
their race was recognized at the
White House upon terms Of social
and racial equality. They probably
will add this holiday to their list
and term ii racial equality day.
1t Is too early to determine the
political effect OF Mrs. Hoover's So
cial function. Southern congress-
men and senator's and not a few
OF those from the north are too
disguised to even consider the poll
teal phase. but Il Is very evident
that when the American uublic real
ises in full the effect Of that for
nal tea IL is certain TO loom large
IA connection with politics, especial
ly in the south.
washington heroes. which con-
gtitute one-third the population re-
reived the news OF Mrs. De Priests
elevation TO social prominence with
concealed satisfaction. The Illinois
congressman in discussing the social
event fairly glowed with pride. and
Indicated that he believed 1t marked
the beginning Of the end of social
discrimination against NEGROES. The
CONGRESSMAN has repeatedly been
honored socially by his colored
brethren In washington, who ap-
near to regard him as the chief
Of the tribe, and this latest honor
thrust upon him by the first lady