Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-06-21
Negro Woman Is Entertained In
White House.
J. E. Essary in Baltimore Sun.


Washington is aeitated again and as it has
not been since the Gam social precedence
Issue was a topic Of furious debate in
every drawing room and dining room in
the Capital.
This time it has TO do with the enter
tainment by Mrs. Hoover Of the negro wife
Of the negro Representative from Illinois
Oscar De Priest, along with a group Of
women Of the Congressional circle.
A tea was given yesterday afternoon. II
was an intimate affair. not more than six
or eight guests being invited. Among the
first to arrive was the negros wife. Also
she was among the last to leave. 1t was
evident to all that she was enjoying her
self.
When the White House social secretary
gave out the announcement of the tea,
she did not name the guests. 1t was
merely brief statement. reported in the
society columns. that Mrs. Hoover enter
tanned at tea at the White House yestsr-
day afternoon, when the guests again were
ladies Of the Congressional circle"
Among those present were Mrs. Arthur
M. Free. wife of the Representative from
California Mrs. Clyde Kelly. wife of the
Representative from Pennsylvania; Mrs.
Robert Bacon. wife of the Representative
from New York; Miss Grace Burton. niece
of Mrs. James W. Good, wife of the Secre-
tary Of War; Mrs. William Mitchell, wife
Of the Attorney General. and the negro's
wife.
Some Of the guests. gossiped about the
presence Of the negress and that is how
the incident came to public light.
White House recognition Of the stir the
De Priest gossip caused was given tonight
in the following statement, issued by Geo.
Akerson, secretary to President Hoover:
'All the wives and families of all MEM
bers Of the Senate and House have been
invited to call at the White House for
series of teas given by Mrs. Hoover No
names whatsoever have been omitted"
This afternoon. Senator Caraway, Demo-
crat, made the incident a matter of official
record
Addressing the Vice President. he asked
that an item in a local afternoon paper be
read into the Congressional Record. The
Senate clerk promptly read the article,
which identified De Priest wife. Senators
from all sections exchanged meaning
glances.
There was no debate on the floor. no
comment Of any kind. Vice. President Cur
tbs. who had been in total ignorance of the
contents Of the article. smiled family as
the reading ended, tapped lightly with his
gavel and permitted the proceedings to
continue as though they had not been
interrupted.
But there was discussion in the Senate
cloakrOOms. Exactly what was said is not
reported. but Senator Blrase. Democrat
South Carolina, revealed the retiring rooms
had buzzed with comment of interested OF
amused Senators.
Speaking Of the incident later the South
Carolinian said
Il was not surprised to hear a negro
woman had been entertained in the White
House. Why should be Didn't warn
my audiences in the South in the last cam
paien this would happen. If Mr.. Hoover
should be elected
Il told audiences in North Carolina, in
South Carolina and in Georgia what would
happen If they elected a man who had
abolished segregation in the Department
OF Commerce. told them negroes would
be eating in the White House next"
De Priests wife was not the first negro
to eat in the White House. 1t is recalled
President Roosevelt created Juror more
than 20 years ago because he entertained
Booker T. Washington. the negro educator,
at dinner
Since the Booker Washington incident
no President or his wife has ventured
In the same direction. Wonder was ex.
pressed in the Taft Administration whether
William H. Lewis. the negro Assistant
Attorney General. who hailed from Boston
might not bring embarrassment on hi:
associates in the Government by demand.
ing for himself the social privileges hi:
Office was suppose to accord him.
Lewis didn't make an issue of the matter
He lived quietly here in negro hotel ant
invitations that came to him because Of
his official position he promptly declined.
Lewis and De Priest are totally different
types Of their race. Lewis. who was borr
and reared in Norfolk. Va. realized the
prejudices in many minds against those
negroes who sought social equality with
members of the white race and bowed tC
those prejudices.
De Priest has taken the other slant. He
was reared in Chicago. in a Congressional
district largely populated by members Of
his own race. 1t is said that. before leav-
ing to take his seat in Congress, he made
a speech to some Of his negro constituents
in which he boosted he would shoe EN-
when be arrived at Washington. He meant
he would insist on full social recognition.
One Of his first acts after taking his seat
was to appoint two negroes to West Point
and two to the Naval Academy. Also he
appointed negro alternates for the four.
Even before De Priest took his seat some
Of the women composing the Congressional
Club Of Washington raised the race issue
with view Of barring the neeros wife
from the club. This issue remains unsettled.
De Priest confirmed the fact that his
wife had received social attentions at the
hands Of Mrs. Hoover. He made no secret
of his satisfaction that this recognition
from the highest official quarter had been
accorded him.
Also he had the details Of his wife's
party dress. 1t appears that she wore an
afternoon dress Of capri blue chiffon with
q gray coat trimmed with mole skin. Her
hat xvaa ANAL and drav HaF hooa ,.,asa