The Washington times., 1930-07-11
HURLEY DENIES
JIM CROW
CHARGES
Blames Segregation on Ship
Companies, But Declares
Service Will Be Standard

service VIII be STANDARD
A little contingent of So colored
Gold Star mothers and widows to-
morrow will sail for France and
the graves of their sons and
husbands, the only passengers on
o whole big ship, because all
the power of the Government has
not been able to break down age
old prejudices.
The laws of old Jim Crow
have proved effective again. Ship
ping lines of the world refused
10 haul q mixture of ;olored and
white Gold Star mothers and
widows. They forced the War
Department, in charge Of the
Gold Star mothers and widows
pilgrimage to the graves Of their
boys to charter q separate ship
for transportation of the colored
groups.
Assured All Comforts
One line, it was learned,
agreed to haul the colored groups
provided they were segregated
and given colored stewards. This
the War Department vetoed. Ad-
ditional efforts to secure passage
for the colored groups met with
polite. but firm refusals. Hol-
land-America, North German
Lloyd, Cunard and Anchor. the
French line, and the 1nterna-
tional Mercantile Marine Com
pany were appealed to, but Of
fered nothing.
Other than ship segregation,
however, there will be no dis
elimination between the white
and colored groups, Secretary of
War Hurley assured the country.
He branded as groundless COM
plants of a colored organization,
the Association for the Advance
ment of Colored Welfare, that the
colored groups were not to receive
the same treatment and comforts
accorded the white mothers and
widows.
BIames Ship Companies
All along the department had
planned to send the two groups
across separately, but no trouble
was anticipated in securing pas
sage for the colored groups on
regular steamer lines. On the
shipping companies, not the War
Department. lies the responsibility
for the situation which has come
about it. it was learned. Hurley
said:
after thorough, studS, the
conclusion was reached that
the formation of white and
COIOred groups of mothers and
widows, would best assure the
contentment and comfort of
the pilgrims themselves"
"NO discrimination as be.
tween the. various groups is
contemplated" he continued.
"All groups will receive like
accommodations at hotels and
on steamships, and the repre-
sentatives of the War Depart
ment will, at all times, be as
solicitOus of the welfare of the
coIOred mothers and widows as
they will be of the welfare of
those of the white race.
"The journey will be q severe
tax on those making 1t. as 1t
will take them into strange
surroundings and away from
family and friends for a period
of about six weeks.
Normal Contacts
'"The War Department has
been mOtivated by the desire to
relieve this strain in SO far as
possible by mot disturbing the
normal contacts Of individual
pilgrims. 1t would seem natural
to assume that these mothers
and widows would prefer to
seek sOlace in their grief from
companions of their own race.
"a request has been made
that these COlOred mothers and
widows be placed in groups
with white mothers and widows.
The War Department, of course,
has no objection to members of
one group joining other groups
provided they are welcome by
the groups concerned. Without
such welcome IL can be under
stood that this action would
not be conducive to the peace
and comfort Of the pilgrims of
either race.
'If evidence is furnished by
any member of any group wish.
ing to Join another group. and
who will at the same time be
welcome by that group, the
War Department will be glad to
make the necessary arrange
ments. IL must be understood,
however, that any change must
be prediCated on the ability Of
the War Department to make
satisfactory arrangements with
the transportation companies
AAd the hotels."