The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-05-26

MOTHERS CAN
NOT SEE PRES.
Ruby Bates Among
Those Barred BY
MIR. Roosevelt
Denied Admittance
At White House Door

Washington. ID. CA blunt re-
fusal OF President Roosevelt 10
grant a personal audience to four
mothers Of the condemned Scots
boro boys and the barring of Ruby
Bates from the White House
grounds. marked the visit last
Monday of delegation which
sought admission TO the Executive
Mansion for the purpose of urging
Presidential Intervention in the
now famous Alabama case.
Five persons, four of the visit
ing group of mothers and an Off
cial Of the New York City Branch
Of the International Labor Defense
were received by Marvin II. Nc
lntyrce. who promised to present
them to Mr.. Roosevelt.
Ruby Bates Barred
Miss Bates, whose occupancy of
The principal role In the SCOTS
boro case. has gained her national
publicity, was compelled to sit on
the White House steps, In COM
pany with some twelve or fifteen
other members of the delegation.
Mrs. Willie Anna Burroughs.
whoae charge that "Mr. Roosevelt
II n President of the rich" rams
1ut ON several occasions, Was
among the number denied entrance
10 the grounds. Mrs. Burroughs
was formerly public school
teacher IN New York CITY, but was
removed from service because of
her utilization with a group pro-
tostinp alleged Inconsistencies In
the school system of the New
York metropolis.
Also In the delegation was Mrs.
Mary Craig Speed (whitc) mother
OF the organizer OF the |. l.. ID.
chapter In Montgomery. Alabama.
who now makes her home I'm New
York, because, she says. "the state
of Alabama does not want me"
Several white and colored war
veterans were likewise among the
delegation members barred by the
White House police. Other mem
hers included Mrs. Helen Ray,
white l. l.. ID. official; Bernard
AIDES. Solomon Harper, and Mrs.
Mary Mclllwain.
Presidents Consideration Urged
Richard ID. Moore, spokesman
for the Scottsboro mothers. en-
phasized the Importance Of the
Presidents consideration of the
case. and pointed out his inter
vention in the Moody case, as well
as his endorsement of the enact
ing of the legislation against kid
mapping.
Moore charged that II Mr.. RoOse-
welt refused 10 take any steps In
recommending the release OF the
Scottsboro youths. he would prove
himself to be distinterested in the
welfare of the millions of Negroes
who helped elect him and are
allegedly protected by the U. s.
Constitution.
Each OF the four mothers spoke
OF having come hundreds OF miles
in the hope of presenting their plea
TO the President on Mothers Day.
They all expressed disappointment
OH not being permitted to speak to
hiL,.
On leaving the Whlle House, the
Scottsboro mothers left In Secre-
tary McIntyre's care letter for
President Roosevelt, which read
in part as follows.
"Mr. President, we ask you TO
act In behalf of our sons. We ask
that you, as the chief executive OF
this country-as the one who Is
supposed TO take an interest In the
welfare of all and see that justice
Is done TO all citizens alike-speak
out against the murderous perse-
cution OF our children.
your word. Mr.. Roosevelt
would have great weight through
out the land. Millions In America
and other countries have already
raised their voices in protest OF
this terrible wrong. Men In high
places. all over the world, have
spoken for the freedom OF our
boys, because they believe in their
innocence, from the evidence In
the case.
VIII you. as President, do all
you can to free our wronged and
tortured sons?"