William Hannibal Thomas to Joseph P. Tumulty
Title
William Hannibal Thomas to Joseph P. Tumulty
Creator
Thomas, William Hannibal
Identifier
CS46
Date
1914 November 13
Description
Letter "heartily approving of the well deserved rebuke the President administered" during the Trotter incident and hoping he will be free from annoyance in the future.
Source
Library of Congress
Wilson Papers, Series 4, 152A Reel 231, Manuscript Division
Wilson Papers, Series 4, 152A Reel 231, Manuscript Division
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Trotter, William Monroe, 1872-1934
African-Americans--segregation
Contributor
Althea Cupo
Maria Matlock
Language
English
Provenance
Digital copy acquired from federal archives by previous WWPL Archivist, Heidi Hackford.
Text
Hon, Joseph P. Tumulty.
Dear Sir:
Kindly permit me to say a word regarding the ill and delusive statements of the colored delegation to whom the President accorded an interview yesterday. I know these people, they are mereenary [mercenary] creatures, without civic or social integrity, and intent solely on self aggrandizement. Lest a similar incident may occur in executive experience, it may be well to advise you that there is no such thing as personal leadership among the colored people of the north, despite all that the self constituted colored political vandals may say to the contrary. Nor are there any colored democrats in that section among the sober minded self respecting negroes. This fact is clearly demonstrable by the most casual inspection of the type of negroes who besieged the democratic headquarters in 1912, in search of financial aid. Do not be misled by the pretensions of these people, all of whom are ever ready to sell their votes to the highest bidder. As for the author of this untoward incident, it is but the simple truth to say that while he is a person of some education, he has an unappeasable craving for notoriety, and I fear is sadly wanting in common sense. I heartily approve of the well deserved rebuke the President administered to his visitors and sincerely trust he may be free from such annoyances in the future.
With sincere respect, I beg to remain,
very truly yours,
Wm. Hannibal Thomas.
Dear Sir:
Kindly permit me to say a word regarding the ill and delusive statements of the colored delegation to whom the President accorded an interview yesterday. I know these people, they are mereenary [mercenary] creatures, without civic or social integrity, and intent solely on self aggrandizement. Lest a similar incident may occur in executive experience, it may be well to advise you that there is no such thing as personal leadership among the colored people of the north, despite all that the self constituted colored political vandals may say to the contrary. Nor are there any colored democrats in that section among the sober minded self respecting negroes. This fact is clearly demonstrable by the most casual inspection of the type of negroes who besieged the democratic headquarters in 1912, in search of financial aid. Do not be misled by the pretensions of these people, all of whom are ever ready to sell their votes to the highest bidder. As for the author of this untoward incident, it is but the simple truth to say that while he is a person of some education, he has an unappeasable craving for notoriety, and I fear is sadly wanting in common sense. I heartily approve of the well deserved rebuke the President administered to his visitors and sincerely trust he may be free from such annoyances in the future.
With sincere respect, I beg to remain,
very truly yours,
Wm. Hannibal Thomas.
Original Format
Letter
To
Tumulty, Joseph P. (Joseph Patrick)
Files
Collection
Citation
Thomas, William Hannibal, “William Hannibal Thomas to Joseph P. Tumulty,” 1914 November 13, CS46, Race and Segregation Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.