Resolution Protesting Segregation

Title

Resolution Protesting Segregation

Creator

Methodist Minister’s Alliance of Kansas City, MO

Identifier

CS78

Date

1914 November 24

Description

Resolution adopted by the Methodist Ministers Alliance of Kansas City, Missouri, against segregation and discrimination.

Source

Library of Congress
Wilson Papers, Series 4, 152A Reel 231, Manuscript Division

Publisher

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum

Subject

African-Americans--segregation

Contributor

Althea Cupo
Maria Matlock

Language

English

Provenance

Digital copy acquired from federal archives by previous WWPL Archivist, Heidi Hackford.

Text

Kansas City, Mo., Nov., 24th, 1914.

Hon. Woodrow Wilson,
President of the United States of America,
Washington, D.C.,
Most Highly Respected Sir:-
Inclosed please find copy of resolutions adopted by Methodist Ministers' Alliance of this city. The tesolutions pertain to a matter of vital concern, a matter which effects not only the rights and privileges of a vast number of earnest and honest American Citizens, but tests in a large measure or way, the Christian integrity of our civilization itself.

In appealing to your Excellency to right the wrong of which we complain, we believe that we appeal to a man whose high character and enlightened conscience are a guarantee that no right of even the humblest citizen, will be ignored. We are aware of your high standing in the literary world; we are aware that your past associations have been such as inevitably must lift a man above and beyond the atmosphere of all things mean and small; and we feel too, that your official position as President of the greatest republic on earth, places you in a position of moral and spiritual leadership, which your high attainments will enable you to maintain with particular enlightenment, dignity, and candor. We hope and feel sure that your Excellency will give no mere passing considerations to the resolutions enclosed.

Very respectfully Yours,
Methodists Ministers' Alliance:

Rev. W. H. Thomas
Rev. W. H. Peck
W. E. Griffin
com.

A RESOLUTION

Adopted by the Methodist Ministers Alliance of Kansas City, Missouri

Whereas it has been freely and frequently stated in the public press, and is now taken and accepted by the general public as a fact that within the past two years, segregation and discrimination, based solely upon the consideration of race and color, and without regard to worth and efficiency of any person or persons, have been inaugurated in the various departments of the national government at Washington, D. C., and have now become the settled policy and practice of those departments; and,

Whereas, no official denial of the truth of the above mentioned public statements, has been made by any one having authority to speak; leaving undisturbed the inference that the said statements are true and valid; and

Whereas we believe that such racial discrimination helps noone one, but does, in fact, harm many, by engendering unnecessary racial hatred, prejudices and antagonism; and by being opposed to that harmony and cooperation which should characterize the mutual attitude of the two races; and,

Whereas, we believe further that the before mentioned segregation is out of harmony with the best ideals of a Christian civilization, that it imposes an unnecessary humiliation upon those affected, as well as indirectly upon all men of color; besides being unAmerican and undemocratic, and totally at variance with the real spirit, purpose, and destiny of our institutions; therefore

Be It Resolved by the Methodist Ministers Alliance of Kansas City, Missouri, duly assembled, that we, as a body of earnest Christian men, working for the betterment of human conditions everywhere and inspired by the teachings of Him who came on earth to establish peace and good will among men, do hereby officially go on record as protesting vigorously against the unnecessary and unjust discrimination aforesaid;

Resolved further, that a copy of these resolution be forwarded to His Excellency, the President of the United States
By Committee
W. H. Peck
W. H. Thomas
W. E. Griffin

Original Format

Letter

To

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/CS78.pdf

Citation

Methodist Minister’s Alliance of Kansas City, MO, “Resolution Protesting Segregation,” 1914 November 24, CS78, Race and Segregation Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.