Rep. W. P. Borland’s Remarks on Race
Title
Rep. W. P. Borland’s Remarks on Race
Creator
Waters, James C., Jr.
Identifier
A022916
Date
1916 February 29
Description
Asks the Secretary of Agriculture to what extend the remarks of Representative W. P. Borland on African-American employees may have been justified.
Source
US National Archives and Records Administration 130/68/3/00 box #3 entry #5 “Negroes” folder
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
My dear Sir:
Representative W. P. Borland's "Extension of Remarks" as printed in The Congressional Record for Feb. 28, 1916, includes, among others, the words which are quoted on the accompanying sheet to which your attention is respectfully invited.
As one of the taxpayers whose interests Mr. Borland seems to hold so close to his heart (see last three paragraphs, p. 3764), I have the honor to request you to tell me to what extent, if at all, conditions affecting colored employes in the Department of Agriculture on Feb. 28, 1916, justified the remarkable statements quoted on the accompanying sheet.
I am, Sir,
Your most humble servant,
James C. Waters, Jr.,
(Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People),
Post Office Box 93.
1 encl.
The Honorable,
The Secretary of Agriculture,
Washington, D.C.
MEMORANDUM: February 29, 1916.
The "Extension of Remarks" inserted in The Congressional Record of Feb. 28, 1916, by Representative W. P. Borland, of Missouri, includes the following (see page 3764, left column, 2nd paragraph):
"...There are a number of negroes in the civil service, and, almost without exception, they are in the purely clerical departments where the seven-hour day prevails and not in the mechanical and technical branches where the eight-hour day is enforced. I am told that among the young negro couples it is customary for both the husband and wife to take the civil service examination and secure appointment, if possible, in the same office. As they get to work late in the morning and go home early in the afternoon, it is possible for them to keep house and raise an interesting brood of pickaninnies while drawing two comfortable salaries from the Federal Government. Sometimes the wife only works in the department, and the husband rests at home or devotes his talents to preaching the gospel."
Representative W. P. Borland's "Extension of Remarks" as printed in The Congressional Record for Feb. 28, 1916, includes, among others, the words which are quoted on the accompanying sheet to which your attention is respectfully invited.
As one of the taxpayers whose interests Mr. Borland seems to hold so close to his heart (see last three paragraphs, p. 3764), I have the honor to request you to tell me to what extent, if at all, conditions affecting colored employes in the Department of Agriculture on Feb. 28, 1916, justified the remarkable statements quoted on the accompanying sheet.
I am, Sir,
Your most humble servant,
James C. Waters, Jr.,
(Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People),
Post Office Box 93.
1 encl.
The Honorable,
The Secretary of Agriculture,
Washington, D.C.
MEMORANDUM: February 29, 1916.
The "Extension of Remarks" inserted in The Congressional Record of Feb. 28, 1916, by Representative W. P. Borland, of Missouri, includes the following (see page 3764, left column, 2nd paragraph):
"...There are a number of negroes in the civil service, and, almost without exception, they are in the purely clerical departments where the seven-hour day prevails and not in the mechanical and technical branches where the eight-hour day is enforced. I am told that among the young negro couples it is customary for both the husband and wife to take the civil service examination and secure appointment, if possible, in the same office. As they get to work late in the morning and go home early in the afternoon, it is possible for them to keep house and raise an interesting brood of pickaninnies while drawing two comfortable salaries from the Federal Government. Sometimes the wife only works in the department, and the husband rests at home or devotes his talents to preaching the gospel."
Original Format
Letter
To
Houston, David Franklin
Files
Collection
Citation
Waters, James C., Jr. , “Rep. W. P. Borland’s Remarks on Race,” 1916 February 29, A022916, Race and Segregation Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.