Negro Independent Political Council to Woodrow Wilson

Title

Negro Independent Political Council to Woodrow Wilson

Creator

Lewis, Theophilus, 1891-1974
Randolph, A. Philip (Asa Philip), 1889-1979

Identifier

CS56

Date

1914 November 16

Description

Two civil rights leaders endorse William Trotter's behavior.

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

NEW YORK CITY.

Your Excellency,
Woodrow Wilson,
President of the U. S. A.

Sir:

Inasmuch as the recent episode at the "Peoples House" in which the National Equal Rights League, whose spokesman (William Monroe Trotter) attempted to formally register a protest against the unjust segregation in the Treasury and Post office Department has provoked a nationwide controversy, we the Negro Independent Political Council of New York City deem it eminently fitting to express to you our endorsement of Mr Trotter's attitude and utterances.

We take this privilege to say that the communications to you repudiating Mr. Trotter emanate from a small and timid minority, and are not expressive of the sentiments of the thinking Negroes.

When we are reminded of your exalted utterances to the Belgian delegation that, "the American People are lovers of justice, seekers after the true paths of progress, and passionately fond of the rights of humanity", and when we peruse your declaration of faith in your New Freedom, we regret that we are unable to reconcile the principles therein set forth, with your refusal to entertain Mr. Trotter's suggestion that you rescind the segregation orders in the departments referred to, and your summary dismissal of American citizens.

We believe that your keen and logical mind must readily perceive that the all to evident, iniquitous Jim-Crowism instituted by Messrs. Burleson, McAdoo, and Williams flagrantly violates and nullifies the fundamental principles of true Americanism. We also believe that you must perceive the fallacy of the argument that the said segregation is designed to eliminate friction in view of the fact that for fifty years negro and white clerks have harmoniously worked side by side.

Therefore, we demand that you stop such unjust discrimination against American citizens.

THE NEGRO INDEPENDENT POLITICAL COUNCIL,
A.Philip Randolph, President
Theophilus Lewis, Secretary

Original Format

Letter

To

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/CS56.pdf

Citation

Lewis, Theophilus, 1891-1974 and Randolph, A. Philip (Asa Philip), 1889-1979, “Negro Independent Political Council to Woodrow Wilson,” 1914 November 16, CS56, Race and Segregation Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.