James Garfield to Woodrow Wilson
Title
James Garfield to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Garfield, James
Identifier
CS60
Date
1914 November 17
Description
African American letter writer criticizes Trotter.
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
Austin Texas
Nov. 17th, 1914.
To his Excellency,
The President of the United States. Executive Mansion
Washington, D.C."
Sir;-
I have the honor to respectfully inform you that many of Negroes in the South and myself being Chairman of the Meeting do regret that that the troter delegation could not find a grounded complaint to lay before the Executive for the benefit and welfare of the race; if there is separate departments for collord, such as Lavatories or even in the line of their duty, it is more than right, to keep down all and any discretancy that may arise. Mr. Troters statement is groundless and uncalled for. We the Committee would have idorsed Mr. troters movement if his delegation had have waited on his Excellency requesting the department to pay more and employ the better class of collord man who is not an agitator letting well enough alone. Mr troter are breeding scabs upon the entire race of the south among our white brethrens who has played with us from boy to manhood. if Mr. trotter had have headed a delegation to stop the destruction and morals of the younger men of the race and to devise a miens to enforce the payment of poll taxes then he would have a free speech. Mr. trotter must understand that the entire race is in manority in all circumstances and that the negro is not subjects of the United States but Americans and we do not need a chairman to head a delegation to wait on the head of such a great prosperous nation as this with groundless charges. The colord man are allowed all the show that he can prove himself efficient for. The field is open every where for doctors lawyers and farmers and mechanics of all kinds and Mr. trotter must learn to qualify himself before he can lead others, then he and all of the race can show to his fellowman and his country that we are men of merrit and of value.
Yours Very Respectfully
James Garfield,
MD.V.S.
1411 East 4th St.
Austin, Texas.
Nov. 17th, 1914.
To his Excellency,
The President of the United States. Executive Mansion
Washington, D.C."
Sir;-
I have the honor to respectfully inform you that many of Negroes in the South and myself being Chairman of the Meeting do regret that that the troter delegation could not find a grounded complaint to lay before the Executive for the benefit and welfare of the race; if there is separate departments for collord, such as Lavatories or even in the line of their duty, it is more than right, to keep down all and any discretancy that may arise. Mr. Troters statement is groundless and uncalled for. We the Committee would have idorsed Mr. troters movement if his delegation had have waited on his Excellency requesting the department to pay more and employ the better class of collord man who is not an agitator letting well enough alone. Mr troter are breeding scabs upon the entire race of the south among our white brethrens who has played with us from boy to manhood. if Mr. trotter had have headed a delegation to stop the destruction and morals of the younger men of the race and to devise a miens to enforce the payment of poll taxes then he would have a free speech. Mr. trotter must understand that the entire race is in manority in all circumstances and that the negro is not subjects of the United States but Americans and we do not need a chairman to head a delegation to wait on the head of such a great prosperous nation as this with groundless charges. The colord man are allowed all the show that he can prove himself efficient for. The field is open every where for doctors lawyers and farmers and mechanics of all kinds and Mr. trotter must learn to qualify himself before he can lead others, then he and all of the race can show to his fellowman and his country that we are men of merrit and of value.
Yours Very Respectfully
James Garfield,
MD.V.S.
1411 East 4th St.
Austin, Texas.
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Garfield, James, “James Garfield to Woodrow Wilson,” 1914 November 17, CS60, Race and Segregation Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.