759

[STAMP= ACK'D
APR 16 1913
C.T.H.]

[STAMPE = THE WHITE HOUSE
APR 16 1913
RECEIVED]

981 Blake Avenue,
Brooklyn Borough, Now York City,
April 14. 1913.

The Honorable Woodrow Wilson,
President of the United States,

Sir:-

We beg leave to inform you, that in the City of New York, about
Fifteen years ago, an organization of colored men was formed for the
sole purpose of relieving the colored race from all troubles result-
ing from slavery, war and reconstruction. Practical experience at the
South taught us that the method of the Republican party in playing
upon the prejudices and fears of the colored race, during the past
forty years, was the root of all trouble. It would have been both
needless and impossible for Southern politicians to successfully ap-
peal to whites to stand against negroes for the Preservation of waht
is best in their State governments, if negroes had been allowed to re-
ject the voice of distrust and suspicion and give confidence to honor¬
able whites who would then stand for them in the hour of trouble.

Presidents Garfield, Cleveland, Roosevelt and Taft were appealed
to along this line, and now since light and opportunity are brought to
our aid, we most humbly beg for encouragement from the National ad-
ministration that our work for mutual confidence, both undustrial and
political, may extend, under the sign of true democracy, to the hum-
blest negro hut in the South; that we may strive as earnestly during
four years to make friends of the races, as Republicans tried during
forty years to make them enemies. Since there are to-day those at the
head of the Nation whoe believe the teachings of Almighty God and hu-
83436
man justice to be vital elements in American Democracy, and since many
of us for more than thirty years, have worked, hoped and prayed for the
present great opportunity, we trust that if it should be the pleasure of
the government to appoint negroes to office, that they will not be of
that unworthy class of grafters who even demanded promise of office in
the last campaign as pay for their votes, but some, at least, who shall
support and give National character to our work.

Respectfully,

John B. Syphax President.

[83436]