765

[stamp: THE WHITE HOUSE
APR 23, 1913
RECEIVED]

File

1251 South 18th Street,
April 22, 1913,

President Woodrow Wilson,
The White House.

Dear Mr. President:-

[floating text: 152]

I enclose you two more Philadelphia Ledger editorials on
the Negro question. That of Monday is an unqualified endorsement
of the work of our organtzation, with a most earnest appeal for
funds to promote the name. Tuesday's editorial is a most convinc-
ing reply to a letter from Mr. Booker T. Washington in which he falls
into the common error of assuming that whatever industrial disad-
vantages may be suffered by Negroes of the North are to be over-
come by their own initiative rather than by a change in the atti-
tude of the white man toward him. The Ledger, owned and controlled
by one of the richest white concerns in the country, makes it clear
that it regards it as the absolute duty of the white man to give
the Negro a fair chance to earn an honest living.

The Ledger is going to a most remarkable extent in thus
fighting the battles of the colored man, and at a time when the
heel of almost every man seems to be against him. It would be a
most helpful thing to the race, and perhaps mark a turning point in
the attitude of the public press toward them, if every friend of
humanity would at least write the Ledger thanking and encourging
it for its noble stand, whether they care to endorse the specific
efforts of our Organization or not. These editorials are not yet
concluded, and, unless I hear from you to the reverse, I shall send
you the others as they appear.

Faithfully yours,
J. S. Stemons
83442