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JOHN PURROY MITCHELL
Campaign Committee,
HARLEM HEADQUARTERS -12 WEST 1332RD. ST.,
New York City, N. Y.

Robert Lewis Waring, Chairman,
I. H. Porter, Secretary,
J. W. Harris, Treasurer.

May 26, 1914.

Hon. Woodrow Wilson, President,
United States of America,
Washington, D.C.

Mr. President,

Sir:-The following is submitted for your information and
consideration:

The leaders of the Progressive party, National, State and
County, have gotten together for the purpose of organizing a National
Auxiliary to the National Committee of the above party composed of
Negroes with headquarters in New York City.

This movement is forwarded by George W. Perkins, Theodore
Douglas Robinson, Chairman of the State Executive Committee, Francis
W. Bird, Chairman of the New York County Committee, and others, all
Progressive leaders, and the scheme is gathering strength every mo-
ment.

Their principle argument is based on the apparent determin-
ation of your administration to ignore any and all negro democrats who
seek national recognition. The presentation of this argument is having
a telling effect upon the voting negro democrats throughout the coun-
try and will result in a complete exodus of negro democrats to the
Progressive party unless something is done in the immediate future to
off-set It.

We who have fought hard democratic battles, in the face of
criticism and ostracism, now find ourselves without a leg upon which
to stand, after our assertions in past campaigns, that the democratic
party would be as liberal to us in Federal patronage as any other par-
ty has been.

In view of existing conditions, what are we to do? What can
we say? Are we to slink out of sight, beaten by those for whom we bat-
tled? What position can we now take in the coming elections, when we
are asked, what recognition has the denocratic party accorded us for
our loyalty? Can we again say, the democratic party will be as liber-
al in the future as the other parties have been in the past?

TO BE SURE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS RECOGNIZED THE NEGRO!!
Br retaining negro Republicans in office! Anderson, of New York;
Terrell and Cobb, of Washington, D. C; Johnson, of Washington, D. C.
and Georgia; and others, all of whom stumped the country in an endeav-
or to defeat the Wilson and Marshall ticket!

In the last Mayoralty campaign in this City, Mr.
Mitchell was not a favorite with the negroes generally, but those of
us who craved honest government fought his battles at our own expense, AND
WE ARE STILL AWATING RECOGNITION.

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