60

[stamp: THE WHITE HOUSE
NOV 14 1914
RECEIVED]

Ackd
11/14/14

St. Paul School,
Lawrenceville, Virginia,
November 13th, 1914

President Woodrow Wilson,
Washington, D.C.,

My dear President Wilson:—

I have just read an account of the happening in your
private office on Thursday when you received a delegation of col-
ored men who had come to ask for certain rights for their race. I
am, indeed, very sorry, if Mr. Trotter, so the newepapers say, lost
control of himself and became offensive to you and the others. I
want to say in defence of ten millions of American Negroes that no
such spirit, as demonstrated in your presence, meets with our appro-
val. It is true that we are not given all we should have, but
at the same time I have faith in the American White man, and I be-
lieve he will give the colored man a full measure. But we need to
understand each other better and to appreciate all that is good and
noble in both of us. In solving these many problens that come
in this period of racial adjustment, it will be good to remember
that definite action can be taken only when men reason together.

Thanking you for your interest in the colored race, I am;

Very sincerely yours,
Irving [PC?] Merchant

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