Microfilm Reel 229, File 152, "African Americans"

[stamp: THE WHITE HOUSE MAR 29 1916 RECEIVED]

[stamp: ACK'D MAR 29 1916 T.M.W.]

152

Hon. J. P. Tumulty, Secretary to the President, White House.

My dear Mr. Tumulty:-

I am sending you a comunication from Mr. Ross and other enclosures which he desires to bring to your attention. I hope you will give them careful consideration.

Very truly yours, Charlie B. Smith

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[152]

Oct.13th,1913.

Hon. Martin J. Wade, Counsellor-at-Law, Johnson Co. Svgs. Bank Bldg., Iowa City, Iowa

My dear Judge:-

I am answering your letter of the 26th. of August concerning Mr. Ross. I was out of the country in Canada, which accounts for my apparent delay.

Regarding Ross' appointment, sometime ago I took up the matter of the appointment of colored men to office with the President, in view of the work done by colored men during the two last National elections, under my suservision.

During the Bryan campaign, a strong movement was inaugurated on the part of many colored men throughout the country in favor of the democratic party, and a number of colored men were actively interested in the Bryan campaign, who organised, went on the stump, &c.

Last year, during the national campaign, under my supervision, a very strong movement was organized, in which a great number of colored men,

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prominent with the race, took an active part. One of the most active men in this movement was MR. Ross.

1 understand that there has been considerable opposition to the appointment of colored men to Federal positions. Just how far this opposition will go, and whether it will successfully prevent such appointments, I am not at this time in a position to say. I understand that many influential members of his race, who were actively engaged in the last campaign, were in favor of Mr. Ross' appointment to some responsible Federal position.

Anything I can do to help Mr. Ross, not only from my knowledge of the services he rendered, but because of your request, I shall be only too happy to undertake.

Trusting you are very well, and that sometime in the near future I may have the pleasure of meeting you and discussing our experiences, believe me, with sincere regards,

Yours faithfully, R. S. Hudspeth R.S.H.

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Buffalo, N. Y. March 24, 1916

Hon. Joseph P. Tumulty, Secretary to the President, Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:-

Having been Chairman of the National Negro Democratic Bureau, Chicago Headquarters, during the 1912 campaign, and having had full charge of the campaigns of 1896, 1904 and 1908, each time under direct supervision of the National Democratic Committee, emboldens me to address you as a Democrat. In so doing, Mr. Secretary, I pray that my racial connections may not be a barrier to your consideration of this appeal and I promise you, Sir, to lay aside whatever personal ambitions I may have had, if some of my race who have rendered yeoman service to the Democratic party, are recognized.

For several years, we have with patience, awaited the will of the administration, to reward some loyal Colored Democrats. It appears however that these men are without leaders to plead their cause. We have been satisfied in a measure to leave our destinies in the hands of the President, and under the leadership of Bishop Walters, believing him to be the one in whom the Administration had full confidence. Taking the Bishop’s statements and reviewing personal letters that were published as emanating from the President, warranted us in leaving him as far as race leadership, our spokesman.

James A. Ross

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For twenty eight years, we have stood in the front ranks advocating the utter disruption of the solidarity of the race which characterized them in their political affiliations, while others who have been rewarded were pleading the cause of Republicanism and advocating the candidates of that party. We did not become allied with the, Democracy from the fact that we held grievances against the Republicans, as did those who have been rewarded with office and whose Democracy is of recent growth, if at all. And pardon me for this allusion--the writer's record is on file in the Executive Office of the President. To aspire to political office is, I believe a laudable ambition, especially when one has merited recognition based on ability and loyalty to principle. And, Mr Secretary, as a life-long Democrat, to see recent converts given high places, colored Republicans promoted and retained in the consular service and in other departments of the government, while loyal colored Democrats, who year in, year out, when the party had no rewards to offer, loyally fought the fight for Jeffersonian Democracy, are given no recognition, is to say the least disheartening. Mr Secretary, if you would but read the colored press, you would have real sympathy for us; it alone would cause you to lay our pleading before the President. The embarassing position we occupy would move you to our side and convince you of the fairness of our appeals.

Do we not deserve some assistance from those we have counted as friends? My vision may not be clear on this point but I cannot see wherein those who have continuously supported Democracy, should be punished and neglected for those who

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