697

[stamp: THE WHITE HOUSE
AUG 28 1913
RECEIVED]

[152a]

August 27, 1913.

President Woodrow Wilson,
The White House,
Washington, D.C.

[stamp: ACK'D AUG 29 1913 C.L.S.]

Dear Mr. President:

I am indebted to you for two letters, one of August 19th
which touched me greatly, and one of August 21st, which equally disap-
points me since it brings me your decision not to appoint the Race Com-
mission. I understand, of course, that the difficulties of the Mexican
situation prevented your seeing me, and believe me I have no personal
feelings to hurt when speaking for millions of the downtrodden. I am
sorry, however, that you could not have found time to let me talk this
over with you before reaching a final decision. Since this disappoint-
ment has come to us there is nothing left but to go ahead as best we
can in another direction.

Frankly, 1 feel very sorry that you find yourself "abso-
lutely blocked by the sentiment of Senators." I believe that as with your
most immediate predecessors, the time will come when you will find it
necessary to go ahead and do what is right without considering their
feelings. I find it the more difficult to understand this decision
because of your promise to stand "for everything by which I could as-
sist in advancing the interest of their race in the United States," and since,
as I explained to you, it involves no appeal to all-powerful senators,
no asking for financial aid from them, and leave you free to lay the
report before Congress or not as you see fit. How do Senators enter
into this? If it is true that inquiry sometimes means indictment,

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