802

[stamp: THE WHITE HOUSE
SEP 13 1913
RECEIVED]

[stamp: ACK'D SEP 13 1913 C.5.H.]

152a

September 11, 1913.

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

Dear Mr. President:

As a taxpayer and as a native born citizen of
the United States, I desire to enter my protest against the
segregation of the colored people in the Executive Depart-
ments of the United States Government. It seems to be
entirely without any order from you as the Chief Executive
of these departments, and yet it goes on, notwithstanding
the fact that it is unfair, unconstitutional, un-American,
unchristian and a fifty year step backward.

It is scarely worth while for me to make an
argument to one so well-informed as you are, but the un-
righteousness of the whole affair causes one to speak out.
The people so cruelly discriminated against have never at
anytime given cause of offence to the government of the
United States, but on the other hand have been loyal in
adversity and have been willing to risk their lives for the
upbuilding and perpetuity of the United States.

If this segregation and discrimination is allow-
ed to go on, there is but one future for the United States,
and that is, a nation of class and caste. Furthermore, it
has the tendency, as all such discriminations and embarras-
ments have, of giving to the cruel and unjust oppressor a
color of right to act against the personal rights of the
weaker citizen anywhere in the country.

My dear Mr. President, that you may give this
matter your careful consideration and grant relief ts the
prayer of

Yours for justice,
Geo. Wm. Cook
A loyal American citizen.

GWC/DEW

84594