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Story
September 29, 1917
The Gazette
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
What is this article about?
In 1917 Cleveland, editor Harry C. Smith letters Assistant U.S. Attorney Breitenstein after five Afro-Americans and a white man are arraigned for missing draft cards, decrying racial mistreatment and questioning demands for their loyalty to a discriminatory nation. (187 chars)
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A WONDER OF THE WORLD
One morning last week, several Afro-Americans and a "white" man were arraigned before an assistant U. S. district attorney in the federal building in this city, because they did not have registration cards. The attorney asked why they did not have them and also why they did not want to fight for the country that protected them," etc., etc. The Afro-Americans all gave good excuses for not having the card—while the "white" American said he did not believe in war. All of which led us to send Attorney Breitenstein the following communication which our readers will have no difficulty in understanding and thoroughly approving.
Cleveland, O. Sept. 25, 1917.
Assist. U. S. Dist. Atty. Breitenstein,
Federal Building,
Cleveland, Ohio.
Dear Sir: In reply to the question you propounded to the five "Negroes" and the "white" man who sat before you on a recent morning charged with failure to register, I wish to call your attention to the marked copy of my paper sent herewith, and to say that as far as the "Negroes" are concerned, north or south, particularly, however, the former, the marked articles will give you a correct idea as to how the country "protects" (?) them! Please read the articles carefully. They will give you a much clearer understanding of the Afro-American's unfortunate position in the country of his birth; the one he bled and died so much for in every war and, strange to say, in spite of it all, the one he is still willing to do more for than thousands of the so-called "white" citizens, native born and naturalized.
I am sure that if you will give this matter a little study, it will not only afford you much information as to true conditions existing in our country but will prove far more interesting than any novel you have ever read. One of the wonders of the world, today, is that the Afro-American retains unquestioned loyalty in spite of mistreatment, generally, south and north, when it comes to his citizen rights and privileges, which "beggars description."
Very truly yours,
HARRY C. SMITH.
One morning last week, several Afro-Americans and a "white" man were arraigned before an assistant U. S. district attorney in the federal building in this city, because they did not have registration cards. The attorney asked why they did not have them and also why they did not want to fight for the country that protected them," etc., etc. The Afro-Americans all gave good excuses for not having the card—while the "white" American said he did not believe in war. All of which led us to send Attorney Breitenstein the following communication which our readers will have no difficulty in understanding and thoroughly approving.
Cleveland, O. Sept. 25, 1917.
Assist. U. S. Dist. Atty. Breitenstein,
Federal Building,
Cleveland, Ohio.
Dear Sir: In reply to the question you propounded to the five "Negroes" and the "white" man who sat before you on a recent morning charged with failure to register, I wish to call your attention to the marked copy of my paper sent herewith, and to say that as far as the "Negroes" are concerned, north or south, particularly, however, the former, the marked articles will give you a correct idea as to how the country "protects" (?) them! Please read the articles carefully. They will give you a much clearer understanding of the Afro-American's unfortunate position in the country of his birth; the one he bled and died so much for in every war and, strange to say, in spite of it all, the one he is still willing to do more for than thousands of the so-called "white" citizens, native born and naturalized.
I am sure that if you will give this matter a little study, it will not only afford you much information as to true conditions existing in our country but will prove far more interesting than any novel you have ever read. One of the wonders of the world, today, is that the Afro-American retains unquestioned loyalty in spite of mistreatment, generally, south and north, when it comes to his citizen rights and privileges, which "beggars description."
Very truly yours,
HARRY C. SMITH.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
Misfortune
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Racial Injustice
Wwi Draft
Afro American Loyalty
Draft Registration
Citizen Rights
What entities or persons were involved?
Harry C. Smith
Breitenstein
Afro Americans
White Man
Where did it happen?
Cleveland, Ohio
Story Details
Key Persons
Harry C. Smith
Breitenstein
Afro Americans
White Man
Location
Cleveland, Ohio
Event Date
Sept. 25, 1917
Story Details
Harry C. Smith writes to Assistant U.S. District Attorney Breitenstein protesting the arraignment of five Afro-Americans and a white man for lacking draft registration cards, highlighting racial mistreatment and the irony of demanding loyalty from oppressed citizens.