Letter from E. C. Fellows Lodge, No. 143, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen in Oakland, California, to The Honorable Governor of Alabama in Montgomery, Alabama.

Dublin Core

Title

Letter from E. C. Fellows Lodge, No. 143, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen in Oakland, California, to The Honorable Governor of Alabama in Montgomery, Alabama.

Subject

Scottsboro Trial, Scottsboro, Ala., 1931; African Americans--Civil rights--Alabama; African Americans--Imprisonment--Alabama; Miller, Benjamin Meek, 1864-1944; E. C. Fellows Lodge, No. 143, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen (Oakland, Ca.)

Description

The members of the E. C. Fellows Lodge, No. 143, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen of Oakland, California, mention to Governor Miller that railroad veterans believe that women who ride trains are vagrants and prostitutes who cannot compete with the prostitutes in cities. The letter asks Governor Miller to see to it that justice prevails in this case and that it not be affected by prejudice against African Americans.

Creator

E. C. Fellows Lodge, No. 143, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen (Oakland, Ca.)

Source

Alabama Governor, Scottsboro Case appeals to the Governor, SG004238, Folder 16, Alabama Dept. of Archives and History

Date

1933-04-11

Format

Letter

Language

English

Coverage

United States--California--Oakland

Text Item Type Metadata

Transcription


E.R.Noldin, 1 30 PM UNITED STATES POSTAGE
P.O.Box 43, 2 1933 3 CENTS 3
Oakland, California. CALIF.



To the Governor of Alabama,
Montgomery,
Alabama,
U.S.A.


E. C. Fellows Lodge, No. 143
Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen
Oakland, California
9

April 11th, 1933


To the Honorable,
Governor of Alabama,
Montgomery, Alabama.

Honorable Sir:

The "Scottsboro Case" is now a National
scandal.

In our lodge there are members who
have had as high as 39 years railroad experience. We
have many members of 25 years railroad experience in
the Transportation Department.

It is the concenus of the opinion of these
railroad veterans that women who ride railroad trains
as vagrants do so for a certain purpose as they cannot
compete with the harlots of the cities. It is the opinion
of many of the citizens of California that justice will
not prevail in your state, in this case, account of prejudice
to the colored people.

Once the President of the United States had
to intercede in order that justice may prevail in California,
I hope ,speaking for the members of Lodge 143, B. of L.F.&E.,
(there being 10 lodges of this organization in your state)
that you will handle this case in such a manner that justice
will prevail and preserve the fair name of Alabama. Awaiting
your reply, I am,


Yours respectfully,

R. M. Rickwood

President Lodge 143, B. of L.F.&E.,
2690-75th-Avenue,
Oakland, California.