SENATOR HITCHCOCK'S SPEECH INTERRUPTED BY AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIER IN GALLERY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 27, 1922, an African American soldier named Lucius Jones* attempted to interrupt Senator Gilbert Hitchcock** (D-Nebraska) who was criticizing the keeping of African troops in Germany by the French.
Mr. Jones, rising from his seat in the Senate gallery, said...
"Mr. President, may I interrupt the Senator to ask him a question."
The soldier was not only denied the request, he was ejected from the gallery.
Senator Hickcock continued his speech "in which he insisted white German women had been maltreated by the colored soldiers of France."
*Lucas Jones served in the Quartermaster Corps but was recuperating from foot injuries at Mount Alto Hospital*** where he was also receiving vocational training.
**Gilbert Monell Hitchcock (1859-1934) was born in Omaha, Nebraska & graduated from University of Michigan law school. GMH founded the Omaha World-Herald newspaper. He served in US House of Representatives 1903-1911 & U.S. Senate 1911-1923.
***Mount Alto opened in 1919 as Public Health Service Hospital #32 located on Wisconsin Avenue. Today it is the site of the Russian embassy.
SOURCE
"Colored Heckler Put Out of Senate Gallery," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., November 27, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
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