Letter from Charles Mole to the Adjutant General with a Reply by Marcus Ray

This letter asks about the legality of integrating troops on train cars and includes a reply from Marcus Ray, civilian aide to the Secretary of War.

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16 January 1946 Mr. Charles W. Mole 543 N. W. 34th Street Miami, Florida Dear Mr. Mole: I refer to your letter of 14 December 1945, in which you pose the question of a possible violation of state statutes as regards the required separation of races in certain states. May I staté that Army Regulations make no distinction as to either race or color in the furnishing of transporta- tion, meals or sleeping accommodations. This policy bas been strictly adhered to by the Office of Transportation. As precedent for the question you pose, I direct your attention to the Supreme Court decision in the case of Mitchell vs. the Chicago Rock Island Pacific Railroad. It was declared illegal to change or deny accommodations in inter-state travel after purchase had been completed. In this case about which you write the purchaser of transporta- tion was the United States Government. I trust that this will answer the questions in your mind concerning the legality of the incident you report. Sincerely yours, Marcus H. Ray Civilian Aide to the Secretary of War. G3 APCHIVES TRUMAN "NATIONAL ADMIN RECORDS AND ** Ess. GOVE!