Mitchell Objects To Colored People, But Wants To Represent Them
VOTERS OF TENTH WARD TO OPPOSE HIM
Editor Louisville Leader:
Dear Sir: I notice that a man named George Mitchell, 1211 W. Jefferson St., has announced as a last minute candidate for representative from the 28th District (Tenh Ward), Louisville, Ky.
The following article is copied from the Louisville Herald of April 5, 1918 and it may serve to show whether or not this same George Mitchell has any reasons for wanting to repreesnt these same colored people, one of whom he objected to his coming into his house. The Louisville Herald is as follows:
George Mitchell, a sanitary inspector of the city health department, was discharged from service at the direction of Mayor Smith yesterday as a result of the objectionable manner employed by Mitchell in complaining against Dr. Jesse D. Colbert, a Negro sanitary inspector, having been sent to his residence, 1211 West Jefferson Street, for the purpose of fumigating it, following the death of Albert Mitchell, son of the inspector.
His resignation was not considered by the Board of Public Safety, which appointed him. Instead, an order for his discharge was entered on the [minutes:?]
Mitchell and Colbert were appointed March 18. The minutes of the board show that Colbert was to be "assigned to work among the Negro people of the city." This order was disregarded by the health department, according to members of the Board of Public Safety. This was not regarded as sufficient cause, however, for the action of Mitchell, who went to the Mayor's office and told Secretary Paul Burlingame that the only way in which he could get satisfaction for the "insult" of having a Negro inspector come to his residence to fumigate it was to go to the newspopers."
Mayor Smith's Letter.
When Mayor Smith learned of the attitude of Mitchell, he immediately sent the following letter to the Board of Public Safety:
"You are hereby directed to cause the dismissal from the service of Geo. Mitchell, who is employed as a sanitary inspector in the health department, because of insubordination and disloyalty.
"Mr. Mitchell came to the City Hall this mornin gcomplaining that Dr. Colbert, a colored sanitary inspector, had been sent to his home to perform the humble task of fumigating the premises after the illness of Mr. Mitchell's son. Mr. Mitchell said that Colbert had been refused admission. Instead of reporting to his superior officer that a mistake had been made and that Colbert had gone to his house, Mitchell was enraged and insisted that he would expose the Health Department in the newspapers. He was advised by my Secretary that if Colbert had been sent into the homes of white people, it was in violation of my direct order, it was suggested to Mr. Mitchell that the proper way was to inform the Health Department of the error in order that it may be prevented in the future. Instead of that, he showed no disposition to co-operate and insisted that the only way to prevent it was by publicity in the newspapers. On acocunt of his attitude, I feel that he can no longer render loyal service to the city of Louisville.
Very truly yours,
GEORGE WEISSINGER SMITH, Mayor.
Writes Sharp Letter.
Even before the letter reached the board, the [latter?] had received Mitchell's resignation which it refused to consider and Mitchell was discharged.
The Mayor was much [displeased?] with the failure of Health Officer T. H. Baker to assign Dr. Colbert exclusively to work among Negroes and made his attitude in the matter known in the following letter:
"Dr. T. H. Baker, Health Officer.
Dear Sir: When I directed the appointment of Dr. J. C. Colbert, colored, as a sanitary inspector of the city, I gave you distinct orders that Dr. Colbert was to be employed in work that took him into the homes of colored citizens and that under no circumstances was he to be sent into the homes of white people in the performance of his duty. I did this to prevent friction.
(Continued on page 8.)

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