The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1895-07-24
VDW YORK NEGROES.
u RIGHTS LAW AFFORDS THEN
TEMPORARY NOTORIETY.

Receive Are Not Always the Same.
vow Law That Aggravates Glass Dis
tinctiOn.
hill was passed by the last legisla-
..ro to prevent determinations against
NOES bv common carriers, hotel and
.ostanrant proprietors, saloon keepers,
.boatrical managers and all other pur
~orors TO the demands CT the public.
rhO hill was not signed by the governor
It'll -n near the close of the 80 day limit.
:. ;s known as the Malby law, framed
- Charles W. Anderson, colored en-
niovee in the state treasurer's Office,
Tho lives i'll New York city and is an
oo+;ve politician among his own people.
mbp law provides that all citizens with
n this state "shall be entitled to the
eli and equal accommodations, advan-
toces facilities and privileges of inns,
roStanrants, hotels, eating houses, bath
bonses. barber shops, theaters, music
halls, public conveyances on land and
water and all other places of public &C
oommodation and amusement, subject
univ to the conditions and limitations
established by law and applicable alike
TO all citizens. "
Violators of the law are liable to
n4naltv of from 500 to $500 to be re-
covered in any court of competent juris
dction. the amount to be paid to the
nerson aggrieved. The offense is declar-
cd to be a misdemeanor, and the offend
or is liable to a fine, in addition to the
fmegong penalty, of from 500 to $500,
ar TO Imprisonment from 80 to 80 days,
or to both. The law is claimed to be
unconstitutional by the Hotel Mems as
ISOLATION, and it is said they propose to
contest it.
Last Sunday, following the signing Of
the bill, Anderson and two friends of
his own color started out to "test" the
new law. They visited a number Of res
taurants and other places in New York,
including Delmonico's and several other
resorts of fashion not frequented by coll
med people They met with varied ex-
periences. In the more fashionable re-
4 sorts they were treated with courtesy,
and their visit was regarded rather i'll
\ the light Of an amusing incident than
Otherwise, but in less prominent places
q they were either refused service Or were
Il treated with discourtesy. Their expert
ence was, on the whole, better than they
had anticipated. They were well dressed
and are said to have conducted them
n selves properly.
Since then Anderson s example has
been followed by a number of men Of
his color who have not acted with the
degree Of decency which he showed on
bis tour. They have gone about among
the less fashionable resorts and saloons
4 asserting themselves in manner which
would be Objectionable and offensive
coming from any source, white or black
4 They seemed to be more anxious for
disturbance than for anything else and
were disappointed when no disposition
was shown to treat them in a different
way from that in which white people
are treated.
Thus far the crusade has caused more
amusement than anything else and is
set down as the crude effort Of num-
Der Of hot headed young colored men to
secure little cheap notoriety. 1t is in
teresting to note that the movement is
heartily condemned by the better class
negroes and that they regard it as far
more likely to cause trouble than good.
They recognize the fact that nothing
s. Will so soon provoke resentment and
sntagonlsm against their race, among
s people friendly to them, as sending
around an irresponsible committee OF
coIored men with chips on their shout
uefs challenging white people to knock
n mem Of. They know that more injury
Gan be done to the cause of good feeling
and mutual respect ana consideration
uetWeen the two races by one week OF
Such effort than by seven years of prop
n behavior. They are alarmed also lest
" fouSes into active use a very powerful
weapon Of retaliation i'll the hands OF
Ile MOTEL and restaurant keepers. The
@tter employ large numbers Of colOred
u0lp' and it would be a very easy mat
.Sf to stir up an opposition which would
m 1nloW these people out of employment.
Inc closer they study the Malby law
sla the antics Of those who are trying
y enforce it the more are they impressed
y @l'n Its dc1gers and unwisdom If 1t
vas evoked simply to assist the colored
sseypIe IN securing natural and necessary
Isn'S, 1t would not be Objectionable,
Su' When it is used to enable empty
saued and ambitious politicians OF
M own color to buy fancy drinks IN
p,aCeS Where their presence is not de-
b. aou sensible negro men and women
~ convinced that the new statute is
4T Il, rather than benefit.