Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-02
Some Difficulties Met by the Colored
Exposition Commissioners.
FEAR OF DISCRIMINATION At ATLANTA
Reasons Urged Why the Negro
Should Make a Good Show.
ROGRESS IN THIS CITY

The commissioners appointed for the Dis
trict Of Columbia to arrange for a repre-
sentation of the colored people of the Dis
trict at the Atlanta exposition are meeting
with some difficulties. AS no funds have
been provided for them, the commissioners
are obliged to raise the money to pay neces-
sary expenses by private contribution.
Their work has been made harder by oppo-
siton that has recently developed among
colored people because of the belief that in
Atlanta colored people will have to ride in
Jim Grow" cars and be subjected to other
determinations due to race prejudice The
members of the commission, however, use
this as strong argument to induce the col
ored people to show the progress their race
has made. The local commission is COM
posed of Jesse Lawson, president; J. E.
johnson, secretary; H. E. Baker. treasurer;
T. l.. Jones, E. E. Cooper, A. F. Hilyer,
Prof. w. s. Montgomery, Prof. Geo. VIM.
Cook, j. N. Meriwether, Hugh NJ. Brown
and C. A. Fleetwood.
Talk With Mr.. Hilyer.
Mr.. A. F. Hilyer. a member of the local
committee, said today to a Star reporter:
The Atlanta Exposition Company have
announced that they will construct build
ing, 2I6xll2 feet, costing $4,000. and place
1t entirely at the disposal of the colored
people for exhibition purposes, without any
charge for space They have placed the
whole matter of the colored peoples eX-
hibit in the hands of colOred commission
ers. The building, they promise, shall Be
constructed by colored mechanics, the eX-
hlbits collected and installed by colored
people In short, the building and every
thing in 1t will represent the efforts of col
ored men and women. 1t is the announced
intention of the exposition management to
afford the colored people of the United
Sf.tn ,tr,ttr ,1,Nr
gress they have made since emancipation,
along every avenue of endeayor in which
they are engaged In other words, they
will be given free scope to do their best.
This offer of free building and free
scope for the display of the ability of col
ored Americans has been scattered by the
telegraph and the press to the four quarters
of the earth. 1t has been reiterated over
and over again. 1t has been made by this
constant writing up one OF the attractive
features of the exposition Visitors will be
eager to visit the colored building, to see
what the colcred people are doing. Invita-
tons have been sent out inviting the col
ored people to make an exhibit, and APP
pointing commissioners to collect forward
and install the exhibit.
The colored commissioners are not fur
nished with any money whatever for this
purpose. If we make an exhibit We must
raise, in our own way, every cent necessary
to do the work. We must raise it by SUBJ
scriptions. collections and by giving enter
talnments. So, you see, we are invited to
make bricks, but We are not given any
straw.
Opposition by CoIored People.
AT the very outset of our labor to raise
the funds necessary" said Mr. Hilyer, I'VE
have run up against a very strong senti-
rcent among some very influential colored
people against our taking any part in the
exposition whatever, on account Of the I'M
just discrimination to which all colored
will be subjected by going to Atlanta.
Il must confess they make out a strong
case. There is no doubt that much of what
they say is true. There Will be discrmina-
tons. But the real situation is very much
exaggerated by these good people. They
have also greatly magnified the relative i'm
portanCe of the question of race discrmina-
ton at this time. to the great end in view
namely, to make an exhibit to the world of
the ability of colored people to do creditabIe
thirgs. l have had much to say on the
question of race prejudice, and they do not
hesitate to jump on me at any time and in
ency' and my 'untenable position And one
of them said to me yesterday, Mr. Hilyer
are you going down into Georgia and
take your wife, cultured lady, who
all over the north in first-class STYLE
and who has never been Inundated on ac-
count of her race-take her down there
where she will be compelled to ride in a
lin crow car''-St in a waiting room at the
depot where negro men and women of all
classes are huddled, and where white men.
splitting tobacco juice and uttering pro-
family and obscenity, are free to come and
20 as they choose? Why, do you know
there is not drug store in Atlanta where
you could get glass OF soda water or
lemonade? The whole sentiment is different
dcwn there. 1t is like going out of the sun
light into the fog and mist You and she
will be inundated at every turn. l have
lived down there, and l know what l am
but
lone of it for me- said he. I don't blame
those poor colored people who are down
there and in 1t, and of it, and who can't
get away, from taking part and making the
best of bad situation. But that the free
People of the north should go down there
to be insulted and Inundated Is wonder
full At this point l reminded him that We
had been invited by exposition company
to make an exhibit, to show race advance
ment, that the company was not running
the railroads. the soda water fountains, etc,
nor the sentiment OF the state, and to
make some definite statement OF d1scrimlna-
ton on the part of the exposition company.
Well said he, they will have separate
entrances and exits, separate toilet rooms,
waiting rooms, water coolers, and separate
everything they can make separate, and,
mind YOU he continued. it makes no diff
ference how well dressed how learned,
how cultured or how rich you may be, you
and your wife will be subjected to these
indignities along with the toughest and
grossest negro in Georgia With this part
ing shot ne jumped on cable car and LETT
me to think over my reply alone.
The Question of Race Prejudice.
This is but sample of what all of the
colored commissioners are continually meet
ing 1 have just learned today OF move
ment, led by a colored man of great in
fluence, to organize against us.
Il have made special study of the
nature of what is known as race prejudice
and how to overcome it, and have collected
some interesting data bearing upon the in
dustrial organized and social status of the
colored people of the District of Columbia.
and am thankful for this opportunity to
give expression to my views on this ques-
ton, and to state why the colored people
of the District of Columbia should make at
Atlanta the very best exhibit they can
make In the first place. let me say that
yield to no man in the feeling that great
wrong is constantly practiced upon me and
my people on account Of an unholy class
prejudice that exists in our country-and in
kind all over our country-wherever there
are enough colored people to be noticed 1t
is only thicker and more evident in Georgia
because there are more colored people
10 no ha