The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-20
NEGROES TEST THE LAW.
MANY or THEN MAKE THE ROUNDS
OF HOTELS AND RESTA URANTS.
The Better Class Of Colorsd People, How.
ever. Opposed to Taking Undue Advan-
tage Of Their New Privileges.

There have already been bad results
from the Trip among the fashionable
restaurants and hotels made by Charles
w Anderson, the colored orator vino was
in strumental in having the civil Rights
law, recently signed by Governor Nor
ton, pushed through the Legislature. says
the New York Sun. Anderson and the
friends who accompanied him simply went
around to test the law, and they had
no idea OF annoying hotel or restaurant
prOpr.etors, Turkish bath people, or bar
bers. They established "A precedent. how
ever, aud dozens of young negroes who
have never felt the discrimination against
their race. because their circumstances
would not permit them to patrOniZe the
leading hotels and restaurants have been
going around for the past two days,
thrusting themselves forward and max
ing themselves generally dsagreeable
Their conduit is condemned by the bet
ter class OF colored people ia the city,
and II is understood that Anderson is
anything but pleased at the turn affairs
have taken.
''The colored people" said a leading
representative Of the race. have no de-
sire to make themselves Objectionable,
and the privilege OF mixing with white
people i'm such places as Delmonico's Is
not what they seek. A respectable col0red
man who happens to be at a distance
from his home doesn't want TO wander
around hungry and thirsty just 10 please
the fastidious patron OF restaurant and
We don't intend that he shall have TO 10
IL. Neither Anderson nor his friends can
be blamed for the actions OF a lot OF
people unknown to them. IL is unfOr-
tunate that "A lot OF boys should act as
they are doing now, but the pace Will
soon become too hot for them. for their
money won't hold out. Then the law
will act just the way Anderson meant
that IL should"
The hotel men are plotting and plan
ming some way of getting around the
law. IL Is understood that the restaurant
people will resort 70 bad service. but In
doing so they will have to use the great
est care. for II such discrimination can
be proved the sun srers can collect dam
ages as well as nave the offender i'm
prisone1. In the past the few spasmOlic
attempts which have been made by ne
groes 10 force the proprietOrs OF restau-
rants TO serve them have been speedily
killed by three methods. In the first
place the menus were put out Of reach,
games were tried. The hardest blow
however has always been delivered aft, =
the meal. Checks OF such generous pro-
portions that they made the unWelcome
customers gasp were put before them, and
immediate payment demanded. Under
the new law these methods cannot be re-
sorted to. Refusal to allow a customer,
white or black. to have a menu con-
stitutes unjust discrimination. and
charges in excess of those on the bill OF
fare will prove the same complaint. 1t
was said Yesterday that a fund was be-
ing raised to test the constitutionality
Of the law.
A restaurant keeper who has a place
at Sixth avenue. near Twenty-third
street, and another on Broadway. had
the law laid down to him In a most
emphatic fashion by a coiored man at
an early hour Tuesday morning. A party
OF five colOred men entered the Sixth
avenue place and took seats at a front
table. There were "A number Of customers
hanr 4.trl mt h4
newcomers. The proprietor had read Of
the new law, but he decided TO appeal
TO the unwelcome customers. and walk
ing up to them he asked them N they
would mind taking a table In the rear Of
the restaurant.
"Oh, we don't have to-" said one Of the
men, but another who seemed TO be the
leading spirit exclaimed. There's no use
being unpleasant about IL. We will cat
here. but N II VIII make il any easier
Tor the proprietor Wen 20 10 the rear of
the place" and the whole party adjourn
ed 20 a rear table. There they ordered
beefsteaks. for which they waited three
quarters Of an hour. and when the steaks
came they were neither juicy nor tender.
This made the colored men angry. and as
they went out they stopped I'm front Of
the cashiers desk, whore the proprietor
was sitting.
I'VE ala our best to make our visit as
agreeable as possible for YOU" said the
leader land YOU did all YOU could TO
make IL disagrecable for us Understand
right now that We have the Jaw on our
side, and that we are protected against
any such prejudice as YOU nave just
shown. You are liable 70 a fine and i'm
prisonment for what you have done 10
us, and my advice 20 YOU is TO be more
careful in the future"
Then the party passed out
II is the line OF conduct pursued by
George F. ellison. a Pullman porter.
that the leading colored people Of the
community object 10. Az soon as he
heard OF the new law he started out to
get his rights. as he called H. Getting his
rights cost him many dollars. but he
didn't seem TO mind that. He first went
10 TrainOr's Hotel, and after getting a
drink there and paying for IL. began 10
chaff the bartender He was told 10 get
out. and he did. Then he went 10 the
Alpine barber shop. whore he was shaved
Next he drank some whisky I'm the cafe
of the Waldorf. taking good care 10
take a conspicuous seat and 10 tell the
waiter his rights when that man asked
him 10 90 away. He would have been
elected by the waiter but for the inter
ference OF the manager, who mourntully
ordered the servant 20 bring the drink
ellison next went 10 Roster & Balls
where he was informed that the place
was a club and that he couldn't get in.
Then he proceeded 10 the Casino. where
he purchased a front seat. He was
treated most cOurteously there. by order
OF Mr. Lederer who said that II the law
ordered him Ia admit a colored man.
there was nothing to do but TO obey. The
treatment accorded him at the Casino,
however, didn SUIT 1lllson az az, so ne
adjourned to the Broadway Theatre.
where he was equally well treated. After
the performance he made the rounds OF
the hotels.
Three young negroes i'm loud clothes
made a circuit Of the downtown cafes.
They visited "A number Of places near
Wall street and ala a good deal Of loud
talking. but nothing was denied them.
much 10 their disgust II is said that In
the near future a party OF half a dozen
cOlored men will take a party Of cOlOred
women to Delmonico's during the busy
hours in the evening.
cor INTO THF UR NC BED.