Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-07-12

They Receive Are Not Always the Sames
 A New Low That Aggravates Glass Dis
 tinction.
 A bill was passed by the last legisla- ture to prevent discriminations against negroes by common carriers, hotel and restaurant proprietors, saloon keepers. theatrical managers and all other pur- veyors to the demands of the public The bill was not signed by the governor until near the close of the 80 day limit It is known as the Malby law, framed by Charles W. Anderson, a colored em ployee ill the state treasurer's office, who lives ill New York city and is an active politician among his own people. The law provides that all citizens with in this state "shall be entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advan- tages, facilities and privileges of inns, restaurants, hotels, eating houses, bath houses, barber shops, theaters, music halls, public conveyanees on land and water and all other places of public ac- commodation and amusement, subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all citizens "
 Violators of the law are liable to penalty of from S100 to $500 to be re- covered in any court of competent juris- diction, the amount to be paid to the person aggrieved. The offense is declar- ed to be a misdemeanor, and the offend CT is liable to a fine, i'll addition to the foregoing penalty, of from $100 to $500, or to imprisonment from 30 to 90 days, or to both. The law is claimed to be unconstitutional by the Hotel Men 8 as- soeiation, 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 number of res taurants and other places in New York, including Delmonieo's and several other resorts of fashion not frequented by col ored people. They met with varied ex- periences. In the more fashionable re- sorts they were treated with courtesy, and their visit was regarded rather in the light of an amusing incident than otherwise, but in less prominent places they were either refused service or were treated with discourtesy. Their experi ence was, on the whole, better than they had anticipated. They were well dressed and are said to have conducted them selves properly.
 Since then Anderson s example has been followed by number of men of his color who have not acted with the degree of decency which he showed on his tour. They have gone about among the less fashionable resorts and saloons, asserting themselves i'll manner which would be objectionable and offensive coming from any source, white or black. They seemed to be more anxious for a disturbance than for anything else and were disappointed when no disposition was showB to treat them i'll 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 a num- Der of hot headed young colOred men to secure a little cheap notoriety. It is in teresting to note that the movement is heartily condemned by the better class of negroes and that they regard it as far more likely to cause trouble than good. They recognize the fact that nothing will so soon provoke resentment and antagonism against their race, among people friendly to them, as sending around an irresponsible committee of colored men with chips on their shoul- ders, challenging white people to knock them off. They know that more injury can be done to the cause of good feeling and mutual respect and consideration between the two races by one week of such effort than by seven years of prop CT behavior. They are alarmed also lest it rouses into active use very powerful weapon of retaliation in the hands of the hotel and restaurant keepers. The latter employ large numbers of colored help, and it would be very easy mat ter to stir up an opposition which would throw these people out of employment. The closer they study the Malby law
 
 to enforce it the more are they impressed with its dangers and unwisdom. If it was evoked simply to assist the colored people ill securing natural and necessary rights, it would not be objectionable, but when it is used to enable empty headed and ambitious politicians of their own color to buy fancy drinks in places where their presence is not de- sired sensible negro men and women are convinced that the new statute is menace rather than a benefit.
 The penalty section of the law opens a wide door for blaekmaiL It will be very easy matter for a constituencies ne- gro to force his way into hotel or like place and ask for service which he does not require simply for the purpose of demanding money indemnity upon re- fusal It is a section which scamps will be very prompt to take advantage of.
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