The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1896-06-13
COLOR LINE DRAWN,
NEGROES CANNOT SECURE ACCOM-
MODATIONS AT ST. LOUIS.
The Doors of All Hotels, Boarding
Against All COl0red Delegates
to the Republican Convention
1t May BE necessary to Rent n
Hall for Them.

st. Louis, June s-what shall be done with the
colored delegates and alternates to the national
Republican convention Is n question when 10
| puzzzling the members Of the national committee
who have arrived In the city, and the BUSINESS
Mems League which secured the convention to
st. Louis as well Every hotel, boarding house and
cafe came out fat-footed today and declared that
t would entertain no negro as a guest or Gus
toner. Money is no object. Threats of prosecu-
ton have had no effect, and from the present
outlook it would seem that unless tents are Sc
cured, the black men will have to go hungry and
unhoused.
When the hotel men read this they we're
exceedingly wrathful. They said 1t was an
invitation to the colored delegates to pros
ecute them for damages. They went to
the League committee on hotel accommo-
dation and made vigorous protest. Con-
certed action then followed. with the re-
suit that the negroes cannot find lodging
places nor even a reputable place to eat.
Maj. C. G. Rainwater,a member of the Bus
mess Mems league, and of the local en-
tertainment committee.is quite as much
displeased with the turn affairs have ia
ken as any member of the national commit
tee. He, with several other members of the
loo ! committee. have been hunting for a
place to entertain the negro delegates, but
without success. Perry Heath and ex-
Congressman Thompson Of Ohio. who are
here in the interests of Maj. Mckinley, are
quite as much disturbed as the national
committeeman. They hacve been In tele-
graphic Communication with Marcus A.
Hanna all day, but as yet no solution of the
problem has been reached.
II am thoroughly disgusted and discour-
aged,'' said National Committeeman J. g.
Long Of Florida tonight. ~ have been
looking all day long for a hotel, boarding
ho,,So NJ NJ fo ttot uyo,,ld admit tho no0rOpa
but 1t has been a %fruitless search. I have
even gone so far as to try to charter q
steamboat, but when the owners learned
for what purpose l wanted it they found
an excuse for refusing me the use Of thieves
sci. 1t is the only time in the history of
the Republican party where such an embar-
RAISING predicament has arisen"
When asked what the national committee
would do in the matter. Mr.. Long replied:
II have consulted with the members who
are here, and we have decided to offer a
resolution as soon as the committee meets,
condemning the hotel md innkeepers. ana
for the setting aside of n fund for renting
a hall In which cots shall be placed for the
accommodation of the negroes who may
come to the convention. We will also re-
quest the employment OF a corps Of cooks
to supply them with food"
This trouble has been brewing for nearly
a week. A number of days ago 1t was
learned by the Business Mems league that
some of. the leading hotels had been cancel
ling agreements with certain state delega-
lions when the landlords learned that negro
delegates were numbered among them.
1t became so apparent that the negroes
were being Disseminated against that the
Republican league issued the following
manifesto: '"The Business Mems League
when in Washington, securing the nation
al republican convention for st. Louis,
promised that colored delegates and mem
bers of the national republican executive
committed should receive the same recog-
milton from the hotels that the other del
, egates to the convention would receive.
With this it was implied that the citizens
representing the city of st. Louis FOR Sc
curing the convention would ask and en-
deavor to induce public places. hotels,
boarding houses and bath rooms. at least
for convention week, to accord to the rep
utable and respectable colored men who
will come here representing their section
and their people in the Republican party
such treatment as any reputable ana res
pectable person would receive.
It is not believed that a great many
would want to accept the privileges, but
it will be very humiliating II one OF them
18th their colleagues and friends,or alone
should present hin self in any public place
and be refused admittance or service. 1t
is hoped. expected ard desiredby the gen.
tlemen representing the citizens who Sc
cured the convention, that all will endeavor
to meet the situation as justice and pro-
priety require. Any parties In interest
falling to receive Accommodations will please
/ report to the general hotel committee, q.
C.. Rainwater, chairman, or the bureau
of inform aticn