The herald., 1896-06-09
POLITICS AND POLITICIANS
The Color Question Puzzles the
Republicans
HARDHEARTED HOTEL MEN
Refuse Point Blank to Entertaln the
Colored Delegates
The Committeeman Cannot Rent Steamboat
Nsr Build Q canal-Arlzona Demo-
cratic Csnventisn

| tNOI 0UIu = S8uut-AKuzOn0 UomOs
| cratic Csnventie ea
Associated Press Special Wire.
ST. LOUIS, June 8.-What shall be
done with the colored delegates and al
ternates to the Republican national con-
| vention? This Is q question which Is
puzzling the members of the national
committee, who have arrived, and the
| Business Mems league, who secured the
| convention, as well. Every hotel and
boarding house and cafe came out fiat
| footed today and declared it would not
| entertain negroes es guests or CUSTOM
ers. Money Is no object. Threats Of
| prosecution have had no effect, and from
the present outlook 1t would seem that
unless tents are secured the black men
will have to go hungry and unhoused.
Il am thoroughly disgusted and dis
| couraged," said National Committee
| man Judge Long Of Florida tonight in
| speaking Of the matter. Il have been
looking all day long for hotel, board
| ing house or cafe that would admit the
negroes. but have been unable to find
| them. I even went so far as to try to
charter steamboat, but when the own
ers learned for what purpose wanted
It. they found an excuse for refusing me
the use Of 1t.
1T is the only time in the history of
| embarrassing predicament has arisen"
When asked what the national COM
mittee would do, Mr.. Long replied: II
have consulted the members who are
here and I have decided to offer a res
olution as soon as the committee meets
| condemninE the hotel and innkeepers,
and for the laying aside Of a fund for
renting hall in which cots shall be
placed for the negroes who come to the
convention. We will also request the en-
ployment OF corps Of cooks to supply
them food"
nearly week. A number of days ago
1t was learned by the Business Mems
league that some Of the leading hotels
had been canceling agreements with
state delegations when the landlords
learned that negro delegates were among
them. 1t became so apparent that the
negroes were being Disseminated
lowing manifesto:
The Business Mems league when in
Washington securing the convention for
st. Louis promised that colored dele
gates and members, of the Republican
national executive committee should
receive the same recognition from the
hotels that any other delegates to the
convention would receive. With this 1t
was implied that citizens representing
the city of st. Louis would ask and en-
deavor to induce public places, hotels,
boarding houses and bath rooms, at least
for. convention week, to accord to the
reputable and respectable colored men
who would come here representing their
section and their people in the Republic
can party such treatment as any reputa-
bic and respectable person would receive
1t Is not believed a great many would
want to accept the privileges, but it will
be very humiliating If one Of them with
his colleagues or friends or alone should
present himself in any public place and
be refused admittance. 1t is hoped, ex-
pected and desired by the gentlemen rep
resenting the citizens who secured the
convention that all will endeavor to meet
the situation as justice and propriety re-
quires Any parties in interest failing to
receive accommodations will please re-
port to the general hotel committee, c.
z. Rainwater. chairman, or the bureau
of information.
(Signed) S. M. KENNARD,
President B. M. League.
JAMES cox,
Secretary.
CLARK H. SAMSON,
Chairman Committee Arrangements.
FRANK GAINEY.
Secretary.
When the hotel men read this they
were exceedingly wrathful They said
1t was an invitation to the colored dele
gates to prosecute them for damages,
Ihey went to the league committee on
hotel accommodation and protested.
Concerted action followed with the re-
suit that negroes cannot find lodging
places. or even a reputable place to eat.
This afternoon I received half a
dozen letters" said Committeeman
Long, from parties who said they
would gladly receive all colored dele
gates during the convention. I was
greatly relieved for time but upon in
vestigating learned they were keepers
of disorderly houses. This only added in
suit to the injury already DONE"
Major G. c. Rainwater, a member of
the business mems league, which went
to Washington, and Of the local enter
tainment committee. is quite as much
displeased with the turn affairs have
taken as Is any member of the national
committee. He with several other men,
bers, has been hunting a place to enter
tain the negro delegates but without
success.
Perry Heath and ex-Congressman
Thompson Of Ohio, who are here in the
interest of Major Mckinley, are quite as
much disturbed as the national commit
tee. They have been in communication
with Mr.. Hanna all day but as yet no
solution has been reached.
James Hill, q negro and the national
committeeman of Mississippi, has been
busy all day trying to find quarters for
the delegation from his state. He was
not successful. He was informed at
every hotel in the city that all accom-
modations were engaged. He could not
find a room for himself and was quite
indignant.
II hope to have matters settled before
tomorrow night" he said, but 1t is an
outrage to be so treated in this manner
on the face of promises made by the
representatives Of st. Louis in Wash
ington."
In no former national Republican con-
vention has the general committee had
so heavy a duty to perform in making up
the roll for temporary organization as
the present committee has before 1t,
There are 1853 contested seats from fif-
teen states and one territory and of
these the entire delegation Is contested
from five states and Arizona. The COM
mittee as a whole will commence the
hearing of contests Wednesday fore
noon and the indications are that It will
hardly be able to finish them before the
end of the week. The hearings before
the committee will be semi judicial. All
the contesting parties have come pre-
pared with printed briefs and affldavits
as to their regularity and right to reco9-
milton and each case will be presented
by special counsel
The committee. will probably take I'M
the contests In the states in alphabeti-