The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-20
COLOR LINE AT FITZGERALD.
Mechanics and LHbOrers Draw the
Line Against Negroes.

Fitzgerald Cor Macon Telegraph
The biggest sensation this place has
had was started Saturday afternoon, when
hand bills were distributed containing the
following:
'LABORERS!-There will be a meeting
of the laboring class and mechanics Of the
city of Fitzgerald tonight at 1880 O'Clock,
in the Fitzgerald block, for the pur-
pose of excluding all colored labor from
the colony. If this is to be a white mans
colony, let's have it white; if not, let
the niggers have it. BY order of the com
mittee."
These bills We're scattered all over the
city, and one was tackled with the picture
of a skull and cross bones on it. Every
body got to discussing 1t and surmising
what steps would be taken at the meet
ing.
There are very few negroes employed
in this place-nOt over twenty-five, proba-
bly,. About eight or ten of these are en-
ployed at the Margaret hotel, a new no.
tel, which was opened about one month
ago In J. II. Harris block by Messrs w
]. Josey and F. Hopp. They adver-
tised for weeks before opening for white
help to run the hotel, but without sue
cess. 50 they were compelled to hire col
ored help temporarily.
Some of the livery stables and mer-
chants had few other negroes employ
ed, but it was stated by one of the lead
the proprietors of the Hotel Margaret and
Mr.. Harris.
others met and repaired to Paulks hall
where they had an intensely interesting
time. Some of the speeches were sensa-
tional and Incorporate, while others were
one or two Of the speakers blamed the
crackers for the presence of the ne
groes here, and one speaker said the south
ern people loved the negroes better than
they loved the northern people Other
speakers said the negroes We're employed
by both natives and nOrtherners when
other help could not be had, but the sentl-
ment was strongly in favor of, excluding
them entirely as will be seen by the reso-
lutions below. The meeting was composed
principally of northern mechanics and
working men, but there were southern
men in the meeting also.
The resolutions adopted were written
by contractor reared in Alabama The
grand army post nor the colony directors
here had anything to do with this move
ment this evening, except some individual
members. Inc following preamble and res
buttons were adopted:
Whereas, we, the white mechanics and
labOFing people of the city of FITZGERALD
and IN need OF information, we wish to
know If this colony is to be composed Of
white or black or mixed labor 1t was our
understanding that it was to be a white
mans colony, and we invested our money
here with that understanding. We simply
ask this question of the colony managers.
Resolved, That if negro labor is to be
place OF honest white labor, We the white
labOring people of this colony, propose to
look to our own interests and patronize
those who give our people preference in
employment. We do not wish to be harsh
or unreasonable but we insist on justice,
and, if necessary, we will demand it,
Resolved, That a copy Of these reso-
lutions be furnished every man in the
city who has colored people employed,
with a request that they be discharged
before the next meeting Of this com
ruffteeb