Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-06-12

RuzEllng RrODlem IOr hepuDlicans.
ST. LOUIS, June 9.-What shall be done
with the colored delegates and alternates
to the national Republican convention Is
a question which is puzzling the mem
bers of the national committee who have
arrived here, as we'll as the Business Mems
league, which secured the convention to
st. Louis. Every hotel and boarding
house has come out fiat footed and declar-
ed that 1t would entertain no negro as a
guest or customer Money is no object.
Threats of prosecution have had no effect,
and from the present outlook IL would
seem that unless tents are secured the col
ored men will have 60 go hungry and un-
housed.
"I am thoroughly disguised and dis
oouraged." said National Committeeman
J. G. Long Of Florida in speaking of the
matter II have been looking all day long
for q hotel. boarding house or cafe that
would admit the negroes, but 1t has been
a frultless search. / even went so far as
to try to charter a steamboat, but when
the owners lelrned for what purpose it
was wanted they found an excuse for re-
fusing me the use of the vessel. 1t is the
first time in the history Of the Republican
party where such an embarrassing predio-
ament has arisen"
w uon hbkbu WUdb IDb udblOuhl
tee would do in the matter, he replied: 81
have consulted with the members who are
here, and we have decided to offer a reso-
luton as soon as the committee meets
oondemning the hotel and inn keepers and
for the setting aside Of fund for renting
q 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 cooks, etc., to
supply them with food. This trouble has
been brewing for nearly a week. A num-
Der OF days ago 1t was learned by the Busi-
ness Mems league that some of the lead
ing hotels had been oanosling agreements
with certain state delegations when the
landlords learned that negro delegates
were numbered among them. IL became
so apparent that the negroes were being
Disseminated against that the league Is
sued the following manifesto:
The Leagues Manifesto.
"The Business Mems league when In
Washington securing the nationa Repub-
noan convention for ST. Louis, promised
that oolored delegates and members Of the
national Republican executive committee
should receive the same recognition from
the hotels that any other delegate to the
convention would receive
with this It was implied that the citi-
gems representing the city Of st. Louis for
securing the convention would ask and
endeavOF to induce public places, hotels,
boarding houses and bathrooms, at least
for convention week, 10 accord TO the repu-
table and respectable oolored men who
will come here representing their section
and their people in the Republican party
such treatment as any reputable and re-
speotable person would receive. IL is not
believed that great many would want
70 accept the privileges, but 1t will be
very humiliatinR II one Of them. with
their colleagues and friends, or alone
should present himself In any public place
and be refused admittanoe or service.
"It is hoped, expected and desired by
the gentlemen representing the citizens
who secured the convention that all will
sndeavoE to meet the situation as justice
and propriety require Any parties fail
ing to secure accommodations will PLEASE
report 70 the general hotel committee, c.
@. RGinwatar, chairman, or the bureau
Of information"
When the hotel men read this, they wer'
wrathful. They said It was an Invitation
10 the o0lored delegates 20 prosecute then
Cor damages. They went to tho league
committee on hotel accommodations anf
made vigorous protest. Concerted 40
tion then followed. with the result tha
the negroes cannot find lodging places OF
even a reputable place to eat Major G
p, RainwateF. a member OF the Business