The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-18

To the Editor Of The Times.
Sir-Through your columns, ! wish 10
call the attention OF the state TO ques-
tion which. in my judgment, is one Of
great importance. and, IN greater or less
decree. is of interest 90 all cltzens- j
aliude to Representative Radf0rds sepa-
rate-car bill. now before the Legisla-
ture. and i'm language as plain as possible
j wish to present ii few reasons dealing
with the affirmative side of the question.
II is naturally of first importance 10
those living i'm sections OF tine state
containing population largely or A'-
oro.s And ! uuuesitatngy say That
If IL were in their power Ia pass lt the
bin would speedily become ia"
The necessity of some such measure
consists i'm the fact that travel Tor ladies
is rendered dangerous when alone, espc-
cialiv at certain seasons. when negro oes-
peradocs virtually have possession OF
trains. This will not boz denied by ans
one familiar with tine state of affairs 30
certain sections. Further, tms hena-
yior on the part of This class OF our
population leads inevitably 90 strife. and
tends to- fan the emhers oi amnesty exc
istng between the races
Why. TOO. should We discriminate ln
one place and not i'm another: Why
sbut our hotels and restaurants AGAINST
them. and permit them TO sit beside us
on our railroads. There is just where
we meet our opposition. and there the
influence Of the railroad companies ls
shown They object 10 any such Jaw
and naturally. since separate accomno-
dations must bo provided by them. But
tbe cost of thus separating their passen-
GERS is small mirinsicaliy, ana infinitely
smaller when compared with the Tee
sultine good.
The law viii work mo- hardship To re-
enectahlc negroes. for they are especially
provided for. and cannot be put ina Jim
GROW" cars after paying for drst-class pas
sage.
Vow. Jet us see how similar laws
operate in other States. Kentucky, WIN
g. colorod population OF less man oYV""'
nossed her scparate-car bin about TWO
,esrs since. Tennessee. with u dark
nopulation OF $4,000. has had similar
law I'm force for the past four years.
Pear I'm mind that both these, like Viz
ainia. are border States, and both nave
q much smaller negro populations Yet
hofh SAW the necessity Of such law.
ami oase,d thom over the Influence OF
the powerful Louisville and Nashville
lobby. / happen 20 be familiar win
the result FOB both States and ainrm
that r1tnlf VIII ever consent 10 inc
repeal or measure I'm which their
women ind safety from possible insult and
Intrusion. During O. residence Of TWO
wears after the law wcnt into operation
in Tennessee. heard no complaint from
negroes Of nardships brought about by H.
Their coaches were labelled Gas were
I'm. yyhitoaD. "For C0lored Passengers
ONLY" and no white man could occupy
"a seal In such a car. or course. in OK
ceptional cases, such as n family having
a nurse or n servant, no objection was
ever made 20 their occupancy of white
coaches Before this period. there was
trouble between the races every now and
then. owing generally 10 some negro ven
turing to assert his equality.
Another ASPECT Of the case is that the
border states need this law badly. while
our Southern noighbors do not. In view
Of the fact that in four states the negro
population IS greater than Nirginia's and
In others greater In proportion this may
appear a strange sta iement. IL Is not.
In the far South the cOlored citizen knows
his place, fills S. and Is content. With
ms are elements never satisfied with the
state in which God created them. but
In every way striving TO ape and equal
their white neighhors. 1t IS this class
which forces on as a law whose opera
tons many. not familiar with its work
ings. may oppose. Let us at least try
II. for some parts OF our State need re-
lief-need il soon, and need 1t badly.
Knowing such a law 10 be just. and
believing that II will bring about better
feeling than even now exists between
the races. we earnestly appeal to the
Legislature to pass the separate-car law.
Very respectfully. b. N. C.
Blackstone. Va. Jan. II, 1896.