The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-09
Can NEITHER EAT NOR SLEEP
The Negro Delegate to be Boy
cotted in ST. Louis.
Hotels and Boarding Houses VIII Refuse
to House. and Restaurants aud Cafes
to Feed the oolored DeleRste-An EN-
barrassing Situation For the National
Republican Committee.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, June S.-What IL to
be done with the colored delegates Ia 8
question which is puzzling the members
of the national committee who have ar.
rived here, and the Business Mems
League, which secured the convention
to st. Louis as we'll. Every hotel and
boarding house came out flat-footed to-
gay and declared that it would enter
tain no negro as guest or customer,
Money Is no object. Threats Of pros
ecution had no effect and from the
present outlook 1t would seem that I'M
less tents are secured the colored men
will have to go hungry and unhoused.
~ am thoroughly disgusted and dis
couraged," said National Committeeman
j. G. Long, Of Florida, tonight, In
looking all day long for hotel. board
ing house or cafe that would admit the
negroes, but 1t WAS fruitless search.
even went so far as to try to charter q
steamboat, but when the owners learned
for what purpose 1t was wanted, they
found an excuse for refusing me the use
of the vessel. 1t Ia the first time in the
history of the Republican party where
such an embarrassing predicsment has
arisen"
When asked what the national com
mittee would do in the matter DR.. Long
replied: II have consulted with the
members who are here and have de-
cided to offer resolution as soon as the
committee meets condemning the
hotels and inn keepers, and for the sets
ting aside OF fund for renting 8 hall
in which cots shall be placed for the
accommodation of the negroes who may
come to the convention. We will also
request the employment Of cooks, etc.,
to supply them with food
"This trouble has been brewing for
nearly week. A number Of DAYS ago
IL was learned by the Business Mems
League that some OF the leading hotels
had been cancelling agreements with
certain Stats delegations when the land
lords learned that negro delegates were
numbered among them. 1t became so
apparent that the negroes were being
disseminated against that the league
issued the following manifesto:
1.-THE Business mems League, when
In Washington securing the natioansl
Republican convention for st. Louis
promised that colored delegates and
executive committee should receive the
same recognition from the hotels that
any other delegate to the convention
would receive.
with this 1t was implied that the
cities representing tho city of st. Louis
for securing the convention would ask
and endeavor to induce public places,
hotels, boarding houses and ba,h rooms,
at least for convention week, to accord
to the reputable and respectable colored
men who will come here representing
their section and their people in the
Republican party, such treatment as
any reputable and respectable person
would receive.
1T is Eot believed that O great many
would want to accept the privilege, but
1t will be very humiliating If one Of
them with their colleagues and friends
or alone should present himself in q pub.
lie place and be refused sdmittance or
service. 1t is hoped. expected and de-
sired by the gentlemen representing the
citizens who secured the convention
that all will endeavor to meet the sit
uation as justice and propriety require.
ANY parties in interest failing to re-
serve accommodations will please report
to the general hotel committee"
when the hotel men read this they