The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-11
NEGRO DELEGATES BARRED.
THE COLORED MEN WILL HAVE
TO GARRY THE BANNER"
IN ST. LOUIS.
BOARDING HOUSES CLOSED 70 THEM
Every Hotel and Eating House in ST..
Louis Came out Flat-FOotcd,
Declaring 1t Would Enter
tain No Negroes.

st. Louis June S.-What shall be done
with the colored delegates and alter
mates 10 the national Republican con
vcntion is a question which is puzzling
the members of the national committee,
who arrived in the city, and the Busl-
ness Mems League, which secured the
convention. as WELL Every hotel,
boarding house and cafe came out fiat
footed today and declared that it would
entertain no negroes as guests or as Gus
toners. Money is no object. Threats
OF prosecution have had no fleet, and,
from the present outlook, it you'd seem
that unless tents are secured the col0red
men will have to go hungry and I'M
housed
IL am thoroughly disgusted and dis
outraged" said National Committeeman
J. Long of Florida tonight, in speaking
Of the matter
II have been looking all day long for
Il hotel. boarding house or cafe that
would admit the negroes, but it has been
ms to try to charter u steamboat, but
when the owners learned for what pur-
pose il was wanted they found an eX-
cusc for refusing me the use of the yes
sci. 1t is the first time in the history of
the Republican party where such an en-
barassng predicamcnt has arisen
When asked what the national com
mittec would do in the matter Mr.. Long
replied:
la, ,,.itb h., ,lnp
who nre here and we have decided to
offer Il resolution. rs soon rs the COM
mittCc meets, cOndemning the hotel and
inn-kccpcrs. and for the setting aside of
II fund for renting Il 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 corps of cooks to sup
ply them 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 canccling agreements with GER
tain state delegates when the landlords
learned that negro delegates were num-
bercd among them. 1t became so APP
parent that the negroes were being dis
eliminated against that the league
issued the following manifesto:
THE Business Mems League. when
in Washington securing the convention
for st. Louis. promised that colorcd dele
gates and members of the executive com
mlttce should receive the same rcCOgni-
tons from the hotels that others of the
delegates to the convention would re
cevc. With this it was implied that the
representatives from ST. Louis would ask
and cndcavor to induce public places.
hotels. boarding houses, hash houses and
thrnnUlS a II
TO accord the reputable and respectable
colored men who will come here repre-
scnting their section and their people in
the Republican party, such treatment rs
any reputable and respectable person
would receive. 1t is not believed that
great many would want to accept the
privileges, hut il will he very Illuminating
if one of them, with their colleagues and
friends or alone. should present himself
in any public place and he refused ad-
mittanCc or service.
1t is hoped, expected and desired by
the gentlemen representing the citizens
who secured the convention that all will
endeayor 10 meet the situation as JUS
tlce and propriety requires Any parties
in interest failing to receive accOmmoda-
tions will please report To the general
hotel committee, {. c. Rainwatcr, chair
man, or the bureau of information. "
When the hotel men read this they
were wrathful. They said it was an in
vitation To the culored delegates To prose
cute them for damages. They went to
the league committee on hotel accommo-
dations and made vigorous protest.
Concerted action then followed. with the
result that the negroes can not find
lodging places or even Il reputable place
TO eat.
Mai. c. G. Ranwater n member of the
Business Mems League and of the local
entertainment committee, is quite as
much diSpleaScd with the turn affairs
have taken as any one. He and several
members of the local committee have
been hunting for a place to entertain the
negro delegates. but without success.
Perry Heath and eN-Congressman
Thompson of Ohio. who are here in the
interest of Mckinley. are quite as much
disturbed rs the national committeeman
They have been in Geographic communi-
cation with Marcus \. Hanna all day.
hut as yet no solution of the problem
has been reached.
George Hill. national committeeman
from Tennessee. said tonight if hotel ac-
commodatons of n respectable character
were not procured for the colorcd dele
gates from his state he would telegraph
them not 10 come. Late tonight some of
the members of the local committee said
lh'lN Nllf w lNlt llulltI Ntulil ne StllltN
TO the satisfaction of all.
In no former Republican national con-
yention has the general committee had
so heavy duty to perform in making up
the roll for the temporary organization
rs the present committee has before it,
There are los contested seats from
fifteen states and one territory, and of
these the entire delegation is contested