The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1896-06-11
COLOR LINE DRAWN.

Hotel. Guarding House and Cafe |
Doors closed to Them.
SERIOUS PROBLEM TO MEET.
Block Men Are Likely TO Go Unhoused |
and Unfed.
st. Louis, Mo-, June o.-What |
shall be done with the colored dele.
gates and alternate delegates to the
National Republican convention?
This is the question which is puz-
cling the members of the national
committee who have arrived in this
this city and the Business Mems
League, which secured the conven-
ton to St. Louis as we'll. Every
hotel and boarding house and cafe
came out hat-footed to day and de.
clared it would entertain no negro
as guest or customer. Money is
no object. Threats of prosecution
have had no effect, and from the
present outlook it would seem that
unless tents are secured the black
men will have to go hungry and un-
housed.
II am thoroughly disgusted and
discouraged" said National Commit
teeman j. G. Long of Florida to
night in speaking of the matter. Il
have been looking all day long for
hotel, boarding house or cafe that
would admit the negroes, but it has
been q fruitless search. l even went
so far as to try to charter steam
boat, but when the owners learned
for what purpose I wanted it they
found an excuse for refusing me the
use of the vessel. It is the only
time in the history of the Repubil-
can party which such an embarrass-
ing predicament has arisen
When asked what the national
committee would do, Mr. Long re
piled: Il have consulted the mem
bers who are here and we have de
cided to offer resolution as soon
as the committee meets, condemning
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 also request the employment Of
corps of cooks to supply them food.
MANIFESTO OF THE BUSINESS MEN.
This trouble has been brewing fol
nearly a week. A number of days
! ago it was learned by the Business
Mems League that some of the lead
ing hotels Lad been cancelling agree
ments with certain State delegation
when the landlords learned tina
negro delegates were numbered
!, among them. 1t became SO apparen
that the negroes were being discrim
= mated against that the League issu
ed the following manifesto:
0 "The Business Mems league, whe
in Washington securing the nations
e Republican convention for st. Louis
i promised that colored delegates an
l. members of the national Republica
!, executive committee should receiv
d the same recognition from the hotel
/ that any other delegates to the COZ
/, ven,ion would receive. With tn
y it was implied that the city of 5
q Louis would ask and epdeavor 10 IL
a duce public places, hotels, b0acdln
m houses and bath rooms, at least *
the convention week, to accord
the reputable aud respectable colo
to ed meu who will come here, repr
~ ~ sentins their section aud their Pc
pie III the r publican party, snf
i. treatment as any reputable AID
I'd spectacle person would receive
= is not believe great manv wou
want to accept the privileges, b
it will be very humi.atirg II ol
7o of them with their colleagues al
friends, or alcne should present hi'
au self in any public place and be refu
ed admittaace or service It