The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1896-06-12
Negro Delegates at st. Louis
Have a Hard Time.
HOTEL MEN CONDEMNED.
Unless Tents Are Secured Bed
will Be a Premium.

What shall be done with the colored
delegates or alternates to the national
republican convention? This is the
question which is puzzling the members
of the national committee who have ar.
rived in st. Louis and the Business
Mems League which secured the con7en
ton, as well.
Every hotel and the boarding houses
and cafes came ont fatfootsd and de.
clared it would not entertain negroes ae
guests or customers. 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 60 hungry
and unhoused.
II am thoroughly disgusted and dis.
couraged," said National Committeeman
Judge Long, of Florida, in speaking Of
matters. Il have been looking all day
long for hotel, boarding house or cafe
that would admit negroes, but have
been unable to find them. I even went
SO far as to try and charter steam boat,
but when tho owners learned for what
purpose wanted itthey found an excuse
for refusing me the rent of it. II is the
only time in the history of the republi-
can party where such an embarrassing
predicament has arisen"
When asked what the national com
mittee would do Long replied:
II have consulted those who are here
and have decided to offer resolution as
soon as the committee meets, condemn
ing the hotel and inn keepers and for the
laying aside OF fund for renting hall
in which cots shall be placed for negroes
who come to the convention. We shall
also request the employment Of a corps
of cooks to supply them food"
This trouble has been brewing for
nearly week. number of days ago it
was learned by the business mems
league that some Of the leading hotels
had been cancelliag agreements with the
state delegations when the landlords
learned that negro delegates were among
them. 1t became so apparent that the
negroes were being Disseminated against
that the league issued the following
manifesto:
"The Business Mems League when in
Washington securing the convention for
st. Louis, promised that the colored
delegates and members of the national
ACPubAAOda O0GGutkfO OQLluAbUcD ElUulu
receive the same recognition from the
hotels that other delegates receive. With
this it was implied that the citizens OF
st. Louis would ask and endeavor to
secure public places, hotels, boarding
houses and bathrooms at least for con-
vention week to accord reputable and
respectable colored men who came here
representing their sections and their
people in the republican party such
treatment as any reputable and respect.
able person would receive. 1t is not
believed that a great many would want
to accept these privileges, but it will be
very humiliating il one of their colleagues
or should put himself in any public place
and be refused admittance. 1t is hoped
expected and desired by the gentlemen
representing the citizens who secured
the convention that all will endeavor to
meet the situation as justice and pro.
priety requires
When the hotel men read this they
were exceedingly wrathful. They said
it was an invitation to the colored dele
gates to prosecute them for damages.
They went to the league committee on
hotel accom- modations and protested
A concerted action followed with the
result that negroes cannot find lodging
places, nor even reputable place to
eat