The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-29
Managers Of Rostelries Net
Eager to Discuss the
Question.
It's a Delicate Matter and
Might Seriously IDjure
Our Business"
Peter Jackson's Experience Viewed
With Displeasure by His Country
men-1 he End Is Not Yet

Now that Peter Jackson has had the
color line drawn on him at the Baldwin
Hotel the question among tie colored
population Of San Francisco is, Will the
precedent established by the Baldwin
management be followed by the managers
OF other hotels? In other words, is the
public to understand that coIored folk
will not be quarte.ed at any of the lead
ing hotels, de- pite the law which wipes
away racial distinctions III the matter of
hotel accommoda tons?
These were questions that were general
ly discussed yesterday by readers of THE
CALL when they rerused the account Of
Peter Jackson's humiliation.
Ne" said Mr.. jackson, ruefully. ut
was because of my color. For the first
time in my life had the color line drawn
on me-"
When q CALL reporter sought to inter-
view the proprletors of the leading down
town hotels relative to the color-line ques-
tlon they were strangely reticent or if,
perchance, one was willing 10 express his
views 1t was on the agreement that his
name or hostelry should not he disclosed.
You see. they dec AIRED, 1.-The subject
Is an extreme. Y delicate one and it would
The coIored people WHO travel are, as a
rule, as intelligent as white fox and be-
ing as sensitive, do not often place them
selves or us in EN- barrassing positions. We
try to please every body and NUT do so if
we hope to be successful. Happily the color
line does not enter into our calculation
and-but that's all we have to say
The clerks OF tue hotels discussed the
question with more freedom. but not for
publication, however. 1T is a law in all
tirst-class Hotels through out the co untry,"
said one, never to give accommodation
10 negroes OF course, the line is drawn
in delicate way, so as 20 not give offense
or 10 render the manager liable to the law.
The applicant is informed politely that
tnere are no vacant rooms, and with this
answer he must be satisfied. He is never
turned away with a fiat refusal 20 accom-
mOdate him, auC hence has no cause for
complaint"
Said one manager Of prominent
ostlery: 1.-The color-line question has
ALWAYS been a source of worriment to me.
| have Deen obliged on several occasions
to report my house full when colored TO K
desired to Gister, and l was absolutely
forced 20 take this step. Were it TO be
known that l allowed a colored man to
register az my house my business would
suffer. No hotel man can afford 10 take
such risks, bit fortunately the risks are
few and far between. In fact, the color
line ques ion, while it NAV be an i'm
portant one, arises seldom that hotel
men scarcely give it thought"
ITS shame" said colored boot
black at one OF the hotels, ITO refuse to
give room t, such a gentleman as Peter
Jackson. Didn't he walk ann in arm
with the Marquis OF Queens berry in Pic
cadilly? Didn't lie shake the hand OF the
Prince OF Wales? Amt he the best fighter
In the world ?" And the bootblack ex-
perforated in dis ,ust Some of these
hotel men make me tire ( p
Meanwhile the friends and admirers of
Peer Jackson are ind grant at the insult
offered to their idol, and, judging from
their expressions, the end of the affair is
not yet in sight. 1t is barely possible that
the affair may have its denouement in
court.