The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-28

Moreover. the Lunrh-Soanter Man ut Macon
woaId Not sell Hin . Cop Of Csnee.

ATLANTA. Ca. Feb. cs.-The Georgia Railroad
Commission Ia perple1ed over a question Of civil
rights. The complainant IN the case Is Bishop
ii. VI. Turner, who Is one Of the most distln.
gulshed men OF the negro race In the entire
country and Is at the head OF the Methodist
Church In Georgia
Bishop Turner has risen 10 a position from
which he commands the respect OF white men
and black men alike. He Is a scholar, travelled,
cultured, and possessed OF splendid orator!cal
powers, besides being a shrevd and skilful man.
eser Of the temporal affairs OF the Methodist
Church In the State. But in spite OF his attain
nents, and in spite Of the fact that be had been
entertained BY the representatives, Of royalty
abroad while he has been pursuing his investi-
cations a. 20 the condition Of Affairs In Liberia,
he was unable 10 purchase 4 cup OF coffee at .
lunch stand Ia Macon.
The Southern Railroad Company owns its
station in Macon, and exercises a sort OF eminent
domain over the property. which Is let 10 the
Southern News Company Tor a lunch counter
and eating house. Bishop Turner was coming
Up from a paEochial visit IL the lower part OF tho
State. and carly in the morning the train stopped
al Macon To give the lunch counter company u
chance a. such hungry passengers as had not
been initiated there. The Bishop was weary
from a long nights ride, and had 4 headache, so
he Thought thar he would get a cup OF coffee TO
for'lfy him for the remainder OF the journey OF a
hundred miles 10 his home In Atlanta. He
alIghted from the train. approached the counter,
and politely asked the. young man whom he
found there for a cup OF coffee and a sandwich.
The clerk coo!ly replied that they did not enter
tain ~Ilggers' at that counter, and the Bishop
had to swallow hs modification and Humiliation
The Bishop Climbed back on the train and re-
sgm't his seai, and during the Ersmainder OF the
that suggested Itself TO him was ~ appeal to the
Georgia Railroad Commission, which Is sup
posed TO be omnipOteDt In such matters, as the
ern Railroad Company. He has asked the com:
mission, therefore, that a place be provided
where respectable colored people can purchase
food and drink while travelling over The com
papy's lines, apart from the counter provided eN-
Cluslye.y. for the benefit Of the white people who
matter should be brought before a commission
whose duty is to regulate travel and commerce
over the railway lines In the state, and TO pre-
vent any unjust discrimination for or against
communities or individuals, but the commission
has taken the matter under advtsement and will
render a decision.
bishop Turner Is a vc-y conservative man and
Is endowed with q large share Of common sense,
and ne has heretofore COntented himself with an
occasional protest against rules OF the companies
requiring AL colored people to huddle together
In one common lln-crow, car when travelling,
but the refusal OF the lunch counter attendant at
Macon to sell him a sand witch and a cup OF coffee
WAS too much for even his forbearance, anu II IL
altogether probable that An Issue will be made
on the case that will be far-reaching in its eff ects.
better class OF negroes, in which may be found
many persons Of culture and refinement, and II
may DO carried TO the higher courts for nnal ad-
.udicatlon.