The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-06
MIR. BRUCE AND CAPT. T.LArHER
Borne a slave, He Easiiv Ovcrcame
Race Prejudice.

From the Philadelphia Press.
On one of his latest visits to New
York Mr.. Bruce told of an experience
which he had just after he was elected
Senator from Mississippi. and it was
an experience which illustrates the tact
and good sense which always charac-
terized him, and which explained much
of the success and respect which he
gained by his public life in Washington
1t was announced that the Senator
would go to Washington from his
Mississippi home by one of the Mis-
sissippi steamboats,, at least as far az
st. Louis, on his way. The captain, a
man of the name of Lathers was a
typical Mississippi steamboat captain,
and he was reported to have said that
he would show the black Senator when
he got aboard of his boat that he would
have to keep his place on that boat,
and If he put on any airs because he
happened to be q senator, the captain
would teach his manners
AS soon as Bruce boarded the steam
boat he sought the captain, and he
said to him, Captain Lathers, I am
going to Washington, and part OF the
way as passenger on your steamboat.
My name is Bruce, and possibly you
may have heard Of me. What | wanted
to say is that | know perfectly well
what the feeling of many people who
are travellers regarding persons of my
color is They cannot help it, and I
cannot help it, and 1 am going to give
them no occasion for any annoyance
while / am passenger on your boat.
! simply ask you that you see to it that
l am made as comfortable as possible,
and ! assure you that you will have no
reason for complaint"
The bluff Captain stepped back a
pace or two looked Bruce over, and
then held out his hand and said with
great emphasis, by --, you shall sit
at my table; you shall sit on my right
hand on the entire trip, and if any
man objects, he will have to fight me.
A man who can talk as you have, and
who is as fair as you are, is a sight
betetr than some of the white Sena-
tors | have carried on this boat" and
on that entire trip of some three days
the Captain made Bruce his guest.
The same quality served Bruce ad-
mirably in the Senate, and it was one
of the most impressive of Washington
sights to see the mulattO Senator and
| his colleague, the aristoCratic Lamar
walking daily together up the avenue
to the capitol. Lamar the scholar the
| orator, the fine type of Southern chiv-
airy and cultivation, had the highest
respect for Bruce and preferred his
cOmpaniOnship in the daily walks to
and from the capitol to that Of any
other senator. Afterward, when Lamar
became Secretary of the Interior, Bruce
went to see him, and said that he had
! procured good many appointments in
| the Interior Department; in fact, a
| good many more than his share. and
| he bad come to see his former col
! league so that he might take counsel
! with him in respect to such action in
! the way Of removals as Lamar might
| have in mind.
| ThereupOn, Lamar said to him.
! Bruce, not one of the men who have
| been appointed in this department at
! your recommendation shall be re-
! moved while l am here, except for such
| cause as would make you remove them
yourself if you were Secretary of the
| Interior"