The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-09
WILL HAVE A SPECIAL TRAIN.
COLORED COLLEGE STUDENTS NOT
TO BE INTERPRETED WITH.


Against the street RaiIrOad-Nay-
or Nelson Says the Fight Is Prov
ing Injurious to Both Sides-Gener-
al Manager Lotion Says the Rail-
road Company is Not Responsible
for the Requirement.
It is not Likely that there will be any
further friction between the Thunderbolt
authorities and the officers of the colored
college because of the acton of the lat
ter in instructing the town marshal to
enforce the state law requiring street rail-
way companies TO assign separate seats to
white and colored passengers. The reso-
luton viii continue 20 be enforced for
the present at least, but the college stu
dents win not be interfered with.
An understanding has been reached by
which the street railway company is to
furnish a special train for the colored stu
dents and this train is to be respected as
such by the town authorities. There
would never have been any trouble with
the college Students said Mayor Nelson.
when seen at Thunderbolt yesterday, but
for a misunderstanding between the co..
lege authorities and the railroad people.
The former understood that they were to
have SPECIAL train, whereas two cars
were attached to the regular car, these
two cars being intended for the students.
The marshal knew that this was the reg
u.ar car and this was further evidenced
by the fact that the car stopped to pick
up other passengers after leaving the coll
lege. He accordingly carried out his or
ders with regard 10 requiring separate
seats for white and co.ored passengers, 50
far as the regular car was concerned, but
did not interfere with the two cars which
had been attached for the students The
students and their friends considered that
they were entitled to the whole train, and
made considerable complaint of the inter
ference. This was the only instance of
the kind and there has been no repetition
since. The students win have their own
train hereafter and will not be interfered
with. When riding on regular cars, how
ever, they will have 90 comply with the
rule"
There Is no disposition On the part of
the Thunderbolt authorities 10 interfere
with the college," said Mayor Nelson. lon
the contrary we regard it as one of the
features of Thunderbolt and are DESTROYS
of promoting it's success. The institution
has had a remarkable growth and is a
credit not only TO its officers and teachers,
but to the state. The resolution of Council
was not directed in any sense against The
college. Neither have railroad people
shown any disposition to discriminate
against the students. On the contrary they
have given the students very low rate
so Tow in fact that the amount received
is hardly sufficient TO pay the salaries of
the pen who run The cars The road also
gives a very low rate to the white chill
dren living al Thunderbclt who attend
school in the city"
Mayor Ne'son made no bones in saying
that the action of The Town Council in
requiring the road 10 observe the stale
law, by which observance 50 much offense
has been given the colored people, was
merely an incident in the fight between
the town authorities and The railroad peo-
pie.
THE fight began" he said when the
railroad refused to pay the tax which we
placed upon them. There were complaints
of the crowdng of white and colored pas
sengers, and we decided to require the
road TO furnish separate cars. We found |
that We could not do this legally but that
the state law requires that separate seats |
be furnished to white and colored pas
sengers. resolution was accordingly
passed requiring the company 10 observe
the law and the marshal was instructed
to see that this was done. 1t was not |
intended to work any hardship upon the |
colored people, nor to interfere with the |
college students"
Mayor Nelson admitted that the fight be-
tween the railroad company and the town |
had resulted inturiously to both, and ex-
pressed the belief that both sides have |
reached the point where they are willing |
to make concessions. The eolored patron
age Of the street railway and some of the |
business people of Thunderbolt are kick
ing because of their loss of trade from |
this source.
General Manager Lotion, when seen |
about the matter. said that the statements |
made by President Wright concerning the |
college matter were unwarranled end he |
further expressed his disbelief in any d.s- |
position on the part of the colored people |
to boycott the company
From Wrights statements" said Mr.. |
Lotion. lit would appear that there was |
constant interference with his pupils. As |
a matter of fact, there was only one o. |
currence Of this kind, and that occurred |
on the opening day. Two cars had been
TO the regular car for the benefit |
of the college students living in the cltv.
and these were sufficient for their accom- |
There were a number of visit |
ors in attendance upon the opening. and |
these, with the children, filled all three
OF the cars. When the cars reached Thun- |
derbo.t the marshal proceeded 10 enforce |
the order which he has been carrying out
Tor the East month with regard 90 the reg
ular car. The railway company was in
no way responsible for the interference.
Mr.. Lotion said be took no stock IN the
report that the colored ministers had
threatened to advocate a boycott of The
1t would be very unreasonable
in them TO do So" he said. Several Of the
ministers came 10 me and explained the
situation to them. TIE street railway COM
pany is not responsible for the enforce
ment of this law. The Town Council of
Ihuhdernoit undertook TO force us TO fur
nish separate cars for the two races. We
enJoined them in the courts from Interior
ing with us. They then found that there
was state law requiring railway COM
panies 10 seat passengers of the two races
separately and passed a resolution requir-
ing us enforcement. Warrants were issued
Tor Two Of our conductors because OF the
failure 10 observe the law When
L came 10 this there was hing for us
z DO but 60 observe the law. If the coored
people entertain hard feelings for anyone
On account of its enforcement they should
vent them On the Thunderbolt Council
and not on the railway company"