The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-06
COLORED MEN SPLIT
WHEATON CIVIL RIGHTS
BILL
SALOONS NOT SUCH A PRIZE

0HGOONO WI OOO1 ~ nIGE
Some of Them Think ThatThey Need
Not Ask the Legislature for the
Privilege ofsdnduIgence In Strong
Drink-Sam Hardy Has Some
ject.
The bill recently introduced in the
house by Representative Wheaton
(Col). attaching a penalty to the re-
fusal of a barkeeper TO sell drinks to
a colored man. ia, not unanimously ap-
proved by the colored people of st.
Paul. 1t Is asserted freely that no
distinction should be made between
colored man and a white man. AS the
law gives all citizens the right to cleo
tive franchise. 1t is argued that no in
equality should be recognized In the
statutes. A saloon keeper can refuse
to sell liquor to white man, and 1t
is asserted by number of representa-
tive colored people who were seen by
The u e yesterday, that the same
rule ought apply to the colored man
and no color line drawn.
5. e. Hardy. a well known st. Paul
Paul since 1867, said in an interview
with The G o b e Yesterday
I'VE are opposed to being legislated
into the saloon, and l believe that the
best citizens. both white and black,
will share the same views with me.
The passage of this bill would be a det-
riment to the negro instead of an ad--
vancednent. want to live In a state
where all citizens enjoy privileges
fiQ-tr6a
without any special legislation of this
kind. The moment you institute class
legislation against your white brother,
do you not place him in a position to
|. antagonize you, and he. being back
ed up by the great majority, lat pos
ssible chance have you to maintain
your rightS?S Since the citizens of
Hennepin county have given US such
great recognition as to elect the first
colored man to the Minnesota legis-
lature,s we do not wish to see him make
mistake in this matter, which is one
Of vital Importance to the race.
When the civil rights bin was first
introduced In congress all people were
in favor Of It. The late Chief Justice
White. against atfe wishes of that no.
Bile man of Massachusetts, Chas. Sum-
ner, declared it unconstitutional, and
said that 1t was a state right law. II
Is my desire to live in a state, and have
lived in a state for twenty-seven
years, that needs, no such legislation.
The good people Of Minnesota would
come too quickly together and say
that the black man in Minnesota has
the same rights as any other citizen
has, if this question was a; universal
one. My people swould not patronize
any place which does not want them
with the bill or without 1t. Seriously,
the colored man opens place catering
to the white man. Another colored
man enters his place of business; he
is at once informed by his colored
brother that by serving him would
harm his business.
Under the law now on the statute
books the owner of the shop would be
compelled to serve him, his colored
brother, yet he could make it so I'M
pleasant that he would not want to
ccme again. 1 firmly believe that the
law, if passed by both houses Of the
legislature would be. unconstitutional,
class legislation. No similar law ap-
plies to white man, and / see no good
reason why one should be made to ap-
ply to the colored man.
zone of the reasons why believe the
law would mot. hold water is that it's
passage would legally recognize the sa-
1oon,- when all the present statutes are
legislate us into the saloon if found
constitutional, and compel saloonkeep-
ers to sell to our people. Immediately
the finger of score would turn towards
the co1ored man. Every time colored
man was served under protest he would
be insulted. The saloon man would
break up the glass out of which his I'M
desirable customer drank, and would
hun1iliate him In every way possible.
From time immemorial the spirit Of
antagonism has always been disastrous
to the weak. The bill would be sure
to invoke an antagon1stic spirit on the
part Of a few saloonkeepers-a very
few-while as 1t is, he is not required
to serve the colored man, and on our
side it can be said that no colored man
would darken the door of any public
place where such barrier was placed
upon his enjoyment of the rights Of
citizenship. The 5colored man is not
looking for immortality, but for moral
ity, and We don't propose to be forced
into the saloon. If a prejudice exists
in some minds against the colored man,
why that is something that cannot be
regulated by law and can only be re-
moved by the race gradually becom-
ing worthy Of the respect of ALL
IT sincerely hope that the bill will
not pass and that no distinction will be
made between the races In this or any
other matter.
"The present laws on the statute
books requiring keepers of hotels, re-
sorts and public places of refreshment
to serve colored people should be re-
pealed. If there is a prejudice on the
part of the hotel keeper or other person
against the race, there are many ways
of getting around the law and it is a
dead letter."
Where Is Henry King?
Henry King, whose home is at South St
Paul. has not been seen by his friends since