The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-24
BLACKWELL,S
HOSPITALITY
IS FOR ALL
Old Soldiers VIII All Look
Alike TO Its Citizens.
COLOR WILL BE NO BAR
Mayor Tate Settles the Entire
misunderstanding.
COLOR WILL BE NO BAR

/ Blackwell, O. T, Feb. z3.-The Times
i Record says: Quite a number Of the
papers in the territory and several out
side the territory have gone out Of their
way to rnisrepresent this city in regard
to the encamDrnent OF the 6. A r. to
meet here in May. It was reported that
Blackwell would not allow the negro
delegates to come 70 the city, and the
story was scattered broadcast all over
the territory with the purpose Of caus-
ing the department officers to call the
meeting for some other town. Command
CT Mock wrote Mayor Tate IN regard to
the reports on January 20th and the
mayor answered him on the 27th as fol-
lows:
Blackwell, 0. r. Jan. 27, 1901.
NJ. T. Mock, Department Commander,
Guthrie Oklahoma:
My Dear Sir: Your favor Of the 90th
inst. came duly to hand, and I note fully
what you say, and in reply 7 wish to
state that Blackwell IS a beautiful little
city of over 5000 people. a class Of Cit
zens that fer public spirit, enterprise and
patriotism cannot be excelled in the west,
always glad to have an opportunity to
do honor TO the old soldier, whether he
be white or black Your colored peopie
will be protected and provided for and
YOU viii have no occasion to regret
calling the department enoampment at
Blackwell. and sincerely hope that the
coming encampment win be the best ever
held in this department.
Yours very respectfully,
J R. TATE, Mayor.
Commander Mock in reply to Mayor
Tates letter says that he was satisfied
of BlackwelTs position in the matter
but that the report had been given such
circulation that he thought the best way
out of If was to bring it to our notice.
Mr.. Mock also states in his letter that
he will issue his order calling the meet
ing Of the department for Blackwell,
either May IS to Is, or % to %; that in
vitations VIII be issued to National Com
mander Leo Resseur and to state com
manders Of adjoining states. and hopes
TO have them with us and confidently
believes that the meeting here in Nav
viii he the best ever held in Oklahoma.
Mrs. Huldah r. Hill. Of Hilton. president
Of the ladies of the G. A r. and Mrs
Barton, of Ponca City. president Of the
w. r. c.. have both heard from Mayor
Tate, and we trust now that the papers
who have been SO willing to misrepresant
rs win now be willing to put us right
before the people Of Oklahoma Blackwell
invited the department and the ladies'
organizations in good faith, with the fun
realization of what their acceptance car
ried with it, and we knew there were col
ored G. A. r. posts in Oklahoma and
that their delegates would meet with the
department in this city. There never. was. +
as far as the citizens Of Blackwell are
concerned, any other idea than that all
delegates Of the department. white or
black, would be accorded the best treat
ment of which we are capable. and all
reports to the contrary are absolutely
false and unwarranted and originated in
localities that would stop at nothing to
defame this city. and II possible to retard
its progress. Blackwell has never vet
failed in its hospitality to an invited
guest, and It certainly win not fail in its
welcome to or entertainment of the de-
partment of Oklahoma C. A r., and
the ladies' organization Accompanying It, i