Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-19
JIM CROW CAR LAW
Gets BACKSET
BY MISS LEE
THOSE WHO OPPOSE PASSAGE OF
SIMILAR LAWS IN OTHER
STATES ARE USING HER AR
REST AS CAMPAIGN MATTER.

WASHINGTON, June 1S.-The arrest
of Miss Custis Lee. daughter of the Con-
federate chieftain, for violating the Vir-
ginia law relative to separate accommo-
dations for the races in street cars, has
been seized upon by the class that can
see no good in the southern enactments
on this subject to justify their conten-
ton. They claim that this case demon
strates that the separate car laws must
ever be impracticable and source of
trouble. The incident is not only re-
grettable by reason Of the personality OF
Miss Lee, but it comes at an especially
inopportune time, when the Louisiana
legislature, after bitter struggle against
the street railroad syndicate of New Or
leans and it's allied interests, is about
to enact a separate car law for that and
the other Louisiana cities.
The friends of separate cars, however
should not be discouraged by this incl
dent nor can any deductions be drawn
from it that would apply to any other
city in the south. There is in fact no
place in the union where such law
could be subjected to so unfair test
as right here in Washington. This is a
veritable negro's paradise. There are
5000 of them within the limits of the
city and a black fringe beyond the bor-
ders. Republican hypocrisy, long en-
throned here, has pandered' to them to
such an extent that they have become
intolerable. They can enter the bars,
restaurants and places of amusement, II
they choose, and while the southern peo-
pie who predominant here have managed
to keep all but the boldest within their
places, in spite of federal encourage
ment, II was determined to find relief
from the local conditions beyond the
Virginia border. A condition was thus
created that exists nowhere else. IL the
darky enters the car here in the District
he is entitled to any seat he finds va
cant, but after travelling few blocks
and crossing the Potomac river he IS
compelled to change his seat II he has
thrust himself among the whites Ind
and accommodation IN that part OF the
car reserved for his race On the other
hand, If he begins his journey at the other
end of the line, in Virginia territory,
he is assigned to a place among his own
people at the start and can only gratfy
his ambition to mingle with the whites
after the long bridge has again been
crossed and the car is near the end OF
its Journey. As the line upon which this
unhappy incident occurred is no longer
than the average city street car line,
It will be seen that Ithere are conditions
surrounding II that could not be found
elsewhere.
While this primarily was the cause OF
the trouble it is to be borne in mind that
Miss Lee was totally ignorant Of any
such law and had to deal with con-
ductor who was not only rude but whose
conduct toward her warranted his dis
charge That the average Washington
conductor is inclined to be boor has
been repeatedly illustrated of late. The
case in which Senator Money of Missis-
sippi figured only few weeks ago VIII
serve as an example. They do not treat
their passengers with the courtesy that
is exacted and freely given further south
and this was undoubtedly the cause Of
all the trouble.