The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-27

The episode at Hamlet in which Booker
Washington and his negro party were ac-
commodated for meal in the white din
ing room while the whites were put off
In side room is the topic of the day.
Indignation, disgust and condemnation
of the affair are heard on all sides. Not
a voice has been raised in defence of the
action of the people who permitted this
gross outrage on Southern sentiments and
feelings
The drummers are discussing the mat
ter and to man they express disgust
at the affair." which they term a dis
graceful outrage. 1t was learned yester-
day that the travelling men had x
chrstened the hotel at Hamlat,.auG tina ~
letters were being sent there addressed,
care The Booker Washington HOTEL
Yesterday this paper received COM
munication from a prominent travelling
man, who, in the name of his associates
and railway men who have used the
eating house at Hamlet, writes as follows.
THE DRUMMER'S PROTEST.
To the Edltor:-I wish to send to you
for publication the following which rep
resents the voice of one thousand travelling
men and railway employees and others. We
wish to express our indignation through
your medium, the News and Observer, and
to firmly set down our feet against the
parties who, on last Sunday, practically
set aside old friends and boarders to make
room for the would-be Honorable Booker
Washington and his negro followers, who
were entertained at Hamlet | am
indignant, as every other true Southerner
Is, at the affair that took place Sunday
at the Hamlet eating house when white
gentlemen of high standing honest and
true, were practically set aside to make
place for this negro gang.
We have known the managers of this
Hamlet Eating House for years and we
are heartily regret their action and are
astonished at them for that which took
place in setting aside old friends and pat
rons to show Booker Washington and
his gang this courtesy which goes down
with the history of ages for which every
true white man in these United States en-
tertains an abiding contempt.
AN EYEWITNESS TALKS.
A gentleman who was at Hamlet on Sun
day and who saw the whole occurrence
says that one of the most outraged and
indignant Of the white men who were at
Hamlet was United States Senator A. 0.
Bacon, OF Georgia.
Senator Bacon he says arrived at Ham
let on the same train, though in a sepa-
rate coach from the Booker Washington
cIowd and when he found the manner in
which the negroes were being treated he
declined to take a meal there, but as he
had to meet a train at Hamlet went to
Plnehurst and returned later to Hamlet,
declining however because of his indigna-
tion, to take supper or breakfast, pre-
ferring to go without this rather than
sat in the dining room where the negroes
lad dined.
THE lateness of the arrival of the train
1t Hamlet" said this gentleman, ''had
nothing to do with the character of the
offence for there were the same number
u white people on the train who wished
md had expected to get dinner at Hamlet
IS there would have been had the train
'een on time. The conductor had made
INQUIRIES as to who wished dinner, and
senator Bacon, together with number of
ther white gentlemen, had indicated their
urpose to take dinner at Hamlet"
THAT the whole thing was premedita-
ed Is shown by the fact that as soon
s the train stopped at Hamlet the ne
rces went in body to the dining room
nd were seated, the whites being di-
ected to a small ante-room-the reading
oom-which was ready for serving meals.
enator Bacon and his friends refused to
inc there under these circumstances.
Then came another disgusting turn in
he affair. After dining the negroes came
ut and with many airs and much pom.
osity paraded themselves, to the great
eight of the town negroes who had
card the news of the negroes dining.
ntil the train departed. One negro patted
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