The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-28

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also said that many of the negroes
did not remove their hats till they
were in the room.
Writing Of this occurrence a promi-
nent citizen Of the state, who was Cd
the spot. says The color line was not
only drawn but the white man was
actually disseminated against. the pre-
ference being given to President Roose-
velt's quondam guest, Booker being
given a 'dead-head' meal. and the 9TH
er negroes paying at the regular desk.
Just as did the white folks as they
passed out"
Travelling men who have reached
Raleigh since Sunday express the
greatest Indignation at the affair and
pronounce it as a most
one. 1t is said that one of these old
the proprietors that they would suffer
from the incident. and in return was
told by one of the proprietors that he
did not care if he did.
Some travelling men who were at the
hotel declined to stay at a place where
negroes were fed in the main dining
room, heretofore supposed to be for the
white people. Some took conveyances
and drove to Rockingham. while all
who speak of the affair do SO with ex-
pressionS of disgust One prominent
citizen of the state while in Raleigh
yesterday said that if he had been
there he would willingly have assisted
in throwing the negroes out Of the
hotel.
While the Booker Washington negro
crowd was in the dining room being
Toasted United States Senator A. o.
Bacon. Of Georgia, and a party of
prominent Atlanta people went with
out their breakfast at Hamlet Sunday
morning, declining to use the small
a few plates were spread n Scant
preparation made.
Senator Bacon was on his way to
Wilmington and Just before the train
which left Atlanta Saturday night
reached Hamlet ave his order for
breakfast, at Hamlet to a man who
| went through the coach taking orders
from the white people. When Hamlet
was reached, Senator Bacon and the
| whites alighted and walked leisurely
to the dining room, which they oun
to their establishment was occupied eX-
clusively by Booker n his friends.
The senator and others of the late par
ty were invited to be seated in the lit
tie side nom which had been temper
arily Impoverished. A few. 1t is said,
consented. but the others preferred to
leave their appetites unsatisfied. and
the Atlanta party. with Senator Ba-
| con walked uD and down the tracks.
nursing their hunger and their wrath
| at the disgraceful affair.
| During the meal. it is reported that
a number of the local negroes of Ham
| let gathered around the windows of the
dining room and watched with much
| delight the movements of Washington
and his friends as they ate the dainty
morsels that had been prepared for
them. When the negroes had finished
| their meal they walked out. seated
| themselves. lighted cigars and cigar
cites. and waited for the train to de-
part.
The above is the first instance of the
kind to occur in our state. and the
white people should nip such negro
aggression in the bud. Booker Wash
ington should be taught at once that
he and other negroes may din with
the president or attend receptions pre-
sided over by Mrs. and Miss Roose-
welt. but they cannot play the social
equality game in this state. This
announcement should be made to them
in such positive terms that they will
not dare repeat their Hamlet perform
! ance.
The proprietor of that hotel should
be made to understand that he must
make his choice between white people
and negroes as guests: that if. he is
| going to entertain the latter he need
not expect patronage from white peo-
pie. He should be made to understand
| this thoroughly.
While there is danger to the south
from the aggressive disposition of these
educated negroes, encouraged by the
president. the country. especially the
rural districts are threatened with
danger from another class of negroes.
as is evidenced by the many infamous
crimes that have recently been COM
mitted. That the thoughtful and con-
sentative men of our state look upon
the present condition with a%pprehen-
sion the following from the Charlotte
Observer will show:
Look where you may" said a resi-
dent, you cannot avoid facing the race
question. The negro as an unSOlVed
problem confronts US here daily. Go
over to the court room n you'll see a
small sea of black faces. 1t is the col
Ored man whose crimes and misde-
meanors fill up the docket and demand
an expensive official machinery. Every
day the local papers are full of the ne
gro. They star in the recorders court
n they figure in nearly all the big
criminal cases. Three murder cases
are to be tried here this week, and the
defendants are all negroes.
The biggest desperate is no longer
a white man but a negro, Will Harris,
in this section. is the counterpart of
the Wild Bill of the long ago: and all
over the south negroes of the Harris
n Lowery type are getting to be too
COMMON. The colored man seems to be
literally breaking loose from his former
-
no greater crime than commit small
theft. but since then ne has gradually
worked himself up TO the point where
he heSitateS at no crime. The WORLD
now sees that the negro is the most