The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-25
LIKE A BOOMERANG
The ''Jim Crow Car" Law in New
Orleans a Source Of Pecuniary
Loss to the Whites.
"A Suggestion That Division on
Glass Lines Would Be Fairer,
Though Impossible.

+ : On NOV. 5 the d I'M crow, or separate
street car, law went into effect in New
Orleans. This law was passed at the last
session of the Louisiana legislature. BY
its terms the street railway companies
are compelled to use separate cars for
the carrying of white and colored passeng-
ers, OF to fit the cars with wire screens
or wooden partitions.
When the bill was introduced by Mr..
Wilson, Of Tangipahoa parish--a parish by
the way that hasn't street car line III it
there followed a perfect hail storm of
editorials and letters to the press some
condemning or approving such law in
toto, others discussing certain phases of
OF deductions from the law and it's oper-
alton. One Of the most surprising things
about the discussion was the fact that
popular opinion, SO far as both races were
concerned, was about equally divided on
the matter. So strong, indeed, was the
| opposition that at one time the bill came
near not passing, and had it not been for
the fact that in Louisiana the negro is prac-
tically without political influence, it is
almost certain that it would not have
passed. In support of the measure there
| was, however, a strong following. 1t is
| neither unjust nor Inaccurate to say that
this following was made up principally of
those who dislike the negro because he is
| the negro. This fact is indicated in the
chief argument advanced by those sup
porting the measure, i. G., that refined
women and men were forced to- sit by
and rub elbows with negroes.
| Those who opposed the passage of the
bill were led by one of the oldest, most
conservative and representative daily
newspapers in the south. They declared
that such a law was neither necessary nor
expedient. 1t is a well known fact that
negroes getting on street cars choose to
sit by negroes rather than by white peo-
pie, and particularly is this SO in the case
| of the badly dressed or otherwise Objec-
| tionab1ei kind. There are. to be sure,
negroes Who. pushing themselves forward,
choose to sit by the best, the cleanest,
and the most refined people in the car,
but these negroes, as a rule, are them
selves Clean, well dressed, and, in some
. cases, refined. On the whole, therefore,
it was thought to be very unusual that
a. negro would prefer to sit by a white
l person. and more SO that a white per-
son would be compelled to sit by a
negro who, on account of his dress or I'M
l cleanliness, was obnoxious. Under the
circumstances the passage of the law was
thought to be clearly unnecessary. And
being unnecessary, it was ineXpedient
since,s without subscribing any good pur-
pose, it would certainly provoke i'll feel
/ ing and possibly friction between the
races, as used to happen when the famous
star cars Of the fifties and sixties were
operated. s'. -
9@To understand the different opinions ex.
pressed regarding the law: by severa
groups of negroes in New Orleans it is
| necessary to say word about the negroes
themselves. One group, that which is
conducting the educational campaign re
Gently described in The Outlook, favored
the passage of the bill, but took no active
part in the discussions. With view tt
bringing about a friendlief feeling between
the races, it is probableithat these negroe!
would have' advocated openly the separate
car system had not a large number O.
5 their own race been strongly opposed t.
the measure It was fear of alternating
5 these, and Of destroying the growing in
f1uence for good alredy existing, that thi
group of negroes kept silent. With hard
~ an exception, they kept away from TIN
l1neetings and refused to discuss the CUES
ton except privately or by anonymou
: communications to the press.
Another group of intelligent negroes
tile class that take the leading part in tn
! various non religious organizations, open
i ly opposed the bill, and took steps, afte
it was passed, to prevent the law affectin,
t. the negro population. An association o
: women attached to the Masonic orde
proposed to run bus lines to accommo
date negro passengers. and issued a cal
], to the fifty or more negro organizations il
: New Orleans to send representatives t
q, meeting at which the question would b.
considered. Unfeasible the schen1
was, it nevertheless appealed strongly t
= the negroes, and at the meetings repre-
!, sentativ2s from nearly all the organiza
: tionS were present. ..-,. -.s,z
1t was apparent from the discussion
= that the ruling passion" back of it al
o was sense Of deep humiliation that ne
groes as a race should be considered I'm
worthy to ride in cOnveyances with whit
people. The railway companies had an
nounced their intention of putting wir
> screens in every car, and to have negroe
: occupy the rear seats. This idea of sittin
e behind screens, as if they were wild Q