The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-13
THE EFFECT OF ROOSEVELTS So
CIAL EQUALITY PRACTICES.

Inc practlcal erect OF Roosevelt
social equality practices upon the me-
gro has been illustrated right at the
Presidents door and upon white peo-
pie who are opposed to Roosevelt
ideas. His door of hope" theory was
pushed open by negro preacher al
Oyster Bay on Saturday night and was
promptly shut by a white man, who
is, as any one could guess, a Demo-
crat.
The story is told in a special from
oyster Bay published in the New
York World on Monday morning. 1t
tells of the attempt of James T. Gas
kins, pastor of the African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church>ef Oyster Bay,
the only colored church, and leader of
the negro colony there, being forcibly
elected from a white barber shop into
which he had entered with a demand
for a shave. The negro, at the home of
Roosevelt knowing of the Presidents
entertaining negroes at his table,
tried the same game on self-respecting
white men and got the worst of it.
The incident is retold here because
it shows to what lengths Roosevelt S
social equality practices is leading the
negro. In North Carolina we have
had some notable examples of this,
known to all in the State, but here is
what takes place at Roosevelt's sum-
mer home, the bare reading of which
will teach it's own lesson, and show
the danger there is to us in the future
if this country is SO unfortunate as to
be again afflicted by Roosevelt and
his negro equality practices. But
here is the article:
Pastor Gaskin walked into the shop
of David Newport and enunciated the
Presidents theories, and in the end the
proprietor seized a polceman's club,
kept for emergencies, and rushed him
into the street.
1.-THE large negro colony in oyster
Bay, which has grown by leaps and
bounds since Mr. Roosevelt became
President, is up in arms over the in
cident, and bitter comments are being
made. Today was the first Sunday
that Pastor Gaskin has preached in
the church as resident. He came
mere from OnkeTS.
'"The new pastor is a rather dis
tinguished looking negro, of middle
age. He dresses well, and is a great
admirer of President Roosevelt. Yes
terday evening he calmly strobe into
Viewpoints barber shop in Audrey
avenue, a dozen steps from the Presi-
Dental executive offices. number of
well-known citizens were seated about
waiting for late Saturday evening
shave.
There was some surprise when a
tall and dignified negro in clerical
garb entered. Newport, the proprie-
tor, walked up to him.
"Well, what can 1 do for you?" said
the barber, who is incidentally a
Democrat. 81 would like a shave"
was the matter-of-fact response.
The tonsorial artists paused in their
work and looked up aghast, and the
customers turned from their news
papers in amazement.
"Why, you can't get shaved here"
said Newport.
And whyln ?" inquired Gaskin.
"Why-er-er, why, on account OF
your color. You see, the fact is, this
is club shop"
"Oh, no; it is not insisted the
pastor "and l desire a shave. l have
the right to be shaved
"Well, / won't shave you here" re-
torted Newport land what's more, l
don't think you can get a shave any
where in town."
Then the colored man appealed TO
the customers: Gentlemen" he said,
lis it possible that any distinction will
be made here in, the case of man of
education and character, even though
his skin is black? appeal to your
sense of fairness"
The clergyman got no further.
Newport, wild with rage, rushed to a
drawer, and drew forth a heavy bill
ly."
"You get out of here or I break
your ID black head p" he shouted,
and rushed the black man to the door
and out into the street.
The pastor went at once to the resi-
dence of Justice of the Peace Walter
Franklin and applied for a warrant
Justice Franklin told him that the
State laws were behind the negro I'M
der such circumstances, but appealed
to him to postpone action as a matter
of expediency. The Justices represen-
tations were successful but the clergy
man reported to the various leaders
in his congregation regarding the in
dignities.
The local white residents have little
to say about the incident. The BARRIERS
declare that they will 'stand pat.
Many residents here regard the Incl
Gent as a carefully prepared plan of
the negroes to put to a practical test
some of the expressions regarding
more liberal treatment of them as
contained in the Republican national
platform"
EPISCOPALIAN AND PRESBYTE-
RTAN