The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-08
Discusses Bishop GaIIoway's Speech on Social Equality
HAS SEEN THE COLOR LINE
Was Refused Service In Cafe and Had to Have His Club Sandwiches Served in Ills Private
 Apartments.

with several reporters who had been send ing up their cards all day only to be ds- appointed.
 T have been asked so many questions that 1 am vtry tired of discussing South American affairs" said Mundy, as he lounged around on hat peg and munch- ed a parched peanut "and if gentlemen do not object I would much prefer to
 talk of what I have seen in your great
 land of liberty"
 This was just what the reporters were seeking and they urged him to go ahead. T have been going through the files of your local papers for the past few days said Mundy. and I have read with great interest the proceedings of your educa- tional conference for the south. was particularly struck with the able addfes of Bishop Galloway on the race question and what you call social equality.
 The Negro.
 T suppose you gentlemen are aware' he continued, that in South America no such questions have disturbed the body polite and 1t has opened an entirely new field of thought to me- 1 was first ap- prised of the situation confronting you when l arrived in birmingham. l had seen numerous members of the negro race and as they very much resemble my peo- pie I naturally felt kindly towards them Not knowing the regulations regarding the color line as Bishop Galloway puts it I dropped into an uptown restaurant to get a lunch. I was promptly informed that nobody but white folks would be served. Though little embarrassed realized the situation and after purchas- ing couple of nice peanuts left for my apartments. Since that time l have had club sandwiches served In my rooms"
 The reporters expressed regret at the embarrassment caused Mundy but he told
 them he fully understood the situation and took it in good naturec manner. Question Settled.
 q see the bishop says the question has
 been settled in the south" said Mundy, with an intelligent blink of his eyes.
 and there will continue 10 be separate
 schools for the whites and blacks. guess he Is right for it was settled as far as I was concerned and If the pres ent regulations are rigidly maintained In the future there will certainly be no op- portunity for the blacks 10 butt in, as
 they say in the carnival zoo.
 Tn South America we have no color line as all of us are about the same color 5 Black monkeys have the same chance at cocoanuts as the lighter ones and when a campaign is begun for a new govern ment we all join forces and reap the Q benefits alike If we had a race question n in addition to our other government ques- ton in South America I am afraid our
 revolutions would be too numerous to get s favorable mention in the dispatches of . the Associated Press. By the way this = method of free advertising Is one of the e strongest incentives for changing the gov, s ernment every few days.
 d T notice from the files of the local pa- I pers," continued Mundy, that this man
 Roosevelt whom you have TOT President . Is a great friend of the black man and n wants him treated as a socral equal of = the white or something 10 that effect. l. That would be easy to handle In South e America All that would be necessary for l, him to stick to the blacks would be tc join their forces and work for them. He
 would soon assume the same color and in few years could not be distinguished from the real article If ne is in doubt 3 about the color line and thinks he can change it he ought to bring his black friend down here and invite him to din ner in one of your cafes. I fear the friend would have to take to peanuts as I did
 and have his sandwiches served at home. Cannot Understand.
 "one thing I cannot understand, l ,, ,l
 an educational conference Is necessary for
 the south Do they have one for the
 north? l understand, however that 1t
 Is great opportunity for advertising and
 that Is recognized as of great value even
 in my native country of South America
 "A gentleman in the educational party
 said Mundy, 'I find is the manufacturer
 of a canned product and floods the coun-
 try with ideas of the advantage of pur-
 chasing his particular product. That is
 very clever and will help wonderfully
 to educate your people. l understand
 that still another gentleman along with
 the educators has gotten up the idea of
 starting a cotton mill to be worked by
 negroes According to his plan he pro-
 poses to be one of the paid officials of the ' company and reap a small part of the ' dividends. This of course will be a great boon to the education of the negro in the :, south.
 |, "I find that the real reason for a color line in the south concluded Mundy, T lis because you cant help 1t. In other , words your negroes are not the equal
 of the whites socially or intellectually, ! and MT. Roosevelt can't make them so ! believe the negro would feel out of place ! on an equal footing with the white man - and the color line rises of it's own ac. 3 cord. You people, both black and white
 seem to be satisfied, so I can't exactly : understand what the trouble Is. ! "I will look into your affairs at lengtf :. while l am here and we'll be very glad tt ' talk to you when I am more conversan @ with your customs"
 \, Mundy invited the reporters to join min s in grass lunch on the lawn, but few O. s 1. the young men were In a position to ac Ii cept. They also recognized the colo ,t line.