Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-16
THE COLOR
 LINE HERE.
Washington Minis
 ter Refused Rooms
He is to Speak at the Sec ond Congregational Church TO-Night- Turn ed Down by Four Hotel Clerks To-Day.

Because I was sblack and they didn't like my color, the proprietors or clerks in four hotels in this city re- fused to rent a room to me during my short stay in this city Such was the statement made to Democrat re porter to-day by the Rev A. c. Garner, pastor of the Plymouth Congregations al church (colored) of Washington, D.. C.. who will speak at the Second Con- gregational church in this city and will tell of the work that is being done among the negroes in the south by the Congregational Missionary so- ciety. Rev MT Garner continued as follows: II was thunderstruck at the treatment. It was all the more surprising and astonishing because it was so unexpected. I had not antic- ipated that any such race hatred or aversion to colored people prevailed in this city Or I would not have come here. When I was refused at the first hotel could hardly believe it possible. but when I was refused at three others and all of them the lead- ing hotels in the city, was complete ly mortified I was keenly disap- pointed and felt so much aggrieved that l telephoned to t~e Rev Dr Day. enport that I did not think that I would remain in the city, that would have to disappoint the audience as I was unable to secure lodgings at any of the hotels. pr Davenport pre- vailed upon me to remain and sue ceeded in securing a room for me at the Hotel Chelsea. I can only say that the treatment accorded me by the hotel keepers is not "a bit better than that which the negroes receive in Alabama, Mississippi and o4.,er parts of the south. where the race feeling is very bitter. I would expect to re ceive such treatment in the south, but not in Waterbury. I have witnessed lynchings in the south, but I have never been so affected as I was yes terday afternoon when was refused room at four hotels"
 Rev MT Garner is a clergyman of more than the ordinary degree of inr felligence. He is at present engaged by the Congregational Missionary as sociation to> make a tour of the north and tell about the work of the assocf- ation among the negroes in the south. This is the object of his visit to Wa terbrry. He arrived here yesterday afternoon and went to the Broadway hotel to rent room He was told that the house was full He then went to the Connecticut, Exchange and the Waterbury, and was given the same answer. At the Waterbury hotel he had registered and was about to be shown to his room by the young man at the desk when an elder " man, whom the clergyman thinks was the proprietor, appeared and said that he could have no room as all were taken. Then it was that Rev Mr Garner telephoned to Dr Daven- port, stating that he was about to leave the city, with the result that lodgings were secured for him at the Chelsea. No. it was not because all the rooms were taken that I was re- fused,' Rev Mr Garner stated to-day. S'That was only an excuse They do not like the fact that was born in the evening and not in the morning. have been in other cities in Connec- ticut and in Massachusetts, but I have met with no such treatment But I have encountered similar trouble before in certain parts of the north. When was student in Chicago I was refused a meal at restaurant. I brought suit and se- cured judgment against the proprie- tor. In Atlantic City. two years ago. another clergyman and myself were refused meals at restaurant But notwithstanding my treatment here, I think Waterbury is nice city"