The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-12-01
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Florida State News. &
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Jlm crow Law peeIared Valld.


The now famous Jim Crow law
passed by the Pensacola city council
some weeks ago received its first test
few days ago before Court Commits
siOner Coston and was held to be
legal in every respect. AS a cOnse-
quence L. B. Groom, a negro preacher,
who was arrested for violating the
law, languishes in Jail and will re,
main there for thirty days, having
been sentenced by the lower court
to serve this time for violating the
law.
The state law passed by the legisla.
ture separating the races was recent
~ declared unconstitutional by the
State Supreme Court and soon after.
ward the council of Pensacola passed
an ordinance somewhat similar, only
changing those portions which the su.
preme court had declared unconstitu.
tional.
The negroes of the city immediate
ly raised a fund to fight the law, and
and one Of their number, Rev. L. B.
Groom, volunteered to violate the or.
! dinance in order to make the test. He
did So was arrested, sentence to thir.
IT, days at hard labor, and appealed
the case, giving bond for his appear
ance.
Recently, however, the colored peo-
pie decided upon another move, hav.
ing employed colored lawyers. The
bondsmen of Groom surrendered him
to the marshel of the city, and habeas
corpus proceedings were Immediately
instituted. The case came up for
hearing a few days ago before the
court commissioner, and later he rem
dered his decision. declaring the ordi.
nance to the legal and remanding
Groom to the custody of the marshal
TO serve the thirty days.
The following prescntment OF the
grand jury of st. Johns as read in open
court at st. Augustine, fully explains
itself: "The grand jury in strong
language condemns the present court.
house, and the sentiment expressed
by that august body is echoed by
nearly every resident of st. Johns
county. In the face OF these strong
condemnation proceedings. the author
tiles Of the county cannot avoid imme
date action, and new courthouse Is
practically assured. In fact, there is
talk that work on the new building
may begin this winter. The improve.
ment cannot come too soon, according
to the public opinion here"
The contract has been let to the
Wilmer Manufacturing Company for a
ten-ton ice plant for starke, to be in.
stalled and in working order by March
/, 1906. The necessary amount of
stock has been sold and cash paid in
to warrant this step. The last four
years has produced great results in
Starke in the regard to public i'm.
provements. Telephone, electric
lights. waterworks, long distance tel.
ephone, and now comes an ice plant,
and steam laundry. A spool cotton mill
will be the next thing in order
Another business enterprise was or.
ganized at West Palm Beach the past
week, when the Florida Concrete Man.
utacturing Company came into exis.
tence. The company will be incorpor.
nted with a capital stock OF $4,000, |
and it's object will be the manufacture
Of all kinds OF cement blocks for |
building. paving and other purposes.
The Turpentine Operators Associa.
ton will hold its fifth annual conven- |
ton in the Board Of Trade auditorium,
jacksonville, Fla, December and I, |
1905. Reduced railroad rates will 20 |
into effect on the Attn from all points
in Florida. Georgia. North and South,
Carolina. Alabama. Mississippi and |
Louisiana east OF the Mississippi |
river.
According TO pTearranged program,
Secretary Of the Treasury Shaw. &C.
companied by Mrs. shaw. Chief Willis
Moore OF the Weather Bureau and
Mrs. Moore. visited the Florida State
Fair at Tampa. Secretary Shaw Wis.
tied Reyeral biR Cigar factories In tba