Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-07-14

TO the fact that while I objected TO
his amendment I'm the original form
when ne offered the amendment
which was engrafted upon the bill
by the Senate-the amendment to
the amendment offered by the Sen
ator from Missouri stated the
fact that. so far as ] was prepared
then to judge. that phraseology was
satisfactory. recognizing, as I DID.
that while the local communities
ought to be left free to Judge for
themselves as TO the separation Of
races. where parties paid the same
rate OF fare they were entitled to
equally as good accommodations.
| wish to add in this connection.
Mr. President. Il is true in Georgia
that the cars furnished FOR the ne
groes are exactly OF the same type
OF car which are furnished for the
whites. There are some rare excep
tions possibly on some few little To-
cal trains. but as 20 the general prac-
tice they are exactly of the same
type, one Immediately adjoining the
other.
! wish % add. further, that in the
State of Georgia there is absolutely
NO dissatisfaction by the negro race
on account OF the accommodations
which are furnished 20 them by the
railroads. They are perfectly con-
tent with them. They have every
reason 10 be content with them: and
any suggestion 10 the contrary ema-
mates solely from those who desire
TO make mischief.
Mr.. FORAKER. Mr.. President. |
/ know nothing about what the facts |
are. ! know / received a great ma
ny letters from the South indicating
the contrary, and quite a number OF |
them came from the State OF Geor-
gia. There may have been no truth |
in them. / am not discussing wheth |
er they were true or not. am only |
what I did when I was |
advised that unequal accommoda-
tions were furnished.
Among other letters which I re-
ceived was one from a very intelli- |
gent colored man who is attending |
a law school in Boston. His home, |
however, I am advised, is in New
Orleans He is Mr.. Charles p. Ford |
In answer TO him. / wrote a letter, |
which j ask to have read at tae desk /
and then, as a sample Of the letters |
that | was receiving and have been
receiving from many places in the |
South, | want 10 have read also, in |
so far as il has relation 10 that. a |
letter from Rev. II. II. Key. Of Nash |
Vile, Tenn. Let the Secretary first
read my letter 10 Mr. Ford and then
read the letter OF Mr.. Key.
Mr.. TILLMAN. VIII the Senator |
consent just TO have them-printed? |
We can read them in the Record
Mr.. FORAKER. Very well. they
may be printed
Mr.. BACON. If the Senator will
pardon me, want TO suggest a fact.
The law In Georgia (and / presume
IL is so in other Southern States) |
does not permit a white man to ride
in the car set apart for the negroes, |
no more than IL permits negro to |
ride in car with the whites. The
only distinction is that the white /
man is perfectly content to be de- |
barred from the car in which the |
colored people ride. whereas a great |
many negroes are not content unless |
they are permitted to ride in the
ears Set apart for the white.
Mr.. FORAKER will say 10
the Senator. If he has any appreAen-
sion on that point, / have not re-
ceived any letters from white people /
living in Georgia protesting against
being compelled to ride in "Jim
Grow" cars
Mr.. BACON. II the Senator knew
the people OF Georgia as well as
do, that assurance would not be
needed.
Mr.. FORAKER. am sure of
that. SO far as the colored man is
/ am not going to take
up, now the subject of his rights for
I only want 10 say that
when offered this amendment I did
1t in answer to Just such appeals as
have sent TO the desk, which will
appear in the Record tomorrow
for the benefit OF any who
may see fit to read; appeals which
came TO us, and have come from in
telligent men and reputable men. a.
gainst whom nothing can be said ex.
cept only that they are black men:
and that i am not going to urge as
an objection against any man. They
say that the cars furnished them.
for which they must pay precisely
the same fare as white men pay for
the service rendered to them and
the accommodations they get. are
so unequal that IL is almost an i'm.
20 ride In them with any
cnmforf M