The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-12
CHARGE FAVORITISM
WITH NEGRO BARS
18th Street Petitioners Flock
to Mayor
FIGHT IN COUNCIL COMING
Excise Committee VIII Thresh Over the
Matter and May Have to Recall
Licenses Recently
Issued.
FIGHT IN COUNCIL COMING

The excise committee of the City Coun-
Gil is facing a great PROPOSITION, and to
properly solve It is causing a deal Of
thought.
As Is remembered, Thursday afternoon,
the committee held a meeting for tho
purpose of acting upon numerous petit
tons from holders Of white" saloon
license for "coloredo license, In addition.
The committee, after that meeting,
agreed to let one or more saloons on
Eighteenth street sell to negroes from
the rear, the provision being that no
seats should be placed IN the portions
reserved for negro patronage. Other pro-
visions were made to accord with which
the committee believed impossible for
any other petitioners that might come be-
fore the board.
Immediately after notification was given
that negroes could obtain drinks from
some saloons on Eighteenth street. others
desiring the same privileges visited the
Mayors office. These petitioners fol-
lowed each other in such regularity, that
there was a continual procession through
out the day. Each petitioner agreed to
bind himself with the same conditions
with which those favored few were
bound.
They claimed that IL one saloon proprie-
tor was favored on Eighteenth street,
any others SO desiring should be. They
limited that no favoritism or Partially
should be shown
The Mayor tried to explain to each the
prevailing conditions, but this only en-
couraged argument.
1t is now necessary to call another
meeting of the excise committee. The
date for this meeting has not as yet been
set.
People Were Pleased.
1t is remembered that when the origi-
nal report OF the committee having the
granting of whisky licenses in charge was
made, the negro saloon proprietor was
eliminated throughout the city, and on
Eighteenth street, which has been a sore
spot with the city for so many years
ON account of the perpetual gathering Of
negroes, no saloon having colored privi-
leges was allowed This was hailed with
delight throughout the city, and the May
or was congratulated on every hand. Il
was pointed out that these gatherings of
tho coored population on Eighteenth
street had been nuisance for a long
number of years, and that ladies COM
PEELED to pass along that street en- route
to their business, or going or returning
from theatres, We're annoyed considerably.
So when 1t was learned that no negro
saloons were to operate there, there was
much delight throughout the city.
Scrap In Council.
At the meeting of the excise commit
tee Thursday afternoon, one or more
licenses were granted for negro privi-
leges. The committee bound the favored
proprietors to have no seats in their
places, to sell a drink and then compel
the purchaser to move on Immediately
after he had refreshed himself, and to
other agreements. 1t was thought that
no others could comply with these re-
strictions, and for that reason, the flood
which did come would be impossible.
However, the flood of petitioners did
arrive, and now the excise committee will
have to grant numerous privilenges on
Eighteenth street or reconsider it's action
on Thursday. This matter will be
threshed out within the next few days. II
Is rumored that an interesting bout In the
council will follow on this subject.