The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-18

population of about 5000 persons. It Is alleged by the antagonists Of the negroes that their number has rendered the col ored voters a political factor, which has received attention from leaders of both leading parties.
 Negroes Too Bold.
 They were getting too bold and im- pudent," said a well known hotel man to- day People outside the city cannot realize Just how offensive this was. The people of the state at large will discover that the outbreak of last Friday was not the result of momentary irritation, a temporary ebullition of violence superin- duced by the heat. The undercurrent of resentment growing for years needed only a pretext and the assault on a white woman furnished that pretext. The streets are quiet now, but troops are here but that is no assurance that the question is settled. For the most part the people would have liked to have seen the matter settled without the interven- tion of the soldiery. The fact that this trouble Is causing business men losses of thousands of dollars daily in loss of trade does not help matters. Personally, think that Governor Deneen's stand for the protection of the negro is correct, but the average workingman has little sym pathy with it"
 The tone of this interview is similar to most others had by newspaper men today. Barbers, street car men, miners laborers and the common run of people met on the street, talked in a similar vein.
 Gen. Young himself has had numer- ous talks with representative citizens in all walks of life, and he has amend ed his first opinion that a few days of patrol here would be sufficient to re- store normal conditions. When asked today what he thought would be the probable duration of the stay Of the troops the general shook has head. He could put no limit on the time.
 All Going Out.
 The Illinois traction system and va rious railroads are not bringing colored people into the city, but outgoing cars are still crowded with the blacks. De- catur, Peoria, Bloomington and the smaller neighboring towns are having their colored population increased.
 Governor Deneen's proclamation ask ing that negroes return to Springfield and not enter other cities, seems to be of no avail.
 A statement from several prominent hotel men this morning brings out the fact that negroes are not wanted as walters, porters and bell boys at the Springfield hostelries
 Proprietor John H. McCreery of the St. Nicholas said this morning.
 This trouble makes 1t very nearly impossible for us to employ colored help at this time. If we do a mob might attempt to take them from the hotel. We are making every effort to secure white help"
 It is not only the St. Nicholas that is devoid of porters and roustabouts. The Leland hotel, where negroes were extensively employed as walters, Is this morning without help.
 The few colored people who remain in Springfield are of the better class. Many of them would leave, but are staying to protect the cir property. A correspondent of the Associated Press accompanied Gen. Young on a tour of inspection tonight during which all the posts were visited.
 All stores are still closed promptly at nightfall, and the embargo on liquor selling is complete. Even hotels are not allowed to serve intoxicants to reg ular guests and the clubs are similarly situated.