The San Francisco call., 1908-04-15
NEGROES WANT TO
DRAW COLOR LINE
Fleet Committee Assents to the
Plan for Entertainment
of ColOred Sailors

Despite efforts of Walter Macarthur
and members Of the committee on en-
tertainment of enlisted men to avoid
making any distinction between white
and negro sailors Of the battleship
fleet in the program for their reception,
the color line was sharply drawn yester-
day, and by colored people OF San
Francisco and Oakland at that.
The issue has been brewing for some
time, but 1T came to a head at meet
Ing of the committee yesterday, when
1T was decided to hold separate enter
talnments and separate functions for
the negro sailors, where they will be
received by people of their own race,
while the white bluejackets are enter
tained as guests of the ladies of the
California club. The action was taken
at the request OF Rev. J. Fl. Kelly. pas
tor of the Third Baptist church. col
ored, of this city, who declared that 1t
would be Impossible for all to be enter
tanned together because of the deep
race feeling that would be sure to man
ifest itself and be stirred into abrupt
dissension. There are nearly 500 COL
ored men on the warships.
At the meeting there was also r. L
Thomas, colored man from Oakland,
representing rival faction of the col
ored people. and 1t developed that be-
tween him and Kelly. Of the church ele-
ment, there was bitter strife When
the committee agreed to turn over to
Kelly all plans for the entertainment
of the negro jackies, Thomas deliber-
ately insulted Macarthur and the COM
mittee. He had previously been d.
rected to make an estimate of the cost
Of a dance which he proposed to give
the sailors. He said that he wanted
$500 for the purpose.
I'VE can't let you have that much
for We haven't the money to give you."
said Macarthur. Besides, we have
made arrangements with Kelly to ar
range program
This man Kelly is q clergyman Of
some kind, and we don't want the sort
Thomas in q loud voice. why can't
you give US the money? You can't
have any entertainment at all IL you
doat pay fer 1t. We don't want a
church entertainment for our sailors,
because we're Bohemians-like you,
Macarthur"
Il am not a Bohemian and never
have BEEN" retorted Macarthur quietly
keeping his temper. IF you have plans
that can be used and present them they
will be considered" During the rest of
the session Thomas was ignored.
Members of the committee told
Kelly, the colored preacher, that they
had all along tried carefully to avoid
any semblance of color distinction.
Kelly declared that efforts had been
made by tenderloin negroes to create q
color line in order to get the sailors
and their money. Finally. after some
discussion, 1t was agreed to reserve the
auditorium for the colored people ex-
clusively for the day and night OF
Wednesday, May 13.
At that time a big dance Will prob
ably be given the negro sailors. The
committee told Kelly that they would
provide a band for the occasion, decora-
tons for the walls and refreshments
and would do everything in their power
to make the event a big success.
But negro sailors will be free to COM
pete in all the athletic events on an
equal footing with their white COM
rades. Macarthur declared that no dis
tinctions would be permitted there, and
that the sailor clubhouse will also be
open to them.