The Detroit times., 1909-07-27
FIGHTS WHOLE
CITY FOR BRIDE
Husband Will Spend Fortune to Sc
Z cure Recognition of Wife, Who
Has Stain of Negro Blood.

MUSkOGEE. Okla. July 26.--The
lengths to which white people. below
the Mason and Dixon line. vii. 20 10
crafty their prejudice against the Ne
gro IL exemplihed In the unusual case
OF the bride OF VIM. G. Uphoff OF this
city. The woman. according To her
husband, has a strain OF one sixteenth
Negro blood Her husband was re.
spected real estate dealer OF East 50.
Louis. H.. before their marriage. three
months ago. The woman Is fair.skin.
ned and as radiantly healthful and
wholesome AS any woman OF Musko-
gee. The only sign OF the African
blood Is her thick. black wavy hair,
When Uphoff brought his bride here.
where he was well known and owns
property. he introduced her TO his
friends and they accepted her as
charming. natural. well-bred and well.
educated young woman. The Uphoffs
occupied suite In the popular hotel
or the city and they received their
friends there and accepted the usual
courtesies.
BY some unknown means II was
learned that Mrs. Uphoff had Negro
blood In her veins. That moment per
secution OF the couple began from all
sides. and this has caused the young
husband to enter into remarkable
contest with adverse public opinion.
Admits II 10 True.
The day following the spread OF the
rumor that the woman was tainted.
the hotel proprietor demanded that
Uphoff declare as to the truth OF the
report. Uphoff admitted the truth He
was told TO pay his bill and leave the
hotel He declined 10 go. Presently
a policeman appeared at the Uphon
apartment with a warrant for the ar
rest OF the couple for alleged violation
OF the Jim Crow" law Uphor and
his wife then left the hotel. rhe com
plant against them was Withdrawn
later.
The bridegroom announced that he
would spend every dollar he possess
ed and use every resource at his com
mand to force Muskogee 10 recognize
his bride.
He carried his case to the newspa
pers. They answered that the racial
distinctions must be observed.
With his back 10 the wall Uphoff lie
fed the newspapers. He appealed TO
his friends. He insisted that his bride
was as good as the wife of any white
man In Muskogee; that she was FAR
more accomplished and physically he
ceptable than most Quite naturally.
that was the worst attitude he could
have assumed. That the young WON
an was educated and refined nona de-
MED. but-well. there was the six
teenth" The outward marks indubt-
ably had missed the present genera
ton. But the next?
Uphoff, deserted, doggedly refusing
TO accept the thumbs down" of the
public, continued the fight for MS
wife's position. He announced his in
tention OF buying a home in the fash
ionable East side residence section OF
Muskogee, He began TO spend his
money. as he had promised.
mot In the Market"
But there were no houses or lots
for sale In the east side" rhe real
estate dealer went TO Office after Office
OF his former friends. and WAS met
with the same answer: Not In the
market"
Uphoff took his bride to a small no.
tel. which accepted them. He appear
ed on the street with his bride She
was always gowned tasteful,y. One
day the couple boarded stree car.
Instinctively they knew II was to be
a test. So did the other passengers.
So did the conductor
InsOklahoma, as In many southern
states, the street cars are divided into
two sections one for whites and the
other for Negroes. The division Is
indicated by wooden sign that slides
on the ratings overhead. The conduc-
tor acted respectfully, but promptly.
He motioned the young couple to the
Jim Crow section. There was one
other alternative. and the couple took
II. They left the car
Uphoff has not given up Here Is
what he has said he will do-said II
I'm half-page newspaper advertise
ments: Il will exhibit my wife To
the public. The public itself shall eth
er vindicate or condemn my selection.
| will abide by the decision"
The advertisements have stirred
Muskogee. Exhibit his wife, VIII
the authorities permit 1t?
why not?" asks Uphoff in his
newspaper campaign Why not?
Uphoffs unique plan. briefly, Is his:
To determine whether the public Is
really sincere In its condemnation OF
his wife he will place her on the plat
form OF the big convention hall. Each
admission ticket entities the bearer
to one vote. The ballot" Is as fol-
lows Should She Have Married a
Negro?"
In an interview Uphof promised TO
make the ultimatum Of the public. via
the ballot box final. He said he would
retire to the country II the vote were
against him.