The Detroit times., 1909-07-26

Husband Will Spend Fortune to Sc
cure Recognition of Wife. Who
Has Strain of Negro Blood. q


MUSKOGEE.+okia.. July 2s-The
lengths 10 which white people. below
the Mason and Dixon line, vii. 40 10
crafty their prejudice against the Ne
gro ID exemplifed In the unusual case
OF the bride OF VIM. c. Uphof. OF this
city. The woman. according To her
husband. has strain of one-sixteenth
Negro blood. Her husband was re-
spected real estate dealer OF East ~.
Louis. ILL.,, before their marriage. three
months ago. The woman Is fairskin.
ned and as radiantly healthful and
wholesome az 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 we'll known and owns
property. he introduced her 10 his
friends and they accepted her as a
charming. natural. well-bred and well
educated young woman. The Uphoffs
occupied suite In the popular hotel
OF 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 IA remarkable
contest with adverse public opinion.
Admits II Is True.
The day following the spread OF the
rumor that the woman was tainted.
the hotel proprietor demanded that
IN ha fr,ifb ~
report. UphofY admitted the truth He
was told to pay his bill and leave the
hotel He declined to GO Presently
a policeman appeared AT the Uphoff
apartment with warrant for the ar
rest OF the couple for alleged violation
OF the Jim Crow" law. Uphofr and
his wife then left the hotel rbe com.
plant against them was Withdrawn
later
The bridegroom announced that he
would spend every dollar he possesj-
ed and use every resource at his com.
mand TO force Muskogee to 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 Ne.
fed the newspapers. He appealed TO
his friends. He insisted that his bride
was as good az the wife OF any white
man In Muskogee: that she was FAR
more accomplished and physically ac-
ceptable than most. Quite naturally.
that was the worst attitude he could
have assumed That the young WON
an was educated and refined none &C.
MED. but--well. there WAS the six
tenth The outward marks lndubit-
ably had missed the present genera
ton. But the next?
Uphoff. deserted. doggedly refusing
10 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.
e,. ."Not IN the Market"
But there were no houses or lots
for sale In the east side" The real
estate dealer went to Office after otfico
OF his former friends. and WAS met
with the same answer: Not In the
market"
Uphoff took his bride to small ho-
tel which accepted them. He appear
ed on the street with his bride. She
was always gowned tasteful'y. One
day the couple boarded street car.
Instinctively they knew It was to he
a test So did the other passengers.
So did the conductor.
In Oklahoma 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 a 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
In 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 IL?
why not?" asks Uphoff in his
newspaper campaign. Why not?
UphofYs unique plan, briefly. Is His
To determine whether the public is
really sincere In It's condemnation OF
his wife he will place her on the plat
form of the big convention hall Each
admission ticket entities the bearer
10 one vote The ballot" Is as fol-
lows: Should She Have Married Il
Negro"
In an interview Uphoff 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.