The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-24

Columbia, May 21.-Severe con-
demnation Of the Pullman Company
for selling negroes berths in Pullman
cars along with white people was
voiced by the South Carolina railroad
commission tonight in a letter ad-
dressed to F. b. Daniels, the general
solicitor of the company in Chicago.
by John q. Richards, the chairman.
Mr.. Richards tells the Pullman Com.
pany that he is aware of the fact that
the train on which he found a negro
man in Pullman car was an inter-
state train, but warns against the
company continuing to aggravate the
white people in this manner or else
an appeal will be made to Congress
for relief. The letter, which was made
public tonight, follows:
"On May IA, 1913, / boarded a
Pullman car at Rock Hill, S. c., for
Columbia, $. c., and was assigned by
the Pullman conductor to a berth or
seat No. IL, and was shocked to find
out that berth No. IL was occupied
by negro man. Practically every
reservation upon this car was occu.
pied by white ladies and gentlemen.
southern Railway Train No. 81.
as, of course, you know, is an inter
state train and is under national con-
troll. South Carolina, however, has
on her statute books q law which un-
dertakes to s~llrate races i'm travel
upon all trains operating in this State.
There are separate coach" laws in
every Southern State through which
this train operates and carries your
Pullman cars. While we may not be
able to reach your company for hay
ing violated the letter of our law, YOU
most certainly are guilty of a viola
ton OF its spirit and purpose, and the
railroad commission Of South Carolina
reels that 1T should express to YOU in
no uncertain terms it's condemnation
OF your conduct in selling passage t.
negroes and affording them accom-
modations on the same coaches upon
which you have white women and
white men passengers
AS you are aware, the Pullman
Companp operating in the South is
sustained almost entirely by it's white
patrons, and these do not propose to
submit to conditions which will per-
NIT negroes to occupy the same coach
eS
I'VE know full we'll that national
law requires your company to give
equal accommodation to both whites
and blacks, but there is no law which
prevents your furnishing separate ac-
commodatiOns for the races, just as
our separate coach law requires the
There are many legal ways open to
your company, that if restored to,
would remove the necessity for your
company forcing this indgnity upon
your white patrons in the South, and
the people of South Carolina will
most certainly expect you to provide
accommodations in future that will
effectually separate the races.
Through the exposure Of this re-
cent occurrence, it has been brought
to our attention that your company
has frequently within recent months
lima law. With the opening and clos
ing of the negro college at Orange
burg, $. c., we have been informed
that your company sells to negroes
reservations on the cars that you know
are occupied by white ladies and gem
tlemen.
THE railroad commission of South
Carolina is aware OF the fact that it
may entail some additional expense
upon your company to provide separ-
ate accommodations for the races
while you are operating within this
state. but we are Of the decided opin-
ion that if you do not do SO, and
speedily you will sustain far greater
loss through those who will positively
refuse to patronize your company.
I'VE wish to impress upon you this
fact: That we propose to continue To-
give this matter our personal super
vision and see to it that the people OF
], South Carolina are kept thoroughIy
informed as to what your practice is
in future, and If You DO not Volun-
tarily give us the relief, we will ap-
peal to our Representatives in Con
gress for national legislation that will
compel YOU to meet the demands oI
the white people of this state and ot