The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-01-22
Northern Born Minister Says
Hotel Action Hanks Back
to Mason and Dixon Line
Dispute.

Editor the Herald:
Without pretending to understand
more than the vaguest hint of what
is meant by the theory of RELATIVELY,
we may observe one practical DEM
onstration in the life of this city.
If we may do so without wounding
the pride of other communities in
our county, we may say that Belling-
ham is the one city farthest removed
geographically from the Mason
Dixon line of any in the United
States. Apparently. however, our ac-
tual living distance is entirely rela-
tive. And it would appear that we
are much closer than may have been
suspected.
Meaning to assume no self-right-
eous or superior air towards any
other part of the country, we may
yet remark upon the plain fact that
in the Old South one expects to find
the color line" drawn. Indeed, we
shall have to confess that the ex-
perience is not at all limited to that
section. Still, we might have hoped
that in this far northwest corner of
the country we were remote enough
to have our own particular prejudices
without adding the Jim Crow spirit
as well. Imagine, then, the consterna-
ton with which some of us discover
that when Marian Anderson came to
our city this week she was refused
lodging in either of our principal no.
tells. The reason, of course, was her
color; no one imagines that we are
under-supplied with hotel rooms
these days. So we find that we are
really living neXt-door, as it were,
to the Mason-Dixon line.
The discrimination in this case is
particularly offensive because or
the circumstances. Here was young
lady possessing artistic ability of
the rarest sort. Her voice alone was
proof that whatever men may do,
God draws no color line when he dis
tributes talents. As for her person.
atty, anyone in Wednesday nights
audience knows that she has refine
ment and culture coupled with a
modesty which many in her audi
ences might envy. If know any,
thing about hotel patrons, there is
not single hotel in this city which
does not admit patrons every day
that are less worthy of respect than
Miss Anderson. But it seems that
she committed the objectionable So
cial error of being born of colored
parents, wherefore there is no space
for her in the hotels which we have
heralded as such great community
assets. The incident is dimly reminis-
cent of the time that President
Roosevelt so outraged the polite SEN
sibilities of many good citizens by
inviting Booker T. Washington to a
meal at the White House. That was
around quarter-century ago and
the world did not come to an end in
spite of the horror of some of the
critics. Perhaps the policy of our no.
tel management is that artistic
ability or culture has nothing to do
with the case, color being color in
spite of all else. should be inclined
to agree with such a position, MAX
ing it reason for discarding the
color-line entirely. But | had mag
ined that perhaps our hotels might
see the absurdity of the discrimina-
ton in this case if not in all cases.
The contrast between the policy
of the hotels and the Young Wom-
ems Christian Association, which was
glad to entertain Miss Anderson, is
certainly all in favor of that latter
organization, which receives and de-
serves community confidence.
The hotel management may in
sst that it is its business to deter
mine matters of policy. While that
is true, it cannot be denied that no.
tells are in certain sense public
utility. They must of necessity con-
slider the effect of their policies
upon community welfare. In such a
case as this, the hotels action re-
fleets most unfortunately upon the
good sense of the city at large. We
are, TO a considerable degree, due
to be judged as city by this really
offensive act of the hotel manage
ment. The incident quite bellies all
the proud boasts we have made
about the cultural progress and
high intelligence of the City of Bell
ingham.
do not wish to be disrespectful
nor would ! seem hostile to the no.
tel management. What little | have
known of the organization has made
me suppose that it was reasonably
competent and worthy of respect. So
far as personalities go, have only
the greatest regard for those in
charge. But of such policy as this I
can only feel most regretful. Nor
could ] forbear giving expression to
nv protest, while calling attention to
the contrast offered by the Y. W..
c. A. and the hotels.