The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1937-12-10
FACTS AND TRUTH AS TOLD
FORUM REPRESENTATIVE
CONCERNING DISCRIMINATION
CASE IN GREENE COUNTY


one Martha Barron (white) an em-
nloyee Of the +. y. Cosmos Ice
Cream Company, operators Of store
for the sale OF merchandise and q
place OF accommodation, denied TO
Miss Louise Algee, colorcd County
Health Nurse, and Mrs. Mary +.
Valentine. colored County juvenile
Officer (the first two colored women
i the county in these capacities)
citizens of Greene County and the
state Of Ohio, the full enjoyment OIL
the accommodations advantages, ia
cilities and privileges thereof TO be
granted alike to all citizens regard
lass of race, color, Or creed, and
thereupon did deny such privileges ~
aforesaid to both county workers by
overchargine each party aad retaln--
mo money in excess Of the pubic
list price for merchandise IS pnl'-
rh1SaG HI P&GtsSN ~ Rh338s Ns'si 1t'isst
purchasing the same articles.
These two young women are well
known III civic and fraternal circles
throughout the state IF Ohio Both
are college graduates. Miss Algee be-
ina j member Of the Alpha Kappa
Alpha sofity, and Mrs Valentine a
member Of the Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, and National Welfare 49,
sociations,
In going about their work, many
simes ii is found inconvenienf 70
rush back To Wilberferce for lunch,
At times they eat lunch u Xenia On
this day II November fifth, about
i 30 pm, Il was pouring rain. ana
il passing the 7. q. Cosmos Ice
Cream Company on Main Street,
xenla, IN the business saetlon of
the civ. and tbe business being closer
to the Court House, Miss Algee de-
cided to have j matted milk. Mrs.
Valentine, desiring TO talk oyer
ease with Miss Algee, parked her
car and went into the store hoping V
discuss the same with her. Mrs.
valentine also ordered matted milk.
rhe price publicly listed on the wal
for matted mlks was 10 cents ans
lis .cents. Both ordered % cent
malts Miss Barron then attempted
10 serve The women IN paRef bags
and stated that her instructions were
ia charge whatever she saw IT Y
the patrons were colofed Miss
Barron then kept fifty cents gwen
her b. Miss Algee, and twenty-five
cents given by Mrs. Valentine No
cbanpe Was returned, and after many
yords 80 pleading and insistance Tor
the change Justly due the customers
she stated, her employer had m
structed her 81 do as she had Just
done. She was sorry, but these were
her orders Both workers OF the
county then felt this was an injustice
as they were orderly and clean and
rood citizens. About this time, other
customers began to enter the store
both colored and white. The young
women told them Of the injustice and
embarrassment to them, and asked
if said customers thought this sort
Of thing was right. The two women
took the names Of the customers and
their addresses, and then stated they
would stay there, If it took all night,
for the return Of their money. About
this time, they thought of having the
manager called from Springfield, that
he might state himself that he did
not wish the colored trade, especially
since this store is situated in a posi-
tion where it has received the greater
part Of its trade from the colored
people of the city.
Miss Barron was asked to get him
on the phone She called and Mr..
Cosmos remarked he would be down
at once. The two women heard the
employee say she had overcharged
two colored customers and what
should be done regarding it. lie
told her he would be down, they
waited in the store for sometime, but
the manager did not come, Both
parties were embarrassed and cha
grined over such treament, especially
SO since they had been ovcrcharged.
Both then went to the police station
in the pouring rain to file complaint
and to ask for protection to return
to the store so as to be on hand when
Mr.. Cosmos arrived The police
stated they were unable to accom-
pany them as there was no complaint
of disorderly conduct or any COM
plaint from the store Of our being
there. Finally, we were directed Is
the City Solicitor, He was out. At
ter talking with several lawyers ane
members Of the City Board Of Ed
ucation, and receiving nothing en-
couraging OF no one to accompany
them back to wait for the manager
they went to the prosecutors office
He was out Of the city. They thef
returned to the Ice Cream store ant