St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1939-12-08
LaWbreakers?

Several weeks ago the cOIle8e cnapel au-
dience was entertained by Uncle Bob"
Bolton, Negro singer. At the conclusion
of his program he made a plea to the
student body to aid him in fighting action
of Twin City hotels, which he said pro-
hibits Negroes from riding passenger ele-
vators.
Since the printing of an editorial on the
subject in this paper we have received in
quiries from persons who were surprised
to learn that such discrimination might
exist in hotels. Because of this interest
we have made further check.
The first question is DO hotels dis
eliminate p The answer is yes, to a
limited degree.
We secured our information from both
Minneapolis and st. Paul branches of the
Urban League. Another source was Cecil
E. Newman, editor and publisher of the
MINNEAPOLIS SPOKESMAN and the
ST. PAUL RECORDER.
According to Mr.. Newman, 'St. Paul
hotels at the present time do not have
such restrictions, but up to several years
ago the Hotel st. Paul, in particular, was
an offender" Uncle Bob" himself, was
subject to an injustice there while on the
KSTP staff and on his way to the studio.
Mr.. Newman further pointed out that the
law enforcement on this problem was ex-
cellent in st. Paul and went on to praise
the county attorney for his help. In Min
neapolis he stated that 'the county at
torney passes the buck to the grand jury
and the infraction is more easily accom-
plished."
In recent months the only hotel in the
Twin Cities guilty of this charge is the
Radisson hotel in Minneapolis, according
to Mr.. Newman and the Urban League.
Up to a month and half ago there were
cases of Negroes not being allowed to ride
the passenger elevators in that hotel.
Two examples Of this given by Mr.. New
svHal U1a fka 0f NaarR ArnaRi-
can LegiOnnaire, who was taken to the
basement when he stepped into an ele-
vat0r. Another example given was when
a member of Duke EllingtOn's band was
refused entrance into the elevator at the
same hotel.
Mr.. Newman states that in recent weeks
this hotel has finally allowed Negroes per-
mission to ride the elevators as a result
of pressure brought to bear by various or
CARNATIONS.
which brings US 70 the simple fact that,
any such action is violation of the laws
of Minnesota which prohibit, in Chapter
So, Paragraph 1921, this discrimination
mo person shall be excluded, on account
of race or color, from full and equal en-
jOyment of any accommodations, advan-
tages or privileges furnished by public
conveyances, theaters, hotels, etc.-evory
person who violates any provision of this
section, or aids or incites another to do
Sd Snall De guilty. "a u kEUSS HISueIuc81tOES
and, in addition TO the penalty therefor,
shall be liable In a civil action to the per-
son aggrieved for damages not exceeding
FIVE hundred dollars"
This is adequate proof that hotel own
ers are violating a law, when they use
racial discrimination. But as Mr.. New
man and the Urban League officials point
out, it is largely up to public opinion to
stamp out the abuse.
We would suggest that all of US bear
in mind the illegality of any hotel dis
ordinations of this nature and report any
incidents observed. If our democracy is
all that we boast it to be it does not have
room for such humiliating treatment to
fellow citizens, merely because they hap
pen to be of a different skin color.-Mac
Weekly.
Reports this week say that
Negro quartet of singers who
sing on a radio morning religious
program over WDGY are forced to
use the Nicollet Hotel freight ele-
vator.
A Rev. Blank, white, who pious-
ly urges his early morning listeners
to practice the principles of Jesus
and who appears with and in
PRODUCES the quartet, rides the reg
ular passenger elevator.
Station WDGY is owned by
member of a prosecuted minority
group. It is not known whether
the station has ever been apprised
of the freight elevator" situation
or not.