St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1942-10-23
St. Paul Police
COnfiscate Sign
Barring Negroes
NAACP Branch Hears How
Chief Hackert's Men
Enforce Law

If discrimination, suggested IN a
recent meeting of the st. Paul
Branch of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People, was revealed in a letter
rom the st. Paul Department OF
Public Safety, which was read at
he monthly meeting of the Branch
evening in the Halle =.
Brown House. The letter was writ
ten to John Culver, the energetic
membership chairman OF the
who had made the COM
plant referred to in the letter
which follows.
Dear Sir:
Chief of Police Clinton A
Hackert received a complaint
Saturday, October II, 1912, that
a cafe located at 262 E. Seventh
has a sign displayed in the win
dow with lettering, "No colored
trade allowed"
Complaint was referred to the
Morals Division for investiga-
ton. At 2:30 pm, October II,
Detective T. Lee was assigned to
investigate this complaint. Fol-
lowing is the report of the in
vestigation made by Detective L.
Lee:
In answer to complaint re-
ceived by Chief Hackert regard
ing a sign in the cafe at 262 E.
Seventh that designated race dis
elimination, namely a sign with
lettering, "No colored trade AL
lowed" I went to Benefits Cafe
at 262 E. 7th Street and immed-
lately noticed a sign on shelf
to the left of the door; shelf was
about 51a feet above the floor in
rear of lunch counter. The sign
had wording "Colored Trade Not
Wanted" Sign was very notice
able and may have been in win
dow as per original report. At
the time investigation was made
wooden trimming of window was
being painted.
Interviewed Carl Bennett
owner, who lives at All Broad
way, Apt. 8, Flat No. 1. He
pleaded ignorance of the law
stating he was under impression
that he could serve whom he
pleased in his own place Of bust
ness, or to charge what he
pleased when undesirable trade
ordered food. Mr.. Bennett was
told very definitely that any race
discrimination was punishable by
court action and also possible
civil action. I explained very
definitely how these violations
could be committed. He prom
ised that he would treat all
parties equally and at any time
that he was in doubt as to other
laws, ordinances, etc., would cal
headquarters for advice. Sigr
was confiscated and turned into
Property Room, Police Dept.
Public Safety Building.
Very truly yours,
1t. Frank Mondike
Charge of Morals Division
Cases of discrimination should be
reported to the Legal Redress Com
mittee of the local Branch, of which
Maceo Littlejohn is the chairman
or to any officer of the Branch.
Stassen Nomination Creates FurOl
Quite a Juror was created in the
when Governor Harold
E. Stassen was nominated for {
place on the Executive Board by
Rev. B. N. Moore, president of the
Branch. Several members arose
and protested against the nomina
ton, charging that the Governor
had not been fair to the Negroes Of
the state in his administration.
1t was pointed out that a suit
against the Governor and members
of his military staff is still pending
in Federal Court in regard to dis
in the Minnesota Home
Defense Force. Rev. Moore, who
admitted that, he did not think that
the Governor would be elected tt
the Executive Board, insisted that
it was but democratic to nominate
him, since he is a member of the
Association. at would be a gooG
lesson for the Governor to attend
our meetings" he declared. It was
revealed that the Governor had re.
newed his membership in the
N. A. A. C. P, about two week:
ago. .....