St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-05-23

pISJ uuASCo PSShiA"A w bAlC II
way or another.
Under certain conditions
liberal city, for the true native is
still a typical Minnesotan. The
reason for this peculiar situation
lies in the fact that there is prob
ably a larger transient population
than there is a stable one.
The normal population is re-
ported at something a little less
than 10000, yet it supports 38
hotels, 60 apartment houses, 10
trailer or cabin camps, 10 hospitals
and sanitariums, as well as an I'M
counted number of rooming houses.
Less Than Dozen Negro Families
There are less than a dozen Ne
gro families living there. Colored
persons are not given job encour-
agement there, which no doubt ac-
counts for the population scarcity.
AS a matter of fact except in rare
instances Negroes are not given
any kind of encouragement there.
The attitude of the town might
be reflected by the police. They are
not a friendly lot; their slogan
seems to be, eff you let me alone,
I'll let you alone"
When a Negro alights from
train, a cop eyes him coldly. This
setback is usually countered by the
warmth and courtesy of the taxi
drivers, any one of whom will waste
10 minutes giving you minute in
structions or directions, whether
you are likely to become a fare or
not. Railroad employees are very
much like the taxi drivers.
Search For Food
When you sally forth to find a
meal, you are playing a strange
game of chance. Enter the right
place" and you are bowled over
by the CHEEKY good morning, can
| help you line. Make a bad guess
and the waitress discovers a dozen
chores that must be taken care of
ahead of the customer. If you wait
1t out, some other waitress may
leave her station, come over and
give you the service you desire.
The reason: many a hillbilly from
Arkansas, or sick Carolinian, on
coming to Rochester becomes strand
ed, and decides to stay up north
where everything is nicer. Those
who get jobs in the service line,
never forgot grandpappy's admon-
ition to never wait on a cOlored
person. 1t is likely that the girl
who left her station to serve you
was born and raised in the vicinity,
and thinks her southern cousin is
slightly cracked.
Harassed restaurant managers
seldom pretend to notice the situa-
ton, and let the girls settle it
among themselves. In stores where
food or clothing are sold, they are
extremely courteous.
No Service In Bars
II you are so encouraged by the
treatment you may have received
in the stores, and decide to buy a
drink you are due for another let
down. Negroes just aren't served
drinks at bars in Rochester. March
into bar, and you are turned down
as coldly, and as efficiently as If
you had tried to borrow a tenspot.
Mayo clinic and the hospitals are
decent enough, but a Negro spends
the rest of his experience in Roch-
ester, Minnesota, proper in a state
Of expectant embarrassment.
Hotels are very much like the
restaurants in their attitude, al
though it is more difficult to ap-
praise them accurately. Many a
time when they say that they are
without accommodations until the
3Oth Of June, they are telling the
truth.
There are two "colored" hotels,
one rooming house, also a colored |
cafe which enjoys considerable
white patronage.
Mayo clinic may well boast that
it has no prejudices, but the Kahler
Corporation, which controls most |
of the town would have a hard time
proving its case.
Mayo Clinic bigwigs, impressed
by a Negro youth, one Of the few
to grow up in the town, gave him
a job, actually gave him a chance
to learn things, and now Kenneth
Brown is an X-ray technician in
a Detroit hospital.
We must reiterate that Roches-
ter, Minnesota, may truly be called
the crossroads of the south" One
may stumble over any type Of
prejudice peculiar TO any section
below the Mason Dixon line, and
often in unusual places. The Negro
population can do little to correct
the evils, rs it is so small it is
practically impotent.
They have been helped in their
difficulties by something near
council on human rela-
lions, composed Of four ministers.
Several prominent business men
also do their bit toward keeping
democracy alive, but the transient
Negro knows little Of these or their